RETINA CONSULTANTS OF HOUSTON - Key Persons
Dr. Darrell Baskin is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in diseases of the retina and vitreous in the Greater San Antonio area. Dr. Baskin was born in East Texas and raised in West Texas. After his career as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force, and completing his residency and two-year fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery, Dr. Baskin and his family moved overseas to Burundi to teach medical students, share the Gospel, and provide surgical care in one of the poorest and most malnourished countries in the world. Although his time there was short, he was able to co-found Burundi's first chemotherapy program for children with retinoblastoma. He remains active in international ophthalmology and returns to Africa as often as he is able.
"Highly satisfied with my visit! Dr. Baskin was amazing, kind and explained everything very thoroughly. I was very nervous about my appointment but he put me at ease. Such friendly staff as well. Very glad I came here and will definitely be recommending them!"
Dr. Baskin is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in diseases of the retina and vitreous in San Antonio, Texas. He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters and national meeting presentations. His research focus has been on optical coherence tomography, age-related macular degeneration, central serous choroidopathy, and diabetic retinopathy.
In his free time, Dr. Baskin enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He is fluent in English and French, and speaks some Spanish and Kirundi.
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Specialist With Retina Consultants of Texas
Dr. Ankoor R. Shah is a board-certified retina specialist with Retina Consultants of Texas. With a number of prestigious awards honored in his name in the area of ophthalmology, his surgical interests are in retinal detachments, macular holes, and scleral fixation of intraocular lens implants. Dr. Shah graduated with top honors and has undergone extensive training, allowing him to thoroughly diagnose and treat a number of retinal conditions.
Dr. Shah has authored over 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters, and presentations at national meetings. His research focus has been on age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, venous occlusive diseases, and pediatric vitreoretinopathies, with surgical interests in retinal detachments, macular holes, and scleral fixation of intraocular lens implants.
"It is a pleasure to be in the care of Dr. Ankoor Shah. He is professional, kind, courteous and compassionate. He is honest in his assessments and I feel that I am getting the best possible medical care that he has to offer."
Dr. Shah is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Graduating with top honors from Stanford University where he completed his undergraduate degree, Dr. Chen continued on to the Baylor College of Medicine where he earned his medical degree. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Vanderbilt Eye Institute in Nashville, where he was appointed and served as chief resident. He then went on to complete the prestigious, two-year medical retina/retina surgery fellowship program at the Wills Hospital in Philadelphia (a program that is consistently rated among the top three programs in the entire nation). Dr. Chen moved back to Texas where he practiced in Austin for a year, and was then recruited and brought on as retinal surgeon by the Retina Consultants of Texas.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Methodist Hospital Institute for Academic Medicine
Dr. Christopher R. Henry grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He completed an ophthalmology residency, vitreoretinal surgery fellowship, and uveitis fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, the top-rated ophthalmology program in the United States. Following this, he joined Retina Consultants of Texas as a board-certified Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist.
Dr. Henry is known as a compassionate, skilled, and thoughtful physician who cares deeply about his patients. His clinical and research interests include: diabetic retinopathy, ocular immunology, ocular infections, macular degeneration, macular holes, retinal detachment, retinal vascular disorders, trauma, and uveitis.
Dr. Henry serves as an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology at the Methodist Hospital Institute for Academic Medicine and Weill Cornell Medical College. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, scientific abstracts, and book chapters and serves as a reviewer for several ophthalmology journals including the American Journal of Ophthalmology and JAMA Ophthalmology. At Retina Consultants of Texas, Dr. Henry acts as primary investigator and sub-investigator for several national clinical research trials.
Job Titles:
- Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist and Clinical Trial Specialist
Dr. David M. Brown is a world-renown Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist and clinical trial specialist. He is the only Texas Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist elected to all three retina honor societies (Retina Society, Macula Society, and Club Jules Gonin). He is a 5th generation native Texan (from Deer Park, Texas) and he has pioneered research and treatment in the areas of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion.
With more than 300 scientific papers and abstracts written on related topics, Dr. Brown has been a continuous election as one of the "Best Doctors in America" from 2007 - 2018 and has received the honor as one of the "Texas Super Docs" from 2009 - 2018. Dr. Brown serves as the consultant retina specialist for NASA for all ongoing and long-term space flight astronauts.
"David Brown, M.D. is an outstanding doctor who treats me with care and diligence."
