Eyeworld

28 | EYEWORLD | FALL 2026 ASCRS NEWS YES CONNECT by Ellen Stodola Editorial Co-Director About the physicians Neel Pasricha, MD Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology University of California, San Francisco Francis I. Proctor Foundation San Francisco, California Zeba A. Syed, MD Director of Cornea Fellowship Program Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Wills Eye Hospital Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Angela Verkade, MD Director of Cornea Fellowship Program Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Kellogg Eye Center University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan career—such as how to balance research, indus- try collaboration, teaching, and the many other aspects that contribute to a meaningful career. Dr. Syed described herself as fortunate to have trained with outstanding mentors in residency and fellowship. She noted that they gave her increasing independence as her skills developed, while always providing a supportive safety net. "They created an environment where questions were encouraged and constructive feedback was routine," she said. When teaching and mentoring herself, Dr. Syed said she seeks to build confidence gradually by breaking com- plex procedures into manageable steps, which allows trainees to master individual components before performing an entire surgery. "I also place a strong emphasis on thoughtful case dis- cussions because those were some of the most valuable aspects of my own training," she said. "As someone in academic medicine, I was fortunate to have mentors who demonstrated how to successfully balance the many facets of an academic career," Dr. Syed continued. "They showed me how to integrate research and industry collaboration into a busy clinical practice, and those experiences have added tre- mendous fulfillment to my career." While there are differences between private practice and working in an academic setting, Dr. Syed said the principles of good teaching are the same, re- gardless of the setting, but the opportunities can differ. "In an academic environment, there may be more dedicated time for structured teaching, wet labs, formal feedback, and case discussions. Teaching is fundamental to medicine. At every stage of our careers, we teach those who follow us. As attendings, however, that role takes on new weight. We have the privilege of helping trainees develop judgment, confidence, and independence, along with the profound fulfillment of watching them flourish. In doing so, we build a legacy that outlasts us and extends our impact beyond the care we provide directly. But that privilege carries real tension, espe- cially for young attendings. We must give trainees meaningful autonomy while protecting patient safety. We often do so while still building our own practices and reputations and refining our clinical and surgical skills. Having spent years teaching residents and fellows, I have experienced this tension firsthand. I chose this topic because while teaching is cen- tral to our profession, few of us receive formal instruction in how to teach. We tend to model the mentors who shaped us, but our trainees may learn very differently than we did. Becoming an effective educator requires inten- tion, reflection, feedback, and adaptability. I am delighted to share how Drs. Pasricha, Syed, and Verkade approach this work and prepare the next generation of confident, thoughtful surgeons. —Rahul Tonk, MD, MBA YES Connect Guest Editor B eing successful in ophthalmology often goes beyond just providing excellent clinical care, and learning and teach- ing has a huge impact on success. Three surgeons discussed the value and impact of teaching and mentorship, their experiences, and how they've carried this for- ward to help train others in ophthalmology. Teaching and mentoring are just as import- ant as the technical aspects of clinical and sur- gical training, said Zeba A. Syed, MD. "Learning how to perform a procedure is only one part of becoming a surgeon. A good mentor helps train- ees develop confidence and the ability to handle unexpected situations independently. The goal is to prepare trainees to practice safely and confi- dently once they are on their own," she said. In addition, Dr. Syed said mentors can help shape the "bigger picture" of a trainee's future The importance of mentorship and teaching in ophthalmology continued on page 30 A cornea fellow at Wills Eye practices big bubble DALK in the surgical wet lab. Source: Zeba A. Syed, MD

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