Jonathan Kim, MD

Professor of Ophthalmology and the Director of the Ocular Oncology Service at the USC Roski Eye Institute. A. Linn Murphree Chair in Retinoblastoma at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Kim is fellowship trained in three subspecialties: ocular oncology (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY), oculoplastic and orbital surgery (Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA) and neuro-ophthalmology (Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston). He is dedicated to advancing research in the development of targeted therapies for retinoblastomas.

I have very fond memories of my time as an ophthalmology resident at CPMC from 1995-1998. I had the very good fortune to train with some of the most accomplished ophthalmologists in history, such as Art Jampolsky, Alan Scott, William Spencer, Robert Stamper, William Stewart, Barrett Katz, Susan Day and Wayne Fung, just to name a few. In addition to the high level of clinical expertise that I was exposed to as a resident, I was allowed to grow both as a person and a physician in a very supportive environment which was similar to being a member of an extended family. The bonds I forged with my co-residents remain to this day, and I count many of them as close friends and confidants. The surgical experience that I attained during my 3 years was second to none, and this was very evident as I moved forward in my career to pursue fellowship training at UCLA, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

In addition to the objective attributes for the CPMC residency program that I have just outlined, there is an inspirational atmosphere which exists at CPMC which