Up to that point in medical school, I felt as though we had barely any training when it came to the eyes. There might have been one day with eight hours of lecture that focused on that part of the anatomy, but that didn\u2019t seem like it was enough. So, when I failed that vision test, I decided I would do some studying on my own. The prospect of making an impressive change in someone\u2019s life \u2014 by restoring or improving their vision \u2014 got me excited about the field of ophthalmology.<\/p>\n
From there, I applied for and got accepted to a residency program in New York City\u2019s Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. I did a three-year study in ophthalmology and, in my final year, one of my fellow residents and I were selected as the Chief Residents. During that same time, I was blessed by being exposed to a multitude of eyelid plastic surgeons (oculoplastic surgeons) and even worked with Dr. Byron Smith. He\u2019s known among the oculoplastic surgeons as \u201cthe father of oculoplastic surgery.\u201d It was always fascinating to get his take on certain patients or issues when other surgeons would ask him for his opinion or advice.<\/p>\n
It was a wonderful time, and while I was already excited about ophthalmology, I became even more enthusiastic about this sub-specialty. Because of this added interest, I then continued my training with a two-year fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida and trained exclusively in eyelid plastic and reconstructive surgery. During that time, I also oversaw the teaching of ophthalmology residents. Each week I gave a lecture on a different subject within oculoplastics. Apparently, I was so thrilled by what I was sharing in my talks, at the end of those two years the residents gave me a humorous plaque that said I suffered from the \u201cSyndrome of Inappropriate Enthusiasm.\u201d<\/p>\n
| \n The enthusiasm those fellow residents pinpointed and that I\u2019ve felt for my chosen field has carried through these years and has never wavered in the least. Even with over 20 years in this field, I feel as though I\u2019m just getting started. I\u2019m still just as excited now as I was the first time I heard Dr. Byron Smith speak about oculoplastic medicine and the first day I opened my own practice in this wonderful field of surgery.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n![\"dr\"](\"https:\/\/www.eyeplasticmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/dr.jpg\") ![\"sign\"](\"https:\/\/www.eyeplasticmd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/sign-300x49.png\") <\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"AN ENTHUSIASTIC PURSUIT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY When I was in medical school, I failed the distance vision test when I tried to renew my driver\u2019s license. This meant it wasn\u2019t legal for me to drive, so I needed to get glasses. … Continue reading |