Alumni Spotlight

Most important thing to you about having attended Pitt for Ophthalmology?

The mentorship that I experienced from UPMC by far would be the most important to me. It was there that I saw how to be an impactful teacher and a compassionate doctor. I could honestly go on and on with something positive I learned from all the attendings. Dr. Mammen and Dr. Conner were great at providing concrete feedback sandwiched with deadpan humor and were always available for guidance in our numerous wet lab activities. I refined much of my slit lamp skills with Dr. Harwick and will always remember her thoroughness with patients. Dr. Bonhomme was one of the most intelligent and eloquent physicians I have ever met and I was so inspired by her that I briefly even considered neuro-ophthalmology as a career choice. Dr. Nischal was charming, engaging, and an avid questioner. As a resident, I was fueled to study harder so that I could correctly answer the questions that he peppered during clinic sessions.

How has the campus/department changed since you were in school?

After I graduated, all the specialty departments expanded so much with new faculty and more satellite office locations!

What are you most excited about in the future of the department?

Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio

2016

Career:

I am in academic medicine and private practice. I am a physician at Pediatric Ophthalmology Associates in Columbus, Ohio. I also serve as Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at The Ohio State University and as a member of the medical staff at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Family:

I am originally from Potomac, Maryland. I am married and have two girls, a 3.5-year-old and a 1-year-old.

Hobbies:

My hobbies include gardening (both indoor plants and square foot gardening) and trying to increase my time outdoors. I am currently trying to pursue the 1,000 hours outside challenge!

I am excited about the research towards prevention of myopia progression, as well as looking more at the genetic basis of ocular conditions in order to further create personalized medicine.

Any funny/interesting

stories from your years working or in school?

I went on a medical mission trip to Honduras during my second year of training. During a complex cataract surgery, all the electricity suddenly turned off while I was in the process of performing a critical step. This was particularly frightening for this new and somewhat timid surgeon-in-training. I took a deep breath and kept going with the light of the flashlight held over by my co-residents to help me until I could safely exit the eye.

During my time on my pediatric ophthalmology rotation, I examined a toddler who was dressed only in a diaper who decided that the best and really only place to sit in the office without crying was on my toes. I somehow managed to perform an exam on this patient. This experience, rather than being a deterrent, was actually one of the many uplifting experiences I had on my rotation that led me to become a pediatric ophthalmologist.