Today we’d like to introduce you to Amir Marvasti.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amir. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started as an immigrant with the goal of making a better future for myself than what I would have had in my home country of Iran. I got to where I am today because a number of key people in my life took a chance on me. First, my parents, for trusting a young boy to find his way far from home. Second, the directors of the many schools and programs where I completed my training for taking a leap of faith on me in a pool of overqualified candidates. And lastly, my mentors, for showing me a new door every time one closed.
I moved to Southern California at the age of 18, stayed with my uncle, and soon started my journey by taking English classes. Once I developed some degree of comfort with the English language, I attended a two-year college (Irvine Valley College) and later transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I still keep the acceptance letter from UCLA as to me, it was the first sign that I might have a chance at my dreams. I distinctly remember a line in that letter: “UCLA is a place where you will learn a lot about the world, but more often than not, it is where the world learns about you.” After getting involved in a number of student organizations in the field of medicine and taking volunteer mission strips to countries like Costa Rica, I decided to pursue a career in medicine.
During my medical education at the Boston University School of Medicine, I decided to take a year off from school and complete a year of medical research in the field of Ophthalmology at the UC-San Diego Shiley Eye Institute. To this date, I believe this rather unconventional year has been the most impactful in terms of the direction it gave to my career and the many doors that it opened for me. I then completed my residency in Ophthalmology at the UCSD Shiley Eye Institute, where I also served as the chief resident. My obsession with the field of optics and interest in corneal transplantation lead me to complete a fellowship in Corneal and Refractive Surgery at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute. I have since joined a private practice in Orange County, where I focus on cataract, refractive, and corneal transplantation surgery. I also take time to teach students and remain involved in clinical research.
Has it been a smooth road?
No. Learning a new language, being far from family/home, competing in a very competitive field, and finding my purpose in life have all been things that I have struggled with at different stages of my life. Still, I had a lot of support from my family, friends, and mentors who made this road a lot smoother for me.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Coastal Vision Medical Group story. Tell us more about your practice.
I’m a cataract, cornea, and refractive surgeon. Simply said, I specialize in the diseases of the front segment of the eye. The top 3 procedures that I perform are cataract surgery, LASIK, and corneal transplantation in its many forms. I’m proud that our company (Coastal Vision Medical Group) puts patients and their needs at the center of every decision we make. Our practice is known for being at the leading edge of technology, having surgeons with proven skills, and most importantly, gaining the trust of our patients when it comes to their vision.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Our industry is moving towards a more patient-centered care system. Clinics, surgery centers, and delivery of care is changing to reflect the needs of patients. One example is building state-of-the-art surgery rooms in a clinical office, where one could perform same-day surgery in a space that patients are more familiar with (vs. a surgery center that they have never been to).
Contact Info:
- Address: 15825 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 201
Irvine, CA, 92618 - Website: https://www.coastalvisionmedical.com
- Phone: 9494534661
- Email: amarvastimd@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amirmarvastimd/
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