PORTLAND, Ore., May 6, 2019 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Paragon BioTeck, Inc., an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical device company, announced today that Mohima Sanyal has been named its 2019 Koch Kellan Scholar. Paragon Gives, a Paragon BioTeck initiative, awards the Koch Kellan Scholarship to an outstanding graduate medical student committed to elevating the standard of eye care through social responsibility and through a clinical, teaching, or research career in ophthalmology.
“Mohima’s credentials reflect a commitment to science and to public health. She plans to study ophthalmology and has already shown an interest and an aptitude for that specialty,” said Paul Koch MD, one of the doctors whose namesake is attached to the scholarship. “She has the background to apply what she learns in the vast world of underserved populations both here and abroad. If she continues along this path, she will be a valuable teacher and influencer in the world of medicine.”
Ms. Sanyal is a third-year student at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. She attends medical school with the personal ambition to apply her interdisciplinary perspectives towards providing excellent, accessible medical care to patients. She believes that access to “excellent healthcare is fundamental to a just society, and that it is critical that we engage with community-specific visual health needs and contribute to innovative, culturally-informed solutions.” Her projects involve creating a more inclusive, theoretically-grounded approach to visual care research, applying the power of narrative medicine to mitigate implicit bias in physician practice, and eliminating language and insurance barriers for care.
“It means so much to be recognized by luminaries in this field – Drs. Koch and Kellan, as well as Paragon BioTeck – for my dedication to the field of ophthalmology and to providing excellent, equitable medical care to all,” said Sanyal.
Ms. Sanyal has applied her interdisciplinary perspectives through her work with the Primary Open-Angle African-American Glaucoma Genetics Study (a National Institutes of Health study), by giving back to her community with the Give Kids Sight Day as a volunteer coordinator, and through various avenues related to ophthalmology.
“I was extremely impressed with the extraordinary measures she has taken in her pursuit to achieve a global perspective of how best to address visual-related health needs. Her MD-Master of Public Health degree combined with her MSc in Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology will give her the necessary credentials and those along with her enviable selfless attitude will guarantee her a leadership role in her field,” said Robert Kellan MD, the scholarship’s other namesake.
Paragon Gives will formally present the Koch Kellan Scholarship to Ms. Sanyal at a breakfast attended by Drs. Koch and Kellan, and Paragon CEO, Patrick Witham, during the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, held May 5, 2019 in San Diego, California.
Patrick Witham discusses the importance of the scholarship in regard to ophthalmology, “Since its inception, this award has been extended to some of the best and brightest, up and coming stars in this area of medicine. The award’s namesake is perfectly apt, given the unparalleled caliber of candidates and recipients that have shown interest in pursuing a career in an area of medicine where both Dr. Koch and Dr. Kellan have made such tremendously important contributions.”
About Paragon Gives and the Koch Kellan Scholarship:
Paragon Gives, a Paragon BioTeck, Inc., initiative, supports a number of charities and organizations, including those within the biotechnology and health care arena. The initiative also works with individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact on our customers, vendors, investors, and industry as a whole.
The Koch Kellan Scholarship affirms Paragon’s commitment to elevating the standard of eye care and enhancing patient quality of life. Mohima Sanyal is the fifth recipient of the scholarship. Previous recipients include Alejandro Arboleda of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Xinxin Zhang of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The scholarship was first awarded to Captain Edward Woodward of the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in 2015.
Learn more about the scholarship and its recipients at: https://paragonBioTeck.com/gives/KochKellan/.
About Paragon BioTeck, Inc.:
Paragon BioTeck, Inc., is a privately held pharmaceutical and medical device company specializing in the development and commercialization of ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, devices and therapies. Paragon BioTeck’s portfolio of products is designed to protect and preserve eyesight and deliver comfort to the eyes. Learn more about Paragon BioTeck at https://paragonBioTeck.com/.
Media Contact:
Angela Morgan
angela.morgan@focuslaboratories.com
News Source: Paragon BioTeck Inc.
