5 Questions with José L. Güell, MD, PhD

1. How did you come to choose ophthalmology as a career?
My decision to become an ophthalmologist was last minute and spurred by a life-altering event. After 4 years in medical school studying neurosurgery, I was forced to suspend my studies after a tragic skydiving accident. During my jump, I had problems with my parachute. It took me six months to be able to walk again and a total of 3 years to fully recover from my injuries.

When I returned to my studies after several months, I realized that the outcomes of neurosurgery were a bit disappointing to me, despite the fact that I found the surgical procedure in and of itself to be very rewarding. Still, I did not like that many patients experienced residual problems postoperatively.

With my new perspective, I considered becoming an ophthalmologist. I had tried my hand at some of the procedures and discovered that the surgery was fantastic and the patient outcomes were amazing.

When the time came to pick my specialty, I drew to choose third out of 20,000 residents, leaving me very little time to second-guess my decision. After the first two interns made their decision, it was my turn; I picked ophthalmology and believe that the decision has played out well in my life.

2. Of all of your accomplishments in medicine, which are you proudest?
Even more than my work in corneal and refractive surgery, I am proud of my accomplishments in restoring injured eyes. It is more interesting and satisfying for me to perform intraocular surgery or corneal surgery when I am rebuilding an injured eye.

Currently, my practice is made up of approximately 50% or 60% of these types of corneal cases.

It is wonderful to able to be proud of what I am doing each week, instead of only a few instances over the entire span of my career. That would be what I consider the most amazing part of my job.

3. What do you feel will be the greatest future advance in refractive surgery?
It is hard to imagine beginning surgery without a knife in my hand. With that in mind, however, I believe that femtosecond technology is an extremely exciting prospect. Additionally, pharmacological advances, research in corneal anterior segment surgery, and advances in gene therapy will be the promising advances of the future.

I believe that, to date, we have already achieved a high-level of technology in the surgical arena of ophthalmology.

There will also be room for more innvoation in every area of this field, but I believe that the areas of pharmacological research and gene therapies have the most room for new growth and innovation.

4. What is the focus of your current research?
I am mainly focused in the concept of adjustable refractive surgery, optical quality, corneal endothelial transplantation, and high-risk keratoplasty.

5. What advice do you have for future ophthalmologists?
My advice for future ophthalmologists is to enjoy your practice. I mentioned at a recent meeting that it is important to remember why you originally chose to practice medicine. Like the old adage, it is important to do unto others as you would do to yourself.

There are some strange practices being performed out there by doctors who forgot why they are here—to help patients. It is important to remember to keep the medical side a priority over the commercial aspects. This is not commerce, it is medicine.

As long as doctors remember that and enjoy what they do, they will be truly successful.