Dr. Madhuwanthi Dissanayake wins BMJ South Asia Award for Medical Education

Madhuwanthi Dissanayake (left) with the award

Dr. Madhuwanthi Dissanayake, Senior Lecturer and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo was the winner of the BMJ South Asia Award for Excellence in Medical Education 2015. 

The award ceremony was held at Leela Hotel Mumbai on 30 October. Presenting the project ‘Developing and incorporating a module on Professionalism and Ethics in Medical Postgraduate Training’ in Mumbai she has brought international recognition to postgraduate medical education of Sri Lanka and was also requested to extend this as a project throughout South Asia. 

Dr. Dissanayake is a graduate of the Leadership Development Program of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) and represents Sri Lanka in the Women in Ophthalmology subcommittee of APAO. A practicing Consultant Ophthalmologist she was the Joint Secretary of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka in 2013 and is a member of the Board of study of Ophthalmology of Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), University of Colombo. 

As an examiner and a member of the Board of study of ophthalmology she is keen on promoting professionalism and ethics in post graduate medical education and selected the theme for her graduating project at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Leadership development program. 

She was supported in her efforts in successfully incorporating a module on Professionalism and Ethics in Medical Postgraduate Education by the Director of the PGIM, her Supervisor for the APAO LDP Project Dr. Dushyantha Wariyapola, Dr. Madawa Chandratilake and other members of her team.

 Winning the BMJ South Asia award is a great achievement and a forward thrust to continue with confidence in improving patient care standards through medical education in Sri Lanka.