Please share with us your background.
I was born and raised in Miami and am one of five children. My parents were Indian immigrant physicians (oncology and pediatrics) who dedicated themselves 100% to us kids. My father passed away when I was 12, and my mother worked full-time. She is my inspiration and the reason I decided to follow in my oldest sister’s footsteps and enroll in a combined BS/MD program at the University of Miami.
When did you first know that you wanted to become a retina specialist?
As a third-year medical student, I struggled to find my place in the world. Heading into clinical rotations, I thought I would discover a passion for medical oncology, but it simply was not a good fit for my personality. On a whim, I signed up for a spring elective in ophthalmology at the Miami Veterans Administration Hospital. I was immediately hooked by the beauty of the surgeries and the elegant design of the eye.
I completed my residency at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where I discovered my passion for the retina. The first ophthalmologists I worked with as a student were first-year residents, Ryan F. Isom, MD, and D. Wilkin Parke III, MD. Drs. Isom and Parke were senior retina fellows when I was deciding on a subspecialty and were instrumental in guiding me to my primary research mentor, Harry W. Flynn Jr, MD. The examples set by Dr. Flynn as a clinician, surgeon, mentor, and researcher still serve as my gold standard to this day.
Who are your mentors?
There have been so many wonderful people throughout my career who I still lean on for guidance, but for the sake of brevity I will be leaving some out. My Miami mentors include Dr. Flynn; Steven J. Gedde, MD; Audina M. Berrocal, MD; and Thomas A. Albini, MD. My mentors from Wills Eye Hospital, Julia A. Haller, MD; Allen C. Ho, MD; Carl D. Regillo, MD; and Arunan Sivalingam, MD, are a constant presence in my life and frequently are the victims of my rapid-fire texting.
I believe mentors also include the peers and friends who make you stronger, and in my case that would be Ella Leung, MD, and Ajay E. Kuriyan, MD. Finally, I would not be half the physician or person I am today without Nika Bagheri, MD, a whiz clinician and surgeon who I am lucky enough to call my best friend and wife.
Describe your current position.
I am a clinician and surgeon at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. My practice is primarily with adult patients, and I enjoy the challenges of complex surgical scenarios, especially when it requires collaborating with my superlative anterior segment colleagues on combination, multi-step procedures that would be impossible to perform in most practice settings.
I also serve as a mentor to several medical students, in addition to my responsibilities as the associate residency program director, and run my own educational podcast, Straight From the Cutter’s Mouth: A Retina Podcast.
What has been the most memorable experience of your career thus far?
At the risk of turning this into a humble brag, receiving “Professor of the Year” this past academic year by our amazing ophthalmology residents. This is an honor given annually at Bascom Palmer that is completely at the discretion of the residents, and it was so shocking and humbling that for once in my life I was left speechless. Teachers do not teach for awards, but to see students succeed; to feel their appreciation, love, and respect is a special feeling that cannot be put into words.
What advice can you offer to individuals who are just now choosing their career paths after finishing fellowship?
Stay positive and open-minded. There are so many different practice models, career options, professional development opportunities, and research interests that exist in our field. Be fluid and flexible, ignore the noise, and lean on your mentors and friends when making big decisions. Finally, constantly reevaluate and make sure your clinical, surgical, and academic career remains in line with your core values.
