ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2023
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. 44,000+ student leaders from 3,300+ campuses across 170+ nations applied to join the Class of 2023. 260+ campuses worldwide (just 9%) in 38 countries were selected to host 4,000+ Millennium Fellows for the Class of 2023.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT ACHINT DAS, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2023.
University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania, United States | Advancing SDG 3 & UNAI 2 | Emerging Technologist
Millennium Fellowship Project: Launching a New Diabetic Retinopathy Follow-Up Visit Pathway for Low-Income and Rural Patients in India for Aravind Eye Hospital
In India, a significant number of stable diabetic retinopathy patients face challenges in adhering to scheduled follow-up visits due to financial constraints and transportation limitations. At Aravind Eye Hospital in Tamil Nadu, India, the timely follow-up rate for this group is approximately 50-60%, falling below expectations. Collaborating with Aravind Eye Hospital, Achint will test and employ a new follow-up pathway for stable diabetic retinopathy patients using a Google-designed AI system to assess diabetic retinopathy type and severity, telemedicine, and existing eye examinations by ophthalmic assistants. This effort aims to pioneer an alternative follow-up approach that is more accessible, affordable, and time-effective through Vision Centers—Aravind's local ophthalmology clinics. Achint completed a pilot study that showcased remarkable outcomes, including annual savings of over 7,000 hours and 6.5 lakhs (INR) for both the hospital and eligible patients.
Achint's defined objectives encompass:
• Completing the official study by end of October 2023 to establish the viability and efficacy of this novel approach
• Collaborating with Aravind supervisors starting in September to formalize the new pathway for eligible patients across Tamil Nadu by onboarding staff members, creating official clinical protocol, and standardizing the quality monitoring of this pathway
• Leveraging his connections at Aravind and personal networks at previous internships to introduce this pathway in a minimum of two other global locations and begin discussions for implementation
About the Millennium Fellow
Achint Das is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Healthcare Management and Operations, Informatics, and Decisions. With a background as an Indian immigrant and guided by international internships and research, Achint is deeply intrigued by optimizing healthcare systems in developing countries. His goal is to maximize resource utilization while ensuring high-quality and accessible care. Through the Millenium Fellowship, he aims to broaden his perspective on effective global healthcare and pilot new treatment approaches worldwide. Following graduation, Achint envisions pursuing a graduate degree or PhD in international healthcare management, venturing into innovation as an entrepreneur, researcher, or manager.
