5Q with Jordana G. Fein, MD, MS

What led you to a career as a medical retina specialist?

From the moment I started residency at Tufts New England Eye Center, I was drawn to the retina service. I loved the mix of medicine and surgery, which is at the core of the practice of retina. In addition, the imaging technology got me excited about and invested in clinical research. My mentors, including Caroline R. Baumal, MD; Elias Reichel, MD; and Jay Duker, MD, were inspirational to me in terms of their knowledge, dedication to teaching, and ability to incorporate research into a busy clinical practice.

Although I love surgery, my interest has always been in complex medical retina, uveitis, and clinical research, which ultimately led me to pursue a medical retina fellowship. The complex medical cases, such as diagnosing syphilitic retinitis and saving a patient’s life, excited me the most. The most interesting, complicated, and mysterious presentations always made their way to the retina clinic and were my favorite cases to unravel.

What has been one of the most memorable moments of your career?

The most memorable moment in my career was when I got the offer to work at the Retina Group of Washington (RGW). My husband is an electrophysiologist and had taken a job in northern Virginia with a large cardiology practice. I had been on faculty at Tufts New England Eye Center after training, and I wanted to continue to work in a similar environment with a high-volume private practice coupled with teaching and clinical research. The only practice in the DC area that fit the bill was the RGW, and I knew that was where I wanted to practice. However, when we first relocated, there were no open positions, so I took a job with a different multispecialty practice in the area. About 2 years later, one of the doctors at RGW retired, and I was offered the position. I remember getting the phone call and feeling incredible excitement and gratitude to have found the right job for myself. I have been at RGW since 2016 and have been fortunate to work alongside outstanding physicians, help train the next generation, conduct clinical research, and build a thriving practice.

Can you tell us about your experience co-founding the International Society for the Advancement of Medical Retina?

Heeral R. Shah, MD, FASRS, and I founded the International Society for the Advancement of Medical Retina in 2014 to create a forum for retina specialists interested in discussing medical retina, both clinical cases and the nitty gritty of clinical practice. For the first few years we held in-person meetings during AAO or ASRS, and our members presented cases, interacted socially, and shared their experiences as physicians. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have transitioned to a virtual case format, but we hope to be in person soon.

You have traveled to Honduras to provide much-needed ophthalmic care. What was that experience like?

I went to Honduras twice with the Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade (www.vhcmedicalbrigade.org) and plan to go again this fall. The brigade was started in 1999 to bring transformational health care and development to the most vulnerable people in Honduras. I participated in the Health Services component by providing cataract surgery in Comayagua, Honduras.

In the United States, cataract surgery is very common, and most patients get cataract surgery while they still retain good vision. In remote areas of Honduras, there is less access to care, and some patients do not get care before they become legally blind. By removing a hand motion cataract and restoring functional vision in one eye, we give these patients a renewed opportunity at life. It was incredibly emotional for me to understand how big a difference this surgery can make for an individual. Participating in this trip makes me a better physician and more appreciative of all that we take for granted every day here in the United States.

What is your favorite hobby outside of work?

I love to exercise and be outdoors whenever possible. I can often be found at Pure Barre, doing a Peloton class in my basement, or playing tennis. I have recently taken up golf, mostly for the wardrobe. I play Mah Jong with a group one or two times a month. Most importantly, I enjoy spending time with my two children, Harper and Thatcher, my husband, Adam, and our dog, Brooklyn (Figure).