Young ophthalmologists explore new professional, personal avenues in US

A couple of years ago, after flying more than 6,000 km, we landed in Boston, one from Ljubljana, Slovenia, the other from Santiago, Chile, searching for something new. We had each worked in established clinics before, and our decisions to move from a safe environment to the unknown were a surprise to the people around us.

Mentors from previous years were excellent and taught us that you have to get out into the world for a while to broaden your views and to see things from different perspectives — and that an essential part of life is to always set new goals, meet new people, learn from them and manage hurdles. It is not easy to move from one continent to another on your own, with only two suitcases of clothes and a laptop. Looking for a new flat, opening a new bank account, getting a new telephone and Social Security number, without which you are a non-existing alien in the U.S. Even shopping in the grocery store is a challenge with packages of entirely different food and no friends near to ask.

We first met in the clinic of Claes Dohlman, MD, PhD, at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Dohlman is the godfather of the cornea: He started the first cornea service in the world and developed the most used artificial cornea, the Boston keratoprosthesis (B-KPro). A fascinating international group of doctors and researchers from Greece, Spain, Brazil, U.S., Germany, Canada, Japan and India, among others, work with him. He is turning 92 this year and drives for 35 minutes to get to work from Monday to Saturday. He still sees patients and devotes his life to science and training young ophthalmologists.

Click here to read the full publication exclusive, The Young Ophthalmologist, from the September issue of OSN Europe Edition, by Alja Crnej, MD, and Andrea Cruzat, MD.