WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I grew up in the small, rural town of Stoystown, Pennsylvania. My mother is a third-generation nurse, my father a sixth-generation funeral director, and my older sister, for a time, became the seventh. From an early age, I was drawn to the sciences. My childhood room was filled with microscopes, telescopes, chemistry kits, and anatomy books. However, my mother guided me toward medicine as a career. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh and spent significant time in a synthetic organic chemistry lab. Although the work was intellectually stimulating, I realized I wanted my life’s work to have a more direct effect on the people around me. Medicine fused my love of science and service.
MY PATH TO RETINA
I went to medical school at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Initially, I planned to pursue internal medicine with the goal of specializing in critical care or infectious disease. During a rotation with the Retina Service, I watched as the retina fellow astutely diagnosed a patient with cytomegalovirus retinitis and, subsequently, HIV/AIDS. I was awestruck that a brief look into the eye could reveal so much. I left that rotation determined to become a vitreoretinal surgeon. Little did I know that this early encounter would serve as a foreshadowing of my path toward also becoming a uveitis specialist.
SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have exceptional mentors throughout my journey. In addition to James P. Dunn, MD, and Sunir J. Garg, MD, who introduced me to uveitis during residency, I’m deeply grateful to Allen C. Ho, MD; Carl D. Regillo, MD; and Julia A. Haller, MD, for their unwavering support. During my uveitis fellowship at Cole Eye Institute, I was mentored by Sunil Srivastava, MD; Sumit Sharma, MD; and Daniel F. Martin, MD. At the Duke Eye Center, where I completed my vitreoretinal surgery fellowship, I am especially thankful to Glenn Jaffe, MD, and Dilraj Grewal, MD, for their mentorship in both uveitis and vitreoretinal surgery, as well as to Lejla Vajzovic, MD, and Sharon Fekrat, MD, who challenged me to become the very best surgeon.
Dr. Deaner’s advice: Being a vitreoretinal surgeon is difficult, but we don’t choose this career path because it’s easy! Don’t be intimidated by the tough cases, but rather embrace them as opportunities to continue to learn and grow.
AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER
My most cherished moment was receiving the Wills Eye Hospital Golden Apple Residency Teaching Award in 2025. Having been blessed with extraordinary teachers throughout my life, I feel a deep obligation to return that to my colleagues, residents, and medical students. To know that I have fulfilled that role, even in a small way, fills me with profound joy.
