N E X TG E N
ZIAI ‘IN THE ZONE’ IN OR
By Troy Patterson
Conducting cataract or corneal
transplant surgery in an operating
room isn't what most people would
describe as their “Zen place.” But the
University of Ottawa Eye Institute's
Dr. Setareh Ziai says it's where she's
in the zone, four years into her
ophthalmology practice. in the Canadian Medical Association’s
national seniors’ strategy, was a panelist
for one of the co-developed accredited
symposia in June at COS's annual
meeting and sits on the physician Sci-
entific Advisory Board for the COS/
Canadian Dermatology Association
Product Recognition Program.
Optical Prism magazine was told
about Ziai by the Canadian Ophthal-
mological Society (COS) because of
her growing list of accomplishments
so early in her eyecare career. She
does some general ophthalmology,
but mostly focuses on corneal diseases,
tumours of the ocular surface
and more. Originally from Iran, Ziai's parents
immigrated to Canada during the
1978-79 Islamic Revolution when she
was a child. Toronto was home her en-
tire life until she finished her honours
bachelor of science degree and went
to Ottawa for medical school.
“I do all sorts of corneal transplants
and some laser eye surgery,” she says.
Ziai, who lives in Ottawa, is married to
a family physician and the couple has
four children. She has been involved
38 Optical Prism | September 2017
“Then I just stayed here for my residency
in ophthalmology,” she says. “I was able
to match to the choice I wanted, so
I stayed in Ottawa and I've been here
ever since other than my fellowship
training, which I went back to Toronto
for, where I learned from some of
my Toronto-area corneal mentors.”
Ziai says those mentors swayed her
towards working with corneal diseases,
corneal transplants and the ocular
surface. She said one of her mentors
left the eye institute, which then allowed
her to “step into his gigantic shoes.”
Surgery had been a clear goal for her
early on in medical school, but she
didn't switch her specialty to ophthal-
mology until later in her training.
“I love being in the operating room.
I found that time went by really fast
any time I was in an operating room
and that was a good sign,” Ziai says.
“I very much appreciate the finesse of
the surgery, the cleanliness of the sur-
gery and of course, the extraordinary
outcomes for these patients.”
She says everyone takes vision for
granted until something happens to
their sight. Ziai says she's able to see