Joined the Practice: 2008

Place of Birth: Baltimore, MD

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, Baltimore

Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey

Internship: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston

Residency: Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston

Fellowship: Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD

Board Certification: American Board of Ophthalmology Eligible

Academic Appointment: Staff Physician, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital

Specialty: Refractive Cataract, Cornea & LASIK Surgery

Neel R. Desai, M.D. is a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist strictly specializing in LASIK, cataract and corneal diseases of the eye. Dr. Desai is a top graduate of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed his fellowship in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He is recognized throughout the country and internationally as one of only 100 surgeons able to perform advanced corneal transplants and other complex cataract, corneal and refractive procedures. He holds pending patents to new surgical products and advanced cornea surgical procedures of his own design. Additionally, Dr. Desai has authored many book chapters in his field of study and continues to write articles in peer review journals.

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Education:

Undergraduate:

University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
B.S. Biology, Minor in Psychology
Summa Cum Laude
President’s Full Tuition Merit Scholarship
8/95-5/99

Medical:

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
Doctorate in Medicine
8/99-5/03

Internship:

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Internship in Surgery
7/03-6/04

Residency:

Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina
Residency in Ophthalmology
7/04- 6/07

Fellowship:

Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Fellowship in Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery
7/07- 6/08

Certification:

American Society of Corneal and Refractive Surgeons, 2004
American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2003
VISX and Intralase (All laser bladeless LASIK certification), 2005

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Honors/Awards:

2007              2007 Wilmer Research Award, The Esen Akpek Grant
2006              Ophthalmology Times-AMO Resident Writers Award, Finalist
2005              Resident Research Award, “The Helma Award”
                       American Society of Corneal and Refractive Surgeons, Clinical
                       Update Conference
2004              ‘MUSC Gives Back’ Community Service Award, FIGHT for Sight   
2003              Penn State College of Medicine Community Service Award
2003              Arnold P. Gold Foundation ‘Humanism in Medicine’ Award
2003              Inducted as Lifetime Member, Gold Humanism Honors Society
                       Kienle Chapter, Penn State College of Medicine
2003              Medical Student Research Symposium Award
2001,2002     Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society, New Project Grants
2001              American Medical Student Association,Community Serv.Grant
2000              Mellinger Medical Research Award
1998              Inducted to Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society
1998              Inducted to Golden Key Honors Society
1995-1999     University of Maryland President’s Award
                       Full tuition merit scholarship

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Teaching Appointments:

Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Staff Physician, Teaching Faculty
07/2008 to 09/2008

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Book Chapters:

1.    Desai NR:      Section I, Chapter 23:  “Heads Up Cataract Surgery with the True Vision 3D Display System”.  In:  Surgical Techniques in Ophthalmology-Cataract Surgery.  Jaypee-Highlights Medical Publishers, Inc., New Delhi, India, 2009

2.    Desai NR:     Section II, Chapter 45:  “Management of IFIS with Biaxial Technique and Malyugin Ring”.  In:  Surgical Techniques in Ophthalmology-Cataract Surgery.  Jaypee-Highlights Medical Publishers, Inc., New Delhi, India, 2009

3.    Desai NR:     Section III, Chapter 50:  “The New Era of Wavefront Guided Cataract Surgery and Astigmatism Correction with the O Range Intraoperative Aberrometer”.  In:  Surgical Techniques in Ophthalmology-Cataract Surgery.  Jaypee-Highlights Medical Publishers, Inc., New Delhi, India, 2009

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Research

2007               Principle Investigator
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Walter J. Stark, MD and Esen K. Akpek, MD
Continuing development and prototype application of a novel surgical device and techniques for the iris-fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses in a cadaveric human model.  Surgical techniques demonstrated and evaluated using Miyake-Apple camera videography as well as scanning electron microscope imaging.  Patents Pending.
Presented at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute Meeting May 2008

2007               Co-Investigator
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Albert S. Jun, MD, PhD, and Walter J. Stark, MD
Conducted a longitudinal comparative analysis of Orbscan II and Pentacam corneal topography measurements in patients with clinically unilateral keratoconus.  Study aims to identify topographic indices suggesting high risk for keratectasia.

2007              Co-Investigator
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital
John D. Gottsch, MD, Oliver D. Schein, MD, and Walter J. Stark, MD
Described novel form of immediate post-operative pressure following Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK).
Manuscript submitted for publication in Cornea, June 2008.
  
2005-2006    Principle Investigator
Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina
David T. Vroman, MD and Kerry D. Solomon, MD
Designed and developed a novel microsurgical system of iris fixation clips for use in iris fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses, iridoplasty, or other anterior segment reconstructive procedures.  Patent Pending.

2005-2006    Principle Investigator
Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina
Kerry D. Solomon, MD  Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service
Conducted a 5-year comparative retrospective analysis of secondary intraocular lens implantation and fixation procedures performed at the Storm Eye Institute including transscleral suturing,  McCannel suturing ,  sulcus fixation and optic capture.  Study parameters included pre- and post-operative visual acuity, visual recovery time, and rates of repeat malposition, re-operation and associated complications.
Presented at the American Society of Cornea and Refractive Surgeons Meeting 2007.
 
2004-2006    Principle Investigator
Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina
David T. Vroman, MD, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service
Designed a novel two-piece corneal marking instrument for integration in the Hanna suction trephine to facilitate more accurate radial suture placement and tissue distribution for the reduction of post-keratoplasty astigmatism.  Instrument accepted for prototype production  by Moria Surgical.  Patent Pending.
Presented at the American Society of Cornea and Refractive Surgeons Meeting, June 2005.

