Eye Level Winter 2021 CPEC Chief

Wills Eye begins a wonderful new era, building on the legacy of the remarkable leadership of Drs. Robert S. Bailey Jr., Mark H. Blecher and their team.

Q: What does this newly appointed role mean to you?
A: It’s honestly a dream come true and a huge honor. I’ve had the privilege of training under some great mentors at Wills. Their dedication, compassion and service to their patients, trainees and colleagues has been an example for me. I hope I can nurture the same in others.

Q: Tell us about your relationship with Wills Eye Hospital?
A: I was a resident and co-chief resident at Wills, graduating in 2012. I was fortunate to join Drs. Rob Bailey and Amy Weber, loyal Wills supporters for years, who have grown a complex cataract and anterior segment practice. I stayed involved in resident education, staffing surgical cases, serving on committees and helping out wherever I could. I’ve been fortunate to be involved in the growth of the service and numerous educational opportunities for the residency.

Q: Your leadership team includes two colleagues: Janine Tabas (Co-Director) and Christina McGowan (Co-Director and Medical Director). How will your strengths complement one another and add a new dimension to the service?

A: Janine and Christina are both amazing people and physicians. I am thrilled to work with them. Janine is an experienced, level-headed surgeon who has staffed cases with the residents for years and grown a very successful practice with her partners. I value her expertise to further develop surgical education for residents and as a point person for the phenomenal volunteer faculty at CPEC. She’s also a sought-after actor in resident skits; she brings swagger to the CPEC leadership.

Christina is the boots-on-the-ground person, leading day-to-day operations. I can’t count the number of extra hours she has given on behalf residents and the service. She has also implemented changes to optimize patient care and the resident experience. She is detail-oriented and an excellent problem solver, helping navigate the forest through the trees. Her optimism balances my slight tendency towards sarcasm.

Q: What are some of the exciting plans for the service?
A: We hope to build on a great foundation. We are expanding our partnership with optometry and enhancing operations to serve more patients at 840 Walnut Street and our satellite locations. We will continue to emphasize the role of volunteer faculty in surgical education of residents and add faculty to round out patient care and the teaching experience. I have been involved in developing our resident education curriculum (along with others in our service) and plan to deepen this commitment over time. We have a wealth of research opportunities at our fingertips and aspire to develop this further.

Q: Summarize what makes CPEC so special at Wills?
A: If Wills were a house, CPEC would be the kitchen. It’s the hub of things. Everyone intersects with it; all trainees and patients flow in and out of there at some point. It is staffed by wonderful volunteer and staff doctors, who teach the art and science of comprehensive medical and surgical ophthalmology. Our bread is the gift of sight, delivered every day in the form of cataract surgery to our grateful patients. CPEC feeds the residency and subspecialties. It’s the place where the everyday happens, as well as the special, spontaneous moments that define the “Wills family.”