Meet the Team

Consultants

Clinical Governance Lead

Mr. Suresh Sagili MBBS, MS, FRCOphth Mr. Sagili is a Consultant Ophthalmologist with special interest in oculoplastics and orbital surgery. He is the Clinical Director for Ophthalmology at SATH. Mr. Sagili trained as an eye specialist in the East of England and completed his training in Cambridge.

He undertook fellowship training in oculoplastics at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead and worked as a locum consultant oculoplastic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in St. George’s Hospital, London. He has experience in cataract surgery and in treating eyelid and orbital disorders and provides the Thyroid eye disease service at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Mr Yadav (MBChB (Hons), BMedSci (Hons), FRCOphth) is a consultant ophthalmologist specialising in minimally-invasive cataract surgery, oculoplastic surgery and lacrimal surgery. He is also the director of emergency eye care services for the whole of Shropshire. Mr Yadav qualified as a doctor in 2010 having received a University scholarship, multiple awards, distinctions and honours.

He completed his ophthalmology training in the Northwest including advanced oculoplastics training and high volume cataract surgery. He has also undertaken an intense training fellowship in oculoplastic, lacrimal and orbital surgery at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.

Miss Lakshika Perera BSc (Hons) MBBS (Hons) FRCOphth. Miss Perera is a full time Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in medical retina. She graduated from King’s College, London and completed her higher specialist ophthalmic training on the Northwest Rotation at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.

Her further sub-specialist training in medical retina was undertaken at St Paul’s Eye Unit in Liverpool where she was actively involved in multi-centre research studies. She is particularly interested in medical education and training and regularly teaches allied specialties as well as Ophthalmic trainees.

Mr Prasad Rao is a Consultant Ophthalmologist and at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS trust since 1999. He is the head of the department and the Clinical Director of Ophthalmology since 2016. He was also the head of Medical Retina service for 16 years till 2016. He qualified in medicine from Hyderabad, India in 1983 and spent a further 10 years in 2 prestigious teaching institutes at Liverpool and Aberdeen to specialise further in general Ophthalmology and Retinal diseases. He published over 30 Articles in peer reviewed national and international journals.

Mr Rao has got a wide experience and keen interest in Cataract surgery, Age related macular degeneration, Uveitis and Diabetic eye diseases. Mr Rao is the vice president of Sight Loss Shropshire (SLS) a voluntary organisation that supports visually handicapped. He was also a member of Local Negotiation Committee (LNC) and Medical Advisory Committees (MAC). Mr Rao was nominated for the best medical retinal service in the UK for four consecutive years by Macular Society between 2011 and 2014. He takes keen interest in bird watching, long distance running, hill walking and ballroom dancing!

Ms Nayak MBBS, DO, MRCOphth, PhD in Neurophthalmology, FRCOphth. Ms Nayak is a full-time consultant ophthalmologist with special interest in Cataract , Medical Retina , Uveitis and Optic nerve diseases. She started her Ophthalmology career in Oxford . She subsequently spent her ophthalmology training days in Leeds teaching Hospitals , moving to Royal Liverpool hospitals to complete the training programme. She also worked with the Keele research group for multiple sclerosis (MS) obtaining a PhD thereafter. She has worked in research/clinical trial for 9 years and has been a coinvestigator for 15 clinical trials in Multiple sclerosis, Diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.

Her groundbreaking research in MS has led to change in treatment protocols in MS. She has guided many PhD students during her tenure at Keele university. She also has completed a Fellowship programme in Medical Retina and Uveitis at the Royal Liverpool Hospitals. She has won the Clinical innovation award for the year 2022, in less than 15 months of joining the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS trust. She has also led the team for the 3 peak charity trek and obtained funding from the LOF (league of friends) for the wide field scanner for the ophthalmology department. She is interested in martial arts, loves biking, hill walking and globe-trotting. She loves to spend nights under the star with her astronomical telescope.

Miss Ahnood BSc(Hons), MBBS, FRCOphth. Miss Ahnood is a full time consultant ophthalmologist with a special interest in medical retina. She completed her medical training in London prior to embarking on her specialist ophthalmology training in Wales. Following this she undertook two world renowned fellowships at the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London sub-specialising in medical retina, uveitis and cataract surgery.