Job Titles:
- Certified Surgical and Medical Retina Specialist
Dr. Effie Z. Rahman is a board-certified surgical and medical retina specialist with Retina Consultants of Texas. She grew up in Katy, TX and completed her undergraduate and medical school training in Houston. She is thrilled to return to her hometown to practice and give back to her community.
Dr. Rahman has trained at some of the highest surgical volume academic centers in the country and is looking forward to providing precise, skilled, and compassionate care to her patients. She is driven by always doing the right thing for her patients and has been a strong advocate for them.
Dr. Rahman has published over 10 peer-review articles and has presented at many national ophthalmological conferences throughout her training, where she has won top awards for her oral and poster presentations. She recently won the first annual American Society of Retina Specialists Surgical Retinal Detachment Debate in 2021, winning the Golden Eye Award.
Dr. Rahman is a classical cellist who has won numerous state-level competitions and has performed at Carnegie Hall. She continues to play cello in the Texas Medical Center Orchestra. In her free time, Dr. Rahman likes to do CrossFit and spend time with her family, dogs, and friends.
Houston, TX retina specialist Dr. Eric Chen is board certified in vitreoretinal surgery and ophthalmology. As a Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist with Retina Consultants of Texas, Dr. Chen grew up in the Austin suburb of Round Rock, TX where he graduated valedictorian of his high school. Dr. Chen is specialized to diagnose and treat all aspects of retinal disease, and uses both surgery and nonsurgical methods to achieve optimal outcomes. Having trained at some of the most prestigious institutions in the nation, Dr. Chen brings a unique blend of knowledge and skill to meet the diverse needs of his patients.
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Dr. Major is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Retina Society, and the American College of Surgeons.
Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Major enjoys football, the outdoors, birding, falconry, and history. He also enjoys spending his free time with his wife, a geriatrician, and their three children.
Dr. Jeremiah Brown, Jr. is a board-certified Ophthalmologist with more than 20 years of practice experience as a Vitreoretinal Surgeon. He is devoted to diagnosing, treating and researching diseases of the retina and vitreous. Dr. Brown is motivated by the satisfaction and rewarding sense of accomplishment from preserving vision in his patients. It is this feeling that drives his clinical practice and his desire to research and be a part of developing new treatments for his patients. Dr. Brown is dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of technology in order to provide the most effective results for his patients.
Job Titles:
- Certified Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist
Dr. Matthew S. Benz is a board-certified Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist with Retina Consultants of Texas. With extensive training and experience in retinal surgery and complex retinal diseases, Dr. Benz brings a wealth of knowledge to our patients seeking help for their symptoms. A native of Adrian, Michigan, Dr. Benz is a 3rd generation ophthalmologist following in both his father and grandfather's footsteps, who practiced general ophthalmology for more than 50 years.
His passion for the field of vitreoretinal disease has led to more than 50 published peer-reviewed scientific papers, abstracts, and book chapters. He conducts research annually and participates in clinical trials associated with retinal diseases.
"Dr Benz is kind, courteous, knowledgeable and professional. A top doctor. Staff is excellent and friendly."
Job Titles:
- Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Richard H. Fish, a Houston native, joined Retina Consultants of Texas in 1992 where he practices as a board-certified Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist. He is a nationally recognized vitreoretinal specialist and is well known in the area of research and treatment of opportunistic infections of the eye, in addition to being a scientific reviewer for two major ophthalmic journals. A skillfully trained and highly renowned retina specialist, Dr. Fish diagnoses, treats, and works with patients to manage a number of retinal conditions and diseases.
"Dr. Fish is one of the smartest doctors and finest men I have ever known."
Dr. Fish is a clinical associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medical College, a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a past President of the Houston Ophthalmological Society. At Houston Methodist Hospital, Dr. Fish is one of the longest-tenured Medical and Surgical Retina Specialists on the medical staff and is a physician member of the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM), lecturing regularly on "Eye Diseases of Visual Artists" and "Blind Musicians." He is the author of a comprehensive book on the medical, musical, and historical aspects of the latter subject, "The Blind Musician".
Dr. Fish is fluent in Spanish and enjoys world travel. In his spare time, he is an avid photographer, enthusiastic amateur chef, and a very active semi-professional musician. He plays drums in the University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band, two rock and roll bands comprised of doctors, and several jazz bands.
Job Titles:
- Expert Medical and Surgical Retina Specialist
- Member of the Retina Society
Dr. Rosa Y. Kim is an expert medical and surgical retina specialist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. Dr. Kim is active in clinical research, particularly in uveitis, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, as well as vascular occlusive diseases. She is the principal investigator for the National Eye Institute clinical trial for uveitis, as well as other clinical trials evaluating novel treatment options for uveitis.
