Please share with us your background.
I was born in St. George’s, Grenada, and grew up in the South Bronx, New York City. My dad is a Pentecostal minister, so I spent a significant amount of time in church or playing basketball. In the summer, my friends and I would play from sunup to sundown. In the winter, we shoveled snow off the court and played until our fingers became immobile.
When did you first know that you wanted to become a vitreoretinal surgeon?
My family maintains that they knew I would be an ophthalmologist ever since I won my second-grade science fair with my model eye. While that was definitely a childhood highlight, I think the impact of wearing coke-bottle glasses or goggles while playing sports had a much larger impact.
After graduating from college, I worked as a technician in a retina practice under Peter Liggett, MD, who also treated patients with uveal melanoma. His caring nature and bedside manner made a lasting impression on me—I continue to use some of his phrasing and approaches to this day. In particular, there was a young woman with a large melanoma that ultimately required enucleation, and I was captivated by how he navigated that conversation and instilled confidence in her about her future. I knew then that I was going to be a retina specialist and ocular oncologist.
Who are your mentors?
The phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” is most definitely true in my situation. Dr. Liggett helped me begin my path to ophthalmology and connected me with William F. Mieler, MD, who was Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Chicago at the time. The Chicago Medical School did not have an ophthalmology department, so Dr. Mieler was kind enough to let me spearhead a project as a first-year medical student.
I spent a summer doing research with Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA, at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, an opportunity that I believe changed my career trajectory. That summer, I worked closely with Amy C. Schefler, MD, who has remained a constant source of advice, serving as a sounding board for my job choices and career aspirations. Also, Audina M. Berrocal, MD, has taught me as much about life outside of work as she has about retina and surgery.
Describe your current position.
I work at the University of Cincinnati in adult and pediatric ocular oncology and interact with medical oncology, radiation oncology, and pediatric oncology to comanage patients. At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, I evaluate pediatric patients and collaborate with pediatric neurosurgeons when intraarterial chemotherapy is indicated. Lastly, I also practice surgical retina at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. The broad range of practice settings, pathologies, and patients makes every day a bit different.
What has been the most memorable experience of your career thus far?
I started seeing a boy with retinoblastoma. He had already undergone an enucleation in one eye and was battling recurrent disease in his remaining eye. After 3 years of trying every treatment available, including an experimental therapy in a clinical trial, he achieved remission but continued treatment for radiation retinopathy and severe dry eye from a radiation-induced neurotrophic cornea. While receiving regular anti-VEGF injections with an intensive topical lubrication regimen, he maintained a positive attitude. Every month, he told me of all the places in New York City he wanted to visit, knowing I grew up there.
About 6 months ago, his family took him to New York, and he had the biggest smile and a million stories for me on his next follow-up. This interaction forced me to step back and appreciate the amazing opportunity I have to make a difference despite the struggles that happen along the way.
What advice do you have for individuals who are choosing their career paths?
Identifying your long-term career path after finishing fellowship can be very difficult as opportunities and interests change over time. Keeping in touch with your mentors can be an invaluable aid in navigating those challenges.
