We are delighted to introduce Dr Melinda Chang as a touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders 2025. Dr Chang is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, specializing in paediatric and neuro-ophthalmology.
Dr Chang brings an impressive academic foundation and advanced training from leading institutions, including the Stein Eye Institute and Doheny Eye Institute. She holds memberships in societies such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). In addition, she serves as an editor for Cochrane Eyes and Vision and received with the prestigious Heed Ophthalmic Fellowship amongst other awards during her training and residency.
In her clinical practice, Dr Chang focuses on the management of neurologic disorders affecting vision in children, including optic neuritis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, myasthenia gravis, cortical visual impairment, metabolic and genetic disorders, and brain and optic nerve tumours. She is particularly dedicated to addressing ophthalmologic problems in children with neuro-developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder.
In this Q&A, we celebrate Dr Chang’s accomplishments and gain insights into her vision for the future of paediatric neuro-ophthalmology.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in ophthalmology?
I was drawn to ophthalmology due to 1) the opportunity to make an immediate and lasting impact on patients’ quality of life, as with cataract or strabismus surgery; 2) the longitudinal aspect of the practice of ophthalmology (especially paediatric ophthalmology), which facilitates building long-term relationships with patients and families; and 3) the interesting research opportunities in the field, since the eye is the only part of the nervous system that we can directly visualize. I have never regretted my choice!
2. Who has been the most significant mentor or role model for you, and what did you learn from them?
Mark Borchert, who is the senior paediatric neuro-ophthalmologist at CHLA, has been (and continues to be) my primary mentor. In addition to teaching me about managing complex clinical and surgical cases, he is a role model for the traits that I aspire to achieve – integrity, compassion and a dedication to lifelong learning.
3. What current innovations in ophthalmology excite you the most?
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the hottest topic right now, and we are still in the infancy of exploring how it can be incorporated into the field of ophthalmology, especially paediatric ophthalmology. I am excited about the possibility of AI enhancing or streamlining our ability to perform more mundane tasks, so that we can spend more time on human-centric activities, like connecting with patients. Also, my research focuses on the use of eye tracking for visual assessment in children with developmental disorders, so I am also eager to see how this technology can help us take care of this often-marginalized population.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchOPHTHALMOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Chang. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
touchOPHTHALMOLOGY is celebrating the brightest rising stars in the ophthalmology community, who are set to shape the future of the field.
Read more about touchOPHTHALMOLOGY Future Leaders 2025 here.
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