Advances in Ophthalmology

Driven by an unwavering commitment to providing equal access to eye care, the Ophthalmology Residency Programs of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are breaking barriers to provide vision care in New York City’s underserved communities. Under the direction of renowned faculty from the Department of Ophthalmology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Ophthalmology residents provide comprehensive eye care to patients at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, the largest hospital in Central Harlem, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, located in the city’s most culturally diverse borough, and at community outreach clinics throughout the New York metropolitan area. These alliances serve the dual purpose of providing much-needed vision care to people with undiagnosed and untreated eye conditions, and offering unparalleled learning environments for the ophthalmologists of tomorrow.

“Working in underserved communities fulfills an important need that provides residents with a strong sense of mission and purpose,” says Royce W. S. Chen, MD, Helen and Martin Kimmel Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Residency Program Director at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “Our residents are truly helping individuals that might otherwise have worse health outcomes without their treatment.”

“The varied environments of these underserved communities expose residents to a wide breadth of ophthalmic pathology and treatment options that span from the very common to the extremely rare,” says Grace Sun, MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Ophthalmology Residency Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Additionally, the social, cultural, and economic diversity of practicing medicine across the spectrum of settings in New York City allows for the development of critical skills in patient communication, compassionate care, and professionalism.”

Unparalleled Learning Experiences: Caring for The Most Vulnerable Populations

“Working at Harlem Hospital has taught me to be very cognizant of all of the socioeconomic factors that play into a patient's illness, and to always try to address those factors in a patient's care,” says Rabia Karani, MD, MPH, second-year resident in Ophthalmology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “The opportunity to provide vision care to an underserved community makes me feel very grateful to be an ophthalmologist, as I know that I make a difference in someone's life every day.”

“I was drawn to Ophthalmology because I enjoy the balance of clinic and surgery and the broad patient population we serve, and our specialty's unique ability to perform a variety surgeries that restore or improve sight with almost immediate life changing results,” says Mahmood Khan, MD, fourth-year resident in Ophthalmology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Through our outreach effort at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens I have attained the unique experience of truly serving as a patient's ophthalmologist and taking increased ownership in treating and managing many complex ophthalmological conditions, both surgical and non-surgical. This combination of autonomy and diversified experience has made me a better ophthalmologist and well prepared to launch a career in this field.”