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Get to Know Dr. Evan Schoenberg!
Posted by: Georgia Eye Partners in Physician Spotlight
Get to Know Dr. Evan Schoenberg!
Here at Georgia Eye Partners, our physicians are dedicated to providing our patients with the highest level of care and that dedication extends into our surgery center. Our Physician Spotlights showcase these awesome team members and give a behind-the-scenes look at life on our team! Evan Schoenberg, M.D. is a highly respected board certified, fellowship trained ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract surgery, refractive surgery, and management of complex corneal disease. Learn more about him below!
What inspired you to become a doctor?
My grandfather, Erving Arthur Dreskin, M.D., was a pathologist, a humanitarian, and a futurist. He instilled in me a passion for medicine and for technology. As we celebrated his 87th birthday in Greenville, South Carolina, he and I discussed my first semester of medical school and his vision for the future of physicians. He told me that to be a doctor was to have an opportunity to pursue “one of the last, truly honorable professions.” I do my best each day, in clinic and in the operating room, to live up to his standards of excellence and service.
What made you choose your specialty?
I entered medical school uncertain where I wanted to take my career, but from my first exposure to the almost-all-smiling faces in ophthalmology clinic and the exhilaration of the operating room, I knew the eyes had it. During my comprehensive ophthalmology residency, I saw the ways I could specialize further, and it became clear to me that my eventual specialty – cornea – was the one for me. ‘Cornea’ as a field can include vision correction (getting folks out of glasses and contacts), visual rehabilitation (removing cataracts, treating severely debilitating diseases with lasers and cornea transplants), and visual protection (preventing diseases from worsening before they lead to vision loss). I truly enjoy the blend of conversation and surgery, the high likelihood of high-quality and permanent success for patients, and the advanced and ever-improving technologies which are our tools of the trade.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
As a cornea and vision correction specialist, I have the opportunity to wear three distinct ‘hats’, and each of the roles speaks to different aspects of my interest.
Many patients come to me seeking to reduce or eliminate their need for glasses and contact lenses – that is, looking for vision correction, which comprises a number of surgeries such as laser treatments (like LASIK), implanted lenses, and cataract surgery. I love the in-depth “goals” conversations of consult visits in which I get a glimpse into someone’s life and then take that vision to craft a matching surgical plan. I enjoy staying on the cutting edge so that I can bring to bear a wide variety of approaches and tools for the most precisely fitting vision for each individual.
Other patients have cataracts, corneal scars, or dysfunctional corneas from conditions like advanced keratoconus or Fuch’s dystrophy. I thrill to the celebrations after precisely executed laser treatment, lens replacement, or targeted corneal transplantation as we restore sight where it had been lost.
Finally, it is rewarding to solve diagnostic puzzles and then implement evidence-based treatment plans in conditions like eye infections, recalcitrant dry eye, or progressive keratoconus to prevent later loss of vision.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Shifting gears at the end of the day to give my girls Leigha (five) and Isla (nearly-two) my undivided attention when I could keep obsessing over eyeballs until the sun came back up!
What is something that makes you look forward to work every day?
I work with an amazing team. Georgia Eye Partners is so much more than just dedicated eye doctors, and a huge array of roles are required to provide best-in-class patient experiences. Every day, I know my assistants, technicians, and front office staff are sharing my vision, and it’s so rewarding working in concert; in the background, our patient advocates in the call center, the management team, and the billing office are pushing for the same in parallel. Similarly, I look forward to conversations with my partners in the practice and my colleagues in the community as we collaborate to deliver the best care.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
My daughters Leigha (five) and Isla (almost-two) keep my wife Jade and I busy, and that’s at least usually quite fun. When I’m not enjoying time with my wife or with the kids, I like to run (I’m currently training for a half-marathon in February), and I have fading memories of being an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy prior to being a father. Leigha and I have recently been playing through Super Mario Brothers and other classic Nintendo games. I appreciate tasting wine, craft beer, Scotch, and bourbon – in moderation, of course! Finally, though it blurs the line of ‘outside of work’, I also design and program iPhone and iPad apps for my company, Regular Rate and Rhythm Software, and I do enjoy that now-for-something-completely-different challenge.
Georgia Eye Partners services the Atlanta area with LASIK, Cataract Surgery, Evo ICL and other advanced procedures. Schedule a consultation with us today!
Georgia Eye Partners is a group practice of ophthalmologists and optometrists dedicated to providing our patients in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia with the highest quality medical and surgical specialty eye care. Learn more about our practice locations and book appointments online here.
