WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis as the daughter of a college professor and computer scientist. My wonderful parents instilled in me an early curiosity in science and engineering, as well as a deep desire to pursue the arts. I competed in jazz, tap, and ballet dance and eventually focused exclusively on classical dances—often splitting my summers between Minnesota and India to get intensive training in dance. At Stanford, I started with a mechanical engineering major with a particular interest in medical devices, which later laid the foundation for my retina training.
MY PATH TO RETINA
My clinical training at New York University afforded me the privilege of serving many underserved populations across New York, offering invaluable exposure to health disparities. It was there that I first became deeply fascinated with the visual beauty of retinal diseases and the intricate world of retinal surgery.
I distinctly remember my first case of severe diabetic retinopathy; I watched my mentor deploy precision, technique, and a genuine artistic sensibility to correct years of systemic disease manifestation within the eye. In that moment, I was hooked, marking the definitive beginning of my journey into retina.
Dr. Nair’s advice: It is important to reflect on what challenges you and what excites you the most and pursue that wholeheartedly. Career growth and success will follow naturally.
SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY
I have had innumerable mentors through residency and fellowship. These individuals not only inspired me to be a better diagnostician and better surgeon but, most importantly, how to care and advocate for my patients. I remember calling my mentors on the days leading up to my first complex case as an attending. Several years into practice, I continue to lean on these mentors for challenging cases, surgical advice, and essential career insight.
AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER
My most memorable experiences are cases that have required retinal expertise to help patients with systemic disease. Most recently, I saw a patient who had progressive neurological weakness—a young female patient who went from being a marathon runner to needing a cane within few years. She had sought expert medical and surgical opinions as an outpatient; however, this approach was going nowhere.
She had initially seen me for floaters, but my examination yielded a striking finding: There was stark retinal periphlebitis and vitreous snowballs. I thought back to my training to link the findings of intermediate uveitis to findings of multiple sclerosis. Through my examination and experience, I suggested that the care team explore the possibility of an atypical case of multiple sclerosis. With that diagnosis confirmed, she is now on the road to recovery.
