Today we’d like to introduce you to Vandana Reddy.
Hi Vandana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My college motto was “Not to be served, but to serve.” I went to Wellesley College, an all-women’s college in Boston, Massachusetts and it was there I learned of my interest and talent in the sciences. I realized that I could make the biggest impact in medicine as a physician. Helping others and contributing back to society have always been values I try to uphold in my life as much as possible.
While in medical school, I realized that ophthalmology or eye surgery was something that appealed to me, as it involved advanced technology and a type of fine movement that I thought was elegant. I underwent 13 years of training to become a physician and surgeon, and I have been practicing for 10 years. Currently, I am the CEO/Founder of Northeast Georgia Ophthalmology, LLC – an eye surgery medical practice I started in 2020 in Gainesville, Georgia. Ophthalmology is a field that involves patients from all walks of life, and vision is something I feel many take for granted. I take great pride in being able to help people see, both medically and surgically. Starting my own practice has allowed me to practice medicine the way I think it should be practiced – placing focus on the patient while providing a high caliber of care.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like in any field, I experienced plenty of obstacles. In school, we were judged and assessed on merit, which I appreciated. Back in college, I had the good fortune of being surrounding by some of the most intelligent and uplifting women, and I assumed my professional career would follow suit. When I finished my training, I joined as faculty at an academic institution in Atlanta. I envisioned myself in academics for the rest of my career, growing both professionally and personally. But I realized very quickly the extent of personal politics in academics and how the end goal was not always good patient care or about the pursuit of research and knowledge. I redirected to different types of practice, like group private practice, but I faced similar challenges. I learned firsthand how prevalent sexism and racism still was in the workplace and how they were real-world obstacles for me to reach my professional aspirations. I also realized that strong, independent women who aspired to do right and lead were often times thought of as a problem or threat, by both by men and to my surprise, even by other women. I saw there would always be a ceiling for me in these work environments. As I experienced repeatedly being denied opportunities, I created my own by starting my own practice, which I love. I think all of my experiences and challenges along my path have shown me there is a need for a shift in culture at the workplace, one that that is inclusive and diverse and does not support antiquated, patriarchal values.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract, cornea and refractive surgery. My niche is refractive cataract surgery which means helping people see better who are limited by cataracts (or clouding of the natural crystalline lens in the eye) and then also helping them be more spectacles independent. I did my ophthalmology training at the Mayo Clinic and did my subspecialty training at the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan. I am very fortunate to have been trained by some of the best cornea/cataract surgeons in the world. I am known for my caring and compassionate nature with my patients. I make sure my patients do not feel like a number and ensure their issues are being addressed thoroughly and completely. I take pride in my work and in making sure my patients are happy. I am most proud of taking the risk and going on out my own and starting my own medical/surgical practice. It was daunting but very doable, and I encourage everyone I know in jobs that are unsatisfied to strike out on their own. I think my drive and determination in whatever I do set me apart from others. I genuinely care about my patients and their well-being, and I would like to see a culture shift in medicine to emphasize care and well-being for patients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I came across this quote one day: “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” We have to take action to make anything happen in our life, so I think the concept of luck is all perspective. I think it’s all a journey and a series of decisions and actions that have created my life and my business. Some of the more negative experiences in my career have brought me to starting a solo medical practice, so I think of it as an opportunity and I am grateful for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.northeastgeorgiaeyes.com
- Instagram: reddy4eyesurgery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reddy4eyesurgery
Image Credits
Leah Roth Photography
