Parvina Mirakhmedova, a Tajik ophthalmologist and researcher, has won international acclaim at the prestigious Women Changing the World Awards, held in London. She was the only representative from Central Asia among participants from 55 countries.
Mirakhmedova was nominated in three Industry Award categories: Women in Health, Tech Innovation, and Innovation. She won the Tech Innovation Award and took second place in the Women in Health category.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, personally presented Mirakhmedova with the Golden Heart Award, honoring both her professional accomplishments and the broader social impact of her work.
In her acceptance speech, Mirakhmedova expressed gratitude to those who supported her journey to London, emphasizing the importance of showcasing Tajikistan’s scientific talent on the global stage.
Transforming Ophthalmology with Innovation
Over recent years, Mirakhmedova has significantly advanced the field of ophthalmology. She developed a new diagnostic algorithm for early-stage glaucoma detection, dramatically lowering the risk of vision loss.
Additionally, she created cell-counting software that has standardized the diagnosis of ocular inflammation, notably improving treatment accuracy for uveitis. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in Scopus.
Among her most accessible innovations is a Telegram bot (@ophthalmo_test_bot) that helps doctors monitor inflammation in uveitis, enabling timely treatment adjustments.
Personal Struggles Behind the Science
Mirakhmedova’s professional journey is rooted in personal adversity.
“I lost my father to cancer, and later, my mother became seriously ill. I experienced first hand what patients and their families endure,” she said.
These experiences inspired her to drive change in Tajikistan’s medical system. She advocates for the integration of global medical innovations, asserting, “The world is moving forward, innovations are transforming medicine, and Tajikistan must not fall behind.”
A Decade of Determination
Mirakhmedova began her career at the international Solim Med and private Nurafzo clinics and underwent further training in Germany. Initially, her ideas were met with skepticism.
“Innovations are always resisted at first. But eventually, they become indispensable,” she noted.
Despite early challenges, she remained committed to her vision, bolstered by support from her mentors at the Abuali Ibni Sino Department of Ophthalmology at the Tajik State Medical University, her family, and her own perseverance.
Reaching the award finals marked a turning point.
“I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. To those who once said my ideas were useless, this is the answer,” she said.
Her recognition in London is not just a personal triumph, it affirms her contributions to medicine on an international scale and signals the potential for transformative change in ophthalmology across the region.
