Sean Ianchulev

Professor of Ophthalmology, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai. Director of Technology and Innovations, New York Eye and Ear of Mount Sinai, New York, USA

What is an interesting or little-known fact about you?

I fled communism and came to the US on my own as a teenager with $200 in my pocket…

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology/your subspecialty?

Because of great mentors and role models, including my own mother, who is a retina specialist

Who is someone in ophthalmology/your subspecialty that you feel has been particularly influential over the past 10 years?

I am fortunate to have been in the midst of incredibly bright colleagues and role models while on this innovation trail – people who have inspired and encouraged me every day, including Don Minkler, Tom Zimmerman, Ken Hoffer, Bob Sinskey, David Chang, Bob Weinreb, Ike Ahmed, Jim Tsai, and Lou Pasquale.

What’s been the biggest breakthrough in ophthalmology/your specific field over the last 10 years?

Anti-VEGF therapy. When I first started working on Lucentis in 2002, no one knew what was in the works…

Is there a particular tool, technological advance, or instrument you would not have been able to live without over the past 10 years?

miLOOP – helps make every cataract case a cinch.

Do you have any strong opinions with which the rest of the field tends to disagree?

Usually, I tend to be productively contrarian... and honest about our failures. I think we have done a rather poor job in protecting our trade and preventing devaluation of our highly specialized skills over the last 30 years. Something to respect and learn from our colleagues in veterinary ophthalmology! :-)

What would you like to see change in ophthalmology/your subspecialty over the next 10 years – and why?

Teach young ophthalmologists not only patient care and clinical skills, but also how to innovate and how to advocate for their value in the health care system.

Where do you predict ophthalmology/your subspecialty will be 10 years from now?

It will be corporatized – and most eye doctors will be employees.

Do you have any personal missions for the next 10 years?

Use my unique expertise in product development, innovation, ophthalmology, bio-tech and med-tech, and public health to bring new meaningful products to patients and colleagues – not only for the developed world but also for global outreach as well. Lots that can be done in the developing world where we have failed to bring meaningful product and service innovation to address global blindness. 

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Innovation takes a “tribe” not a village… On the path of innovation, I have met and worked with so many wonderful people and made many friends throughout this incredible professional journey. I would like to have them all at the table – the whole tribe!