2002-2003    Co-Investigator
Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Medical College
George Spaeth, MD and Jefferey Henderer, MD; Glaucoma Service
Testing the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the ‘Visual Field Damage Likelihood Score’ (VDLS), a novel staging system for visual field loss.
Presented at the American Glaucoma Society Meeting, March 2003

July 2002        Co-Investigator
Penn State Retina Research Group, Penn State College of      Medicine
Thomas Gardner, MD,  David Antonetti, PhD
Participated in ongoing exploration of the mechanisms underlying increased vascular permeability in diabetic retinopathy and elucidation of pathways and cell signaling events involved  in the regulation of tight junction proteins in retinal vascular endothelium in response to corticosteroid  therapy.

July 2002        Co-Investigator
Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Medical       College
George Spaeth, MD; Director Glaucoma Service
“Assessment of Function Related to Vision (AFREV)” evaluated a novel instrument to assess the actual functional status of patients with vision-related problems.  Quantified relationship between  clinical measures of visual function, self-reports, and task-performance to identify predictors of difficulty with activities of daily living and early manifestations of change in clinical status.
Presented at the American Glaucoma Society Meeting, March 2003

2000-2003    Research Fellow
University of Maryland Medical Center, Transplant Surgery Division
Benjamin Philosophe, MD,  Stephen Bartlett, MD,  Gregg Hadley, PhD
Studied role of hepatic dendrite cells in the induction of immune tolerogenicity following portal vein injection of donor UVB-irridiated splenocytes in the murine model as means to reduce kidney transplant rejection.
Annals of Surgery 2001; 234:689-696

1997-1999    Research Fellow
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Keiko Ozato, MD,PhD; Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation
Elucidated the role of histone acetylase pCAF and its interaction with retinoic acid receptors, in the transcriptional regulation of RA-responsive genes involved in neuronal differentiation.
Genes Dev (1999) June 1:12(11):1638-51

1997-1999    Research Fellow
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Keiko Ozato, MD,PhD; Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation
Characterized the role of Vitamin A-deficiency and retinoids in hematopoesis and changes in organ morphology correlated with decreased rates of apoptosis which contributes to the development of myeloproliferative disorders.
Blood (2000) June 1;95 (11):3349-56

1996             Research Fellow
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Michael Summers, PhD
Used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and nuclear spin relaxation analysis to describe the internal dynamics of the histone protein HMfB from M fervidus, a hyperthermophilic organism, with structural similarities to HIV virus histone proteins.   

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Community Service/Extracurricular

2003 – 2007                                                                                                                                                                                            Storm Eye Institute ‘Fight for S.I.G.H.T.’ Outreach Initiative
Founder and Chairman
Established a resident-physician managed non-profit community service organization primarily dedicated to identifying, preventing, and treating vision-threatening conditions affecting the indigent community through monthly mobile clinics and community education seminars held at centers around Charleston, South Carolina. The organization also provides training opportunities for resident-physicians and medical students through the establishment and sponsorship of the Medical Student Ophthalmology Society.

2002 – 2003                                                                                                                                                                                             Penn State Ophthalmology Outreach Program
Founder and Chairman
Established a community service project in conjunction with the Penn State Ophthalmology Residency Program and ‘LionCare’ to provide weekly mobile eye clinics for the indigent population in Central Pennsylvania. The program was able to provide indigent patients with comprehensive eye exams screening for common causes of vision loss in that population, as well as medical, laser, and surgical treatment to patients who otherwise would not have access to such care.

1999 – 2003                                                                                                                                                                                              ‘Lion Care’ Homeless Clinic and Community Education Initiative
Founding Member and Chairperson
Directly managed the establishment and operation of a weekly Acute-Care and General Medical Management Clinic serving the indigent population of the Greater Harrisburg Area. Led the expansion of the Women’s Health Clinic, Pediatric Health Clinic, and monthly targeted Community Education initiatives and presentations.

1999 – 2003                                                                                                                                                                                      Diabetes Awareness and Screening Initiative
Founder and Coordinator
Launched monthly diabetes screening and community education project based on grant from the American Medical Student Association.

1999 – 2003                                                                                                                                                                                          Medical School Admissions Committee, Member
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Evaluated and recruited prospective students and participated in selection process.

1995 – 1999                                                                                                                                                                                                   R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Trauma Technician
University of Maryland Medical System
Assisted in primary survey and initial medical management of critically-ill patients and victims of severe trauma during 11PM to 7 AM shift. Certified Emergency Medical Technician Class A (State of Maryland).

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Professional Memberships & Affiliations

2007-Present       Alcon Speakers Bureau
2007-Present       Allergan, Fellows to Residents Speakers Bureau
2005-Present       Charleston School of Law: Health Law and Bioethics Society, Member
2004-Present       American Society of Corneal and Refractive Surgeons, Member
2003-Present       American Academy of Ophthalmology, Member
1999-Present       American Medical Association, Member
1999-2003            American Medical Student Association, Penn State Chapter
1999-2003            Medical School Admissions Committee, Penn State College of Medicine

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Presentations

Desai NR:    Course Faculty Member:  “Advanced Techniques in Complicated Cataract Cases Presented in 3D”,  ASCRS-Boston, MA, April 12, 2010


Desai NR:    Presenting Author-Scientific Poster:  “Initial Results With Intra-operative Wavefront Aberrometry-Guided Placement of Toric IOLs”-(among those having received highest grades from Annual Meeting Program Committee)-AAO 2009 Joint Meeting, San Francisco, CA, October 26, 2009


Desai NR:    Co-author-Presentation of Paper:  “New Interactive Surgical Software for Capsulorrhexis and Limbal Relaxing Incisions Using a High-Definition 3D Visualization System”, AAO Joint Meeting, San Francisco, CA, October 27, 2009