Dr. Patel completed her ophthalmology residency at the University at Buffalo - Ross Eye Institute. During her residency training, Dr. Patel initiated the International Ophthalmology elective program for residents and was the first resident to participate in a surgical and medical ophthalmology mission to Liberia, West Africa. She was also a recipient of the ARVO Travel Grant in 2004 for her work in high-intensity ultrasound exposure on ocular tissues, which she performed with Ronald Silverman, PhD and D Jackson Coleman, MD, PhD at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
Following residency training, Dr. Patel went on to complete a fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary with Dr. Barrie Soloway, Dr. Mark Speaker and Dr. Robert Latkany (author of the Dry Eye Remedy). As a fellow, Dr. Patel served as a co-investigator for the FDA trial on scleral expansion bands for the treatment of presbyopia and received extensive training in laser vision correction and the management of dry eye. In addition to posters and presentations at ASCRS, the New York Keratorefractive Society and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, she participated in a surgical and medical mission trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador with Healing the Children. Dr. Patel is currently Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Northern Virginia Academy of Ophthalmology and the Virginia Society of Ophthalmology. She also volunteers in the Fairfax Hospital and Washington Hospital Center Resident Eye Clinic, proctors resident surgical cases, gives resident lectures and is on staff at Fairfax hospital, the Washington Hospital Center and Reston Hospital. She is currently seeing patients with general ophthalmic conditions, corneal disease, cosmetic needs, dry eye and laser vision correction candidates.