Retina Today (RT): When did you first realize that you wanted to become a retina specialist?
I first got interested in retina during my ophthalmology elective in medical school. I learned how to use the direct ophthalmoscope and was instantly captivated by the beauty of the retina. I had also taken a year out of medical school to pursue oncology research because I was interested in targeted therapy. I was awed by how retina specialists were routinely injecting anti-VEGF agents—a form of targeted therapy—directly into the eye and pioneering the first gene therapy trials in the eye, as well as the first human induced pluripotent stem cell trial. From then on, my experiences with the retina and retina specialists further solidified my conviction to become a clinician-scientist in retina.
RT: Who do you look up to as mentors in the field?
I had the privilege of completing my PhD thesis work with Jeremy Nathans, MD, PhD, who made seminal contributions in retinal biology. Dr. Nathans nurtured me as a scientist and remains one of my esteemed advisors to this day.
During my PhD, James T. Handa, MD, took me under his wing, and I shadowed him in his clinic and OR. It was refreshing to return as a fellow in the Retina division that Dr. Handa leads. During fellowship, Akrit Sodhi, MD, PhD, has mentored me on research projects and as an attending. Peter A. Campochiaro, MD, taught me how to perform my first vitreoretinal surgeries and continues to provide invaluable mentorship. I also have had the privilege of learning from all the exceptional attendings at Wilmer Eye Institute.
RT: What has been one of the most memorable experiences of your fellowship thus far?
The most memorable experience of my fellowship thus far was my first scleral buckle. Up to that point, I had only repaired retinal detachments with vitrectomy and gas/oil tamponade. We located and applied cryopexy to the breaks, sutured the buckle, and performed external drainage without any intraocular gas injection. I remember seeing the retina completely flat the next day and thought, “Wow, this works!”
FIRST CAREER MILESTONE
Dr. Heng is starting his career with the Shiley Eye Institute at the University of California, San Diego.
RT: What are you hoping to accomplish once you are in practice?
I am hoping to establish a career as a clinician-scientist combining clinical practice as a vitreoretinal surgeon with an NIH-funded research laboratory. My practice will likely consist of patients with general medical and/or surgical retinal conditions. My primary research interest is the regulation of the blood-retina barrier, which is relevant to almost all retinal conditions.
RT: What advice can you offer to residents who are considering retina?
I highly recommend retina as a specialty; it is an amazing and versatile field with many wonderful people. I also recommend learning all aspects of a comprehensive eye examination, not just a retina examination. Retina specialists see a diverse range of patients who often have multiple eye problems; therefore, being able to perform a comprehensive examination is key to sound management.
If you decide that retina is for you, get involved as early as possible by going to meetings, presenting abstracts, and publishing papers.