To gain further expertise she also completed a second fellowship at the world renowned Sydney Eye Hospital working with the best internationally known leaders in the field (Prof. Gillies, Prof McCluskey and A/Prof Fraser-bell). In addition to publishing and presenting cutting edge research internationally, she has also been involved in over 15 most recent clinical trials.

Clinical Director

Mr Palpandian Viswanathan MS, MRCOphth, MRCSEd, FRCOphth. Mr Viswanathan is a full time consultant Ophthalmologist. After Medical School, Mr.Viswanathan obtained a masters degree in Ophthalmic surgery in India. He subsequently moved to the UK and underwent further ophthalmology training in London  gaining Membership and Fellowship of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, London. Mr Viswanathan also completed a retinal Fellowship encompassing high-volume vitreo-retinal surgical experience.

Before being appointed as a Consultant Eye Surgeon at Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust in 2017, Mr Viswanathan was appointed as a Consultant Eye Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, the leading private health care provider in India for 6 years, where he gained further experience treating surgical and medical retinal patients in addition to undertaking a high volume of cataract surgeries. Mr Viswanathan’s areas of expertise include Cataract and cataract surgeries in the presence of retinal disorders, Vitreoretinal surgeries e.g. retinal detachment, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, Medical retina disorders like diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, age-related macular degeneration.

He is the Clinical Governance lead for Ophthalmology.

Mr. Tarek Hammam MB ChB, MA, FRCS (Ed. Opht) Mr. Hammam is a full-time Consultant Ophthalmologist. He qualified from Alexandria University Egypt in 1989, and initially trained in Egypt before moving to the UK in 1998.

After specialist registrar rotation at West of Scotland Deanery and Advanced Subspecialty training in surgical retina at Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology in Glasgow, he worked for 2 years as a consultant ophthalmologist at Southampton University Hospital. Mr. Hammam has particular expertise in vitrectomy under local anaesthesia as day cases.

Mr Thomas Jenyon MBBS, BSc, PGCMEd, MRCP, FRCOphth. Mr Jenyon is a full-time Consultant Ophthalmologist. He specialises in micro-incision cataract and lens surgery, as well as corneal and external eye disease. He trained at University College London where he qualified with distinction, and within the West Midlands. He gained membership to the Royal College of Physicians and is a Fellow at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.  His work on refractive outcomes has been recognised by national and international prizes.

For his contribution to medical education in the West Midlands he has received the Recognising Excellence in Medical Education award twice.

Mr Owoniyi MBChB and FRCOphth, qualified as a doctor from the University of Birmingham following which he had two years of foundation doctor training in the West Midlands. He returned to Birmingham University to teach anatomy as a demonstrator for a year, after which he went on to start his ophthalmology registrar training in Wales. During his specialty training, he took time out to work as an Education Fellow at the Imperial College NHS Trust, London.

On completion of his ophthalmology training, he undertook the prestigious glaucoma surgical fellowship programme at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London after which he began working as a consultant at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust.

He specialises in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma, performs complex cataract surgery and is the lead for the glaucoma service at the Trust.

Ophthalmology Managers

Claire Evans – Centre Manager
Jenny Price – Operational Manager
Emma Goddard – Junior Assistant Operations Manager

Senior Medical Staff

Mr Palpandian Viswanathan
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special interest: Vitroretinal surgery
Clinical Director

Mr Suresh Sagili
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special interest: Orbital, oculoplastic and lacrimal surgery
Clinical Governance Lead

Mr Sohraab Yadav
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special Interest: Oculoplastics

Mr Tarek Hammam
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special interest: Vitroretinal surgery

Ms Lakshika Perera
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special interest: Medical Retina

Mr Prasad Rao
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special interest: Medical Retina
LNC representative

Ms Devaki Nayak
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special interest: Medical Retina

Ms Dana Ahnood
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special Interest: Medical Retina

Mr Thomas Jenyon
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special Interest: Cornea

Mr Muyiwa Owoniyi
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special Interest: Glaucoma

Ms Felicity Kirtley
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Special Interest: Paediatrics

