The eyes of Doctor Gulani

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One day a friend of mine asked me to go to an event at the Cowford Chophouse. So, I went. 

Walking inside, I ran into this guy from India and his wife. In a sea of rich men in golf-shirts and pretty girls in cocktail dresses, they stood out resplendent—he in a colorful double-breasted suit with a wide collar, she in a matching bright canary yellow chiffon dress. They looked as if they had just stepped off the stage of a Bollywood production, replete with sitars and tambourines.  I was intrigued. 

So, I approached them, as I often do, and stuck out my hand. They told me their story. They were both doctors and it turned out the man and I shared something in common—we both had a bright vision for the future of Jacksonville.  He compared people to pearls, and I wondered if karma had brought us together that sunny Sunday in the heart of downtown.  And that is how I met, Dr. Arun Gulani.

I kept running into him. Every time our paths crossed, he would casually mention a new patient who travelled from some exotic sounding locale seeking sight. I went to see his surgical suite. It was immaculate. 

“Most surgeons use ambulatory surgical centers,” he told me. “Here we have a spa-like setting. We believe in raising surgery to not just an art, but an experience.” 

The next time we met was to give away suits to veterans. One of those suits ended up on the cover of Folio magazine. And all the time we talked about our visions for the future and his desire to have everyone see beyond 20/20.  I wanted people to see the future, he wanted them to see it with perfect vision. 

Sometime later, I went back to the surgical center. I asked questions. “How long does each surgery take,” I asked? 

 

“Seven to ten minutes,” he replied, “each surgery is unique and customized to the individual patient.”

 

I started to ask another question, but he interrupted me. 

 

“I don’t just see eyeballs,” he said. “I see their faces looking up at me saying please help me, Dr. Gulani.  I trust you.” 

 

I smiled and started scribbling. I knew I was going to write something, and I loved that line.  As I wrote he attempted to interrupt me with a wry smile and said, “I feel obligated to do my best,” adding, “and repay that trust with vision.”  

 

That day patients came from all over the world. One was a race car driver from Sweden, blind in one eye, which sounded sort of dangerous to me. I was glad he left with two good eyes. A patient from Egypt told me that, “many surgeons failed in my Lasik, until they all suggested I travel to Dr. Gulani.” 

 

Other patients came from London, Dubai, and Canada, as well as a doctor from Idaho, who had done her research and decided Gulani was her only hope to fix her cataract surgery complications.

 

As we were leaving, Gulani shared his plan for an event to honor visionaries in our community and asked if I wanted to help. It seemed like a noble cause, so I agreed. He slapped me on the back and said “You, Scott, are a pearl.” 

 

And so, we await the next chapter, Friday, March 20 at the River Club, when the Gulani Crystal Ball Beyond 2020 Event will be held. Someone will be named a visionary.

 

I am excited to find out who.