Biography
Dr. Fred Y. Chien graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2003 and is currently a Medical Retina Specialist at Ocean Ophthalmology Group in Miami, FL and VP Ophthalmology & Clinical Sciences at Halodine, LLC.
Time at ISMMS
Mount Sinai’s strong academic program, renowned faculty, top ranking, clinical training, and being a leader in research were all very enticing features drawing Dr. Chien to ISMMS. Being located on the upper east side with a beautiful view of Central Park was decadent ice cream on the proverbial cake.
What Dr. Chien misses most about being a student at ISMMS are all the experiences and friendships formed during the 4-year journey through medical school. From the excitement of the first day in anatomy class to the necessary, grind of studying for the USMLE Step I to the nervousness of taking care of our first patient to the jubilation of our graduation ceremony. The memories and friendships made during the journey really are unforgettable.
Advice for Students
Dr. Chien wants students to appreciate the journey. It can be difficult to enjoy the moment when you are up in the middle of the night while on trauma call but you really do look back at those moments with fondness. Spend time with your friends and colleagues. Some colleagues you may never see again while others will remain lifelong friends. Enjoy the experiences that will forever bind you and your classmates. Take advantage of the world-renowned faculty at ISMMS. He found a mentor in Dr. Steven M. Podos who at the time was the department chair of ophthalmology. Dr. Podos supported his work in his laboratory, encouraged clinical exposure in ophthalmology early on, and provided invaluable support during my residency application process. Finally, do it for the love of medicine. Medicine, science, and healthcare all change so quickly, it really does come down to doing what you love.
Adaptions due to COVID-19 pandemic
Ophthalmology was one of the most affected specialties in healthcare. In his offices, they have taken extra steps to help ensure the safety of their patients since some of their patients have comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, advanced age, etc. that make them especially high risk for having a negative outcome if they were to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. His team has decreased the number of patients and physicians in the office on any given day, thoroughly sanitize our rooms in between patients, and check the temperature of every patient, physician, and staff that comes into the office that day. Masks along with social distancing measures between patients are strictly enforced. Finally, the team recognizes the need for oral and nasal antisepsis to further decrease the risk of transmission—especially given the impossibility of social distancing between the eye care provider and the patient—and have implemented the use of 1.25% povidone-iodine (Halodine nasal antiseptic) for antisepsis prior to in-office procedures.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis but there is also room for cautious optimism. We have overcome other pandemics in the past with less medical knowledge and technology. Though much remains unknown, we have made tremendous strides in our understanding of this virus and we now know how to better protect ourselves and treat infected patients.
