Retina Today: When did you first know that you wanted to become a retina specialist?
As a medical student, I did an ophthalmology rotation at the Womack Army Medical Center, where the surgeons were doing high-volume refractive surgery, so I thought that I would become a cornea specialist. But once in residency, I was excited by the challenge of complex intraocular trauma. In Iraq and Afghanistan, there was a large increase in ophthalmic injuries compared with prior military conflicts. As a vitreoretinal surgeon, I will have the greatest immediate effect on an injured servicemember’s long-term vision potential.
RT: Who do you look to as mentors?
Colonel Marcus Colyer, MD, my mentor in the military, is a true leader and has been an incredible advocate for me.
At Duke, Eric A. Postel, MD, and Sharon Fekrat, MD, nurture your professional and personal growth. Glenn J. Jaffe, MD, has taught me to be precise in everything that I do from positioning a scleral buckle and having the best stool for your posture, to ensuring that the proper pop music is playing. Cynthia A. Toth, MD, and Lejla Vajzovic, MD, push me to always strive to be the best. Xi Chen, MD, PhD, has been the most incredible and patient surgical mentor, and she truly molded me into a vitreoretinal surgeon.
RT: What has been a memorable experience of your fellowship?
Training at Duke, it has been humbling to operate in the same OR as many giants in our field. One of the longstanding traditions at Duke is the skit at the annual Advanced Vitreoretinal Surgery Course, and I enjoyed watching the early videos of Drs. Jaffe, Robert Machemer, and Brooks W. McCuen II, tearing off their shirts to “I’m Too Sexy” in the iconic “Robofellow” videos. Filming this year’s skit with my cofellows and attendings has been a unique highlight of fellowship training.
RT: What are you hoping to accomplish once you are in practice?
I’ll be in the Army for 10 to 15 years, and I hope to become the residency program director at one of the Army’s residency programs. I also plan to pursue my passion for pediatric retina at Children’s National Hospital and meld my interests in pediatric retina and ocular trauma.
I would also love to live overseas and train vitreoretinal fellows in a developing country. There’s a huge need for competent vitreoretinal surgeons to manage diabetic retinopathy, ocular trauma, and pediatric retinal disease.
FIRST Career Milestone
Dr. Justin will be returning to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to serve as a vitreoretinal surgeon and research director.
RT: What advice can you offer to residents who are considering retina?
When graduating from my Basic Officer Leadership Course, the major general giving the speech said, “Blossom where you are planted.” My residency program was more clinically focused with less emphasis on academics, but I sought out and completed research opportunities.
Also, glean what you can from every case. The oculoplastics suturing skills help close sclerotomies, complex cataract surgery skills help with IOL repositioning, and looping muscles in pediatric cases is an invaluable tool for scleral buckling.
Lastly, become involved in retina societies, and reach out to giants in the field. It’s always surprising who will answer a well-crafted email.
