Retina Today: When did you first know that you wanted to become a retina specialist?
I first became interested in retina after I shadowed my uncle, who is a vitreoretinal surgeon in South Korea. I was amazed that retina specialists could identify systemic conditions—such as diabetes, hypertension, and prematurity—just by examining the patient’s eyes. I was hooked when I observed a vitrectomy, as the surgery was so delicate, and the retina appeared stunning under the microscope.
RT: Who do you look to as mentors in the field?
I would like to thank my mentors at the University of Virginia and West Virginia University for providing dedicated support throughout my medical and ophthalmology training.
During my retina fellowship at the University of Southern California, Andrew Moshfeghi, MD, MBA, and Juan Martinez, MD, encouraged me to become a judicious and meticulous surgeon who is prepared for every scenario. I became a better scleral buckler after I gained experience in different types of buckles with Aaron Nagiel, MD, PhD, and Thomas Chu, MD. I learned the importance of being detail-oriented to capture subtle clues in complex uveitis cases from Brian Toy, MD. During my rotation at Retina-Vitreous Associates, Firas Rahhal, MD, and David Boyer, MD, taught me valuable lessons in managing a retina practice.
RT: What has been one of the most memorable experiences of your fellowship thus far?
I had the most memorable patient encounter at the Los Angeles General Medical Center. He presented to the emergency department with severe bilateral panuveitis without any pertinent medical history. However, a careful systemic examination revealed that he had skin lesions suspicious of syphilis and Kaposi sarcoma. HIV and syphilis testing came back positive. He then received appropriate treatment, which saved his life and vision. This experience was an important reminder that clinicians should evaluate and treat the whole patient, not just their vision.
FIRST CAREER MILESTONE
Dr. Lee is now a vitreoretinal surgeon at Retina Consultants of Orange County.
RT: What are you hoping to accomplish in clinical practice?
I plan to gain the trust of the referring doctors by providing excellent care to our mutual patients and maintaining timely communication. I will look for opportunities to participate in clinical trials, which can offer exposure to the latest therapeutic modalities.
RT: What advice can you offer to residents who are considering retina?
Some residents may have limited exposure to the surgical side of retina, depending on the program. To learn more about vitreoretinal surgery, I recommend using resources such as Eyetube, the Vit-Buckle Academy, Vitreoretinal Surgery Online, and the American Society of Retina Specialists. Interested residents should also be proactive in participating in retina meetings to build professional connections and stay up to date on the latest information.
