WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I grew up in Tampa, Florida, and attended Duke University for undergraduate education, where I studied art history in addition to taking premedical classes. My mom is a psychologist, and when I was a kid, she told me I would grow up to be a doctor. I am not sure if she made me into what she wanted or just knew me very well—probably a bit of both.
I attended medical school at the University of Miami and stayed in Miami for residency and fellowship in vitreoretinal disease and surgery at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
MY PATH TO RETINA
During residency, I was interested in just about every subspecialty, but I narrowed my focus to retina and oculoplastics. When it came time for our program director to review applications for Chief Resident, he told me that it was time to make a decision. I chose to apply for this position, which meant doing a vitreoretinal fellowship.
At that moment, I wasn’t sure if I was making the right decision. Now, I love what I do and look back on that deadline with a smile, as it brought me to a career that I enjoy every day. My practice, Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida, is a multigenerational group with fantastic physicians from different backgrounds, whose strengths complement one another.
This path has shown me that our lives are shaped by our large and small choices. You just dive in, and usually it works out.
SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY
It is impossible to share a full list of the mentors who have helped me along the way. My older classmates in residency were my mentors, as were the faculty throughout my training. I have tried to squeeze some knowledge out of each person I have met. Everyone has something to teach, and I learn something new every day. Currently, my mentors are my partners in practice. I ask them patient- and practice-related questions almost daily and never intend to stop.
AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER
My last year of training in Miami was certainly the most memorable—what an incredible opportunity. I was able to teach and advise residents, run my own surgical practice, and direct an ocular trauma service, all while being surrounded by faculty who were the best in their fields. It was a year of such incredible growth, and the honor of a lifetime.
