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Home Doctors Purnima S. Patel, MD

Purnima S. Patel, MD

Atlanta Ophthalmologist

Founder of ORA Vision LLC

Experienced Board-Certified Ophthalmologist

  • Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Former Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Emory University School of medicine for over 10 years mentoring and teaching the next generation of ophthalmologists
  • Delivered more than 75 presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
  • Organized regional, national, and international scientific meetings
  • Held numerous leadership roles including
  • Editor-in-Chief of The Ophthalmic News and Education Network, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
  • Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Board of Trustees for the Women in Ophthalmology organization

Dr. Patel was born and raised in Nashville, TN where she attended Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering and medical school. During medical school, her father suffered from a chronic, potentially blinding eye condition. She chose to pursue ophthalmology as a career to help people like her father save vision and retain their quality of life. Dr. Patel moved to Georgia for her residency training at Emory University where she was chosen to be chief resident. She completed her fellowship subspecialty training in medical retina and uveitis at the prestigious University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine/ Doheny Eye Institute in Los Angeles.

Dr. Patel returned to Georgia in 2010 to serve the community that had taught her so much. She built a busy clinical and surgical practice at Emory University and the Atlanta VA Medical Center. She is one of only 5 ophthalmologists in the state with special training in inflammatory disorders of the eye. In her over 10 years at Emory, Dr. Patel saw a wide dephth and breadth of complex eye conditions. She is very experienced with cataract surgery, glaucoma, retinal diseases, lasers, injections, and inflammatory eye conditions. She has served as team ophthalmologist for both the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Falcons. She took pride in providing high-quality, top-notch care with empathy to patients and their families. While at Emory, she mentored many students and residents as they began their careers. She started the Women in Ophthalmology at Emory group, the Emory Women in Medicine and Science, and the Emory Eye Center Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committees. Dr. Patel is internationally recognized for both her clinical and surgical expertise as well as her leadership and mentorship of young ophthalmologists across the globe. She was placed on the prestigious “The Power List” of the top 100 most influential women in ophthalmology worldwide in 2021 by The Ophthalmologist.

Immediately after training, Dr. Patel became a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Young Ophthalmologist Committee for 3 years and then served as Chair for 4 years. In this role, she played an integral part in mentoring young eye surgeons in the areas of career and leadership development. Dr. Patel currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Online Education Network, an online education site for ophthalmologists across the world. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Women in Ophthalmology.

To continue her legacy of service with empathetic, patient-centered care, Dr. Patel started Ophthalmology and Retina Associates of Georgia Vision (ORA Vision). ORA aims to provide personalized, high-quality multi-subspecialty care in a comfortable environment. Dr. Patel specializes in not only cataract and premium lenses but also glaucoma, retina, and inflammatory eye disease to help patients see their best and maintain their vision for as long as possible. The ORA environment allows Dr. Patel to spend more time with each patient where she can better understand them and their vision needs. Dr. Patel started ORA to offer world-class care in the North Atlanta suburbs.

  • High School Diploma: Martin Luther King Magnet High School for Health Sciences and Engineering, Nashville, TN (Valedictorian)
  • Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 2001
  • Medical Doctorate: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 2005
  • Medical Internship: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 2006
  • Ophthalmology Residency: Emory Eye Center, Atlanta, GA, 2009
  • Fellowship in Medical Retina and Uveitis, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine/ Doheny Eye Institute, 2010
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology, Board of Trustees, 1/2022
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology, CEO Search Committee, present
  • Editor-in-Chief, American Academy of Ophthalmology Online Education Network, 1/2021 – present
  • Finance Chair, Board Women in Ophthalmology, 1/2021 – present
  • Chair, Emory Eye Center Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, 11/20 – present
  • Board, Women in Ophthalmology, 1/2019 – present
  • Chair, Georgia Society of Ophthalmology CME committee, 1/2018 – present
  • Founder and Chair, Women in Ophthalmology at Emory, 6/2016 – present
  • Participant, Emory Professional Leadership (EM-ProLEAD) Course, 1/20- 12/20
  • Deputy Editor-in-Chief, American Academy of Ophthalmology Online Education Network, 2018- 2020
  • Participant, American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Media Training, 10/14 – 10/19
  • Participant, Women in Ophthalmology, Yearly Communication & Media Training, 8/18, 8/19
  • Chair, American Academy of Ophthalmology Young Ophthalmologist Committee, 1/2015- 12/2018
  • Founding member, Emory Women in Medicine and Science, 2018- 2019
  • Participant. American Academy of Ophthalmology Leadership Development Program, 6/2015 – 4/2017
  • Participant, Medical Association of Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy, 5/2014- 5/2015
  • Chief Resident in Ophthalmology, Emory Eye Center/ Emory University SOM, 2008-2009
  • Participant, Career Physician Chief Resident Leadership Forum, 2008
  • Representative, Graduate Medical Education- Transitional Medicine Internship, 2005-2006
  • Vice President, Vanderbilt Medical School Fourth Year Class, 2005
  • Chair, Vanderbilt Medical School Honor Council, 2005
  • Leader, Vanderbilt Ophthalmology Student Interest Group, 2005
  • Organizer, Vanderbilt Medical School Third Year Student Orientation Program, 2005
  • The Ophthalmologist, The Power List (Top 100 Most Influential Women in Ophthal., worldwide), 2021
  • Women in Ophthalmology, 2017 Year of the Woman Award, 11/2017
  • Secretariat Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 11/2017
  • Women in Ophthalmology, Emerging Leader Award, 8/2017
  • Special Congressional Recognition from US Congressman David Scott, 9/2016
  • Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2015
  • Secretariat Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2014
  • “Best in Show” Poster American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 11/2013
  • AMO Residents Writer’s Award Recipient, 2008
  • Most Outstanding Resident, Career Physician Chief Resident Leadership Forum in Ophthalmology, 2008
  • J. Donald M. Gass Award in Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2005
  • Dean’s Award for Outstanding Service to Vanderbilt School of Medicine and Community, 2005
  • NIH Diabetes Research Training Program Scholar, 2002
  • Gill Research Endowment from the Vanderbilt Department of Ophthalmology, 2001 & 2002
  • Early Acceptance to Vanderbilt Medical School, 1999
  • Mortar Board National Honor Society, 1998-2001
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2006-present
  • American Eye Study Club, 2014- present
  • American Medical Association, 2005-present
  • American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, 2018- present
  • American Society of Retina Specialists, 2012 – present
  • Association of Veterans Affairs Ophthalmologists, 2012-2018
  • Georgia Society of Ophthalmology, 2012- present
  • American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, 2018- present
  • Medical Association of Georgia, 2010-present
  • Women in Ophthalmology, 2011-present

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