"Dr. Kim is the most amazing and very informative and caring doctor that I have ever been too. She is so knowledgeable of her field in retina surgery."
Dr. Kim is an elected member of The Retina Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Dr. Kelly Larkin grew up in The Woodlands, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in music, and graduating with honors. She went on to earn her medical degree from the University of Texas at Houston Medical School, where she subsequently completed her ophthalmology residency. Following residency training, Dr. Larkin completed a fellowship in uveitis and ocular immunology at the Casey Eye Institute at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon.
Prior to joining RCTX, Dr. Larkin was in practice at Houston Eye Associates from 2012 to 2020. Dr. Larkin's fellowship training has prepared her to diagnose and treat uveitis, scleritis, orbital inflammation, and other inflammatory and infectious eye disease. Dr. Larkin is committed to educating her patients to improve their understanding of the complexities of these conditions. She recognizes that treatment is individualized and will work together with each patient to identify the most appropriate therapy. Dr. Larkin's research findings have been published in international journals, and she has presented her findings at national meetings. She continues to engage in research regarding current and novel therapies for uveitis. She also actively participates in the editorial process, providing feedback as an expert reviewer in the field of uveitis for international medical journals and contributing content for ophthalmology textbooks. She enjoys participating in education by lecturing on the topics of uveitis and ocular immunology.
She enjoys spending time with her husband, an emergency physician, and her two children, in particular traveling as a family in their RV to spend time in nature.
Moises Alexander Chica was born in Panama and moved to Texas when he was 4 years old. His father and brother are both physicians who contributed to Dr. Chica's keen interest in medicine.
Dr. Chica is a board-certified Ophthalmologist, specializing in the management of retinal diseases and vitreoretinal surgery in San Antonio since 2007.
"From walking in the door, right through several specialized scans, everyone acted like I was their favorite patient. Every technician, medical assistant, and other staff member greeted me by name, and introduced themselves and explained every step of the analytic process. Dr. Chica was enthusiastic, and explained things to the point that there was no need to ask questions. I am a surgeon, and I hope to emulate the same method of creating such a pleasant and "cared - about" experience for my patients."
Job Titles:
- Member and Former President of the San Antonio Society of Ophthalmology
Dr. Gary Lane is a board-certified Ophthalmologist, specializing in diseases and surgery of the retina. He was born and raised in Miami, FL. He has been caring for patients in San Antonio at Retina Consultants of Texas since 2009, after a successful military career in the U.S. Air Force.
Dr. Lane regularly volunteers at the ICSA charity eye clinic at Haven for Hope.
"Highly recommend Dr. Lane! He and his staff are always friendly, professional, patient, and thorough. They offer detailed and knowledgeable explanations for any questions you have and they do their best to ensure you understand."
Dr. Lane served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in Korea and North Carolina. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center here in San Antonio and then went to the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia for a two-year fellowship in retina. He returned to San Antonio and served as Director of Retina Services and Ophthalmology Residency Program Director at Wilford Hall.
Dr. Lane is a member and former President of the San Antonio Society of Ophthalmology. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, and the American Society of Retina Specialists. He has authored numerous scientific papers and participated in more than 50 clinical research trials. His research interests include macular degeneration, diabetes and intrascleral IOL fixation.
Ronan E. O'Malley, MD retired June 1, 2020 after more than 40 years in clinical practice. His passion for providing the best retina care possible has made an incredible impact not only in the Houston and Southeast Texas communities, but also throughout the entire country. He will be deeply missed.
Playing rugby was a passion during his school years and still is today. Dr. O'Malley enjoys following rugby, which remains one of the most popular sports in his home country. Dr. O'Malley speaks fluent Gaelic and Swedish, and is an avid birdwatcher and nature photographer.
Dr Holy grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with a degree in history. She is a board-certified Ophthalmologist with fellowship training in diseases and surgery of the retina and vitreous. In 2010, Dr Holy joined Retina Consultants of Texas.
Dr Holy appreciates the personal interactions with patients and staff, as well as the chance to participate in clinical trials.
"Extremely professional and efficient practice. All three technicians who dealt with me were courteous and knowledgeable, and constantly kept me fully informed about what they were doing. There was minimal waiting time between seeing different technicians. Dr. Holy has a great bedside manner, is a good listener, is obviously very knowledgeable in her field, and technically superb. I can honestly say that this is the best patient experience I've had to date."