Dr Ishanee Devasurendra, Specialist Doctor
Dr Nina Mathew, Associate Specialist
Dr Komal Godbole, Speciality Doctor
Dr Su Zaw, Speciality Doctor
Dr Kadirvelu Kubendrakumar, Speciality Doctor
Dr Abayomi Akinwale Olagunju, Speciality Doctor
Dr Esha Jamal, Specialty Doctor
Dr Chris Wenham, GP with special interest (part time)

Other Medical Staff

Vitroretinal Fellow
FY2
OST1
OST2
OST3A
OST3B

Ophthalmic Department Managers

RSH – Vicky Howells
PRH – Colleen Davies

Ophthalmology Matron

Claire Cox – Matron – Ophthalmology, Head and Neck

Clinical Nurse Specialists

Sister Sian Meagre – Specialising in anti-VEGF injections & reviews and post op Vitroretina
Sister Jean Meagre – Specialising in anti-VEGF injections & reviews; YAG laser and Urgent Eye Clinic
Sister Laura Poole – Specialising in anti-VEGF injections & reviews
Sister Matheresa (Tess) Castigador – Specialising in anti-VEGF injections and Glaucoma practitioner
Sister Carol Betmead – Specialising in anti-VEGF injections and post op Vitroretina
Staff Nurse Alison Peleszok – Specialising in anti-VEGF injections and post op Vitroretina

Ophthalmic Technicians

Jo Dulson
Michelle Norwood
Beckie Pickford
Karen Macdonald

Allied Health Professionals – Orthoptist Department

Rose Wright – Specialist Optometrist

Orthoptists

Philippa Downes – Senior Orthoptist and Lead Clinic Tutor
Charlotte Deakin – Senior Orthoptist and Lead for Visual Processing Difficulties & SEN
Becky Pinches – Senior Orthoptist and Lead for Low Vision and Stroke
Sue Vaggers – Senior Orthoptist and Lead for School screening
Sonia Rattu – Orthoptist specialising in Literacy Difficulties
Becky Evans – Orthoptist specialising in Low Vision
James Clifford – Orthoptist specialising in Literacy Difficulties
Anne Flynn – Specialist Orthoptist specialising in Stroke
Kay Phillips – Orthoptic Technician

Optometrists

Kate Baker – Optometrist specialising in Paediatrics and Medical Retina
Bachiter Phull – Optometrist specialising in Paediatrics and Adult Contact Lens
Santoshi Mann – Optometrist specialising in Paediatrics
Sandeep Saimbi – Optometrist specialising in Urgent Eye Clinic
Jagdeep Singh – Optometrist specialising in Medical Retina

Secretaries

Glaucoma
Mr Owoniyi
Abigail Close-McCudden

Medical Retina
Ms Perera and Ms Ahnood
Amy Cartwright
Mr Rao and Ms Nayak
Gabyrelle Orme

Plastics
Mr Sagili and Mr Yadav
Marie Golling

Vitreo-Retina
Mr Viswanathan
Shirley Trickett

Cornea
Mr Jenyon
Shirley Trickett
Mr Hammam and the Orthoptists
Fiona Marshall

Paediatrics
Ms Kirtley
Shirley Beeston

Contact Lens Service
Rebecca Adams

Secretarial Assistants

Medical Retina
Jenn Morris
Karen Higgins
Rachel Butler
George Lewis

Glaucoma, VR, Plastics, Corneal
Caroline Grove

VR and Paediatrics
Christine Crawshay-Williams

Managers

Claire Evans – Centre Manager
Jenny Price – Operational Manager
Emma Goddard – Junior Assistant Operations Manager

Ophthalmology Co-ordination Team

Karen Maloney – Service Co-ordinator (Job Share Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday)
Emma Grove – Support Co-ordinator & Service Co-ordinator (Job Share Thursdays & Fridays)
Cat Garrett – Support Co-ordinator
Zlatina Kusheva – Support Co-ordinator
Jodie Simmonds – Support Co-ordinator

Support

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals has a dedicated Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO), Emma Chaplin, who can provide advice and support for anyone affected by sight loss on topics that can make life easier such as:

  • maintaining your independence
  • equipment and technology
  • eye condition and treatment understanding
  • access to education, employment, and leisure
  • benefits and concessions that you may be entitled to

Emma can be found in the Ophthalmology department, Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 07808 736 449 or 01743 261 000 ext. 3616 or email e.chaplin2@nhs.net

For more information please visit the RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service Website.