Ferhina S. Ali

About Ferhina S. Ali

Vitreoretinal physician and surgeon, San Francisco, California, USA

What can be done to make the field more diverse?

I feel fortunate to be a part of a community that chose the best field in all of medicine, and also very excited to celebrate women in ophthalmology.

Research shows that diversity translates into greater productivity, creativity, and innovation. Championing diverse representation in residency and fellowship selection processes, in addition to hiring practices, is critical to advancement and continuing to attract the best talent to our field. Mentorship and sponsorship towards career advancement for women is also key to retaining talent and establishing female representation on the leadership level.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Learning how to become an ophthalmologist, and then a retina specialist. Taking care of patients and performing surgery has been a privilege and an incredibly rewarding means to impact the lives of patients in a very tangible way. On a broader scale, it has opened many doors for creative industry and NGO collaborations aimed at improving treatments and access to care.

Outside of work, what makes you happy?

Travel and spending time outdoors with my family, friends, and French bulldog, Akbar the Great.