Ophthalmologist Interview

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology have far reaching implications for healthcare through faster, non-invasive, and cost-effective solutions, making it easier to screen more people for various life altering diseases
Sahil Thakur, our next pathbreaker, is Head of Medical Affairs at Mediwhale, a Korean Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) company that develops AI algorithms using retinal images for disease prediction.
Sahil talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his medical background (MBBS) in Ophthalmology, and bridging clinical practice with a PhD that helps translate medical research into real world innovations that benefit patients
For students, the future is full of possibilities, and your path will be unique-so embrace every challenge, stay curious, and take that first step with confidence
Sahil, can you share your background for our young readers?
I grew up in the beautiful hills of Shimla, surrounded by books, thanks to my parents, who were both history professors. Our home was always filled with stories-both real and imaginary-and that probably sparked my love for learning early on. Later, I moved to Chandigarh with my mother when she got a job there, while my parents traveled between cities so we could all be together on weekends. I did my 11th and 12th in Chandigarh and then pursued my MBBS at GMCH Chandigarh.
From a young age, I was fascinated by science, especially biology-it just made sense to me, like solving a puzzle But my interests weren't limited to just studies. I loved reading, from Hindi comics to Enid Blyton adventures. I also had a bit of a collector's spirit, I hoarded chewing gum cards, G.I. Joe figures, stamps, and currency notes. Looking back, maybe that's why I ended up collecting degrees too The curiosity I had as a child-whether it was about how the human body works or the excitement of finding a rare stamp-never really left me. And that curiosity is what led me to where I am today
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
After finishing my MBBS, I had many options to choose from. Some of my friends took very different paths-one became an IPS officer, another went to the US by giving the USMLE (US Medical Licensing Exam) for further training. It was exciting to see so many possibilities, but I decided to take the NEET exam and was offered an ophthalmology residency in Chandigarh. Ophthalmology is a unique field, it's all about eyes It might not be the first thing people think of when they hear "doctor," but I was always good at technical things, and the idea of performing delicate surgeries under a microscope fascinated me. It felt like a perfect fit
During my residency, I had an incredible mentor, Prof. Parul Ichhpujani, who introduced me to research. She taught me to look beyond what others were doing and think differently. That led me to take up an overseas research fellowship in Singapore.
Then came COVID-19, and like everyone else, my plans changed. But at that time, I realized I wanted to grow even more as a researcher. I was lucky to find another amazing mentor, Prof. Ching-Yu Cheng, at the Singapore Eye Research Institute, who guided me during my PhD.
I did my PhD from Duke-NUS Medical School Duke-NUS (National University of Singapore) Medical School, in Clinical and Translational Sciences
During my PhD, I got really interested in how research can be turned into real-world solutions. That's when I decided to pursue an MBA as well-to learn how to bring medical innovations to people.
I know, it sounds like I collected too many degrees But for me, every step was driven by curiosity and a love for learning. And that's the best part-when you truly enjoy something, learning never feels like a burden
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat and unconventional career in Ophthalmology?
Choosing a career is like putting together a puzzle-you find different pieces along the way that eventually fit together. For me, it wasn't one big moment but a series of experiences, people, and lessons that shaped my journey.
My Parents: They taught me the value of hard work and the importance of getting the best education before settling into a career. Growing up, I saw their dedication to learning and knew I wanted to follow that path.
Dr. Rajeev Tuli (My Uncle, an Ophthalmologist): He was the first person who introduced me to the magic of restoring sight. Ophthalmology is one of the few medical fields where you can see an instant reward for your work-like a patient who was blind due to cataracts suddenly being able to see again after surgery. That fascinated me
Prof. Parul Ichhpujani (My mentor in Medical School): She showed me how research could be done even with limited resources. She taught me to think creatively, use what I had, and never waste an opportunity.
Prof. Ching-Yu Cheng (My PhD Mentor): He introduced me to the world of high-impact research and international collaborations. From him, I learned how world-class research is crafted and the importance of strong teamwork.
Dr. Tyler Rim (My current CMO at Mediwhale): He is proof that doctors can go beyond clinics and become entrepreneurs Watching him turn research into real-world solutions that help people made me realize that I wanted to do the same.
Key events that shaped me were:
The year I lost due to an OMR Error: After Class 12, I had to take a gap year because I made a simple mistake while marking my exam sheet. That one small error cost me a whole year It was frustrating, but it taught me an important lesson-small mistakes can have big consequences. It also made me more careful and disciplined in everything I did.
Doing My PhD Abroad: Studying in Singapore opened my eyes to how research works globally. I saw how funding makes a huge difference in the quality of science, equipment, and innovation. But at the same time, my experience in India had already taught me how to work smart with limited resources and never waste any research ideas or opportunities.
Turning Points
I started as a medical student who loved surgery, but over time, I realized that I also wanted to create new solutions and innovations in healthcare. My journey-from medicine to research, from India to Singapore, and now working on turning research into real-world technology-was shaped by many mentors, experiences, and challenges. The biggest lesson? Keep learning, keep adapting, and never let setbacks stop you. Every experience, good or bad, can teach you something that helps you grow.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path
My career journey has been quite unique because my first job is actually my current job Unlike most other careers where you finish studying and then start working, being a medical student means you study and work at the same time.
I earned my first salary as an intern during my MBBS in Chandigarh, where we worked in hospitals while learning. During my residency, we also received a stipend, so technically, I was earning while studying Later, when I moved to Singapore for my research fellowship, I was again working and studying at the same time.
After completing my residency (MS in Ophthalmology), I realized that I needed formal training in clinical research. While I worked on research projects during my medical studies, I often had to rely on external help, such as statisticians, for data analysis. This made me feel the need to strengthen my own research skills. During my first research fellowship at the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), I attended research meetings and journal clubs, which further highlighted the gaps in my knowledge of research methodology and statistical analysis. Since self-learning could only take me so far, I decided to pursue a PhD to build a strong foundation in research methods and statistics.
Clinical work during residency
My residency in Ophthalmology () was primarily clinical, meaning I was involved in diagnosing and treating eye diseases. However, we also conducted research, mainly in the form of case reports and a Master's thesis. (You can access all my research here: ) My thesis focused on a new computer-based method to assess contrast sensitivity, which was useful for detecting optic nerve damage in diseases like glaucoma. (Read more here: )
Clinically, I worked across various sub-specialties in ophthalmology, including corneal, lens, and retinal diseases. As residents, we handled procedures such as: Corneal perforation and ulcer management, Eye donation cornea harvesting, Cataract management and surgeries (ECCE, MICS and Phacoemulsification), Squint correction surgeries, DCR (Dacryocystorhinostomy) for tear duct blockage, Mini Monoka insertion for canalicular lid injuries and Retinal procedures like intravitreal injections. We also got exposure to more advanced procedures such as keratoplasty (corneal transplant), glaucoma surgeries (trabeculectomy), and retinal detachment surgeries under supervision.
I mainly worked in a clinical setting during my internship and residency in India (). Afterward, in Singapore, I worked in a research clinic () rather than a regular hospital clinic. I was one of the ophthalmologists for the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases (SEED) study, a large-scale research project that studied eye health in Singapore's population. (More details: . click apply for full job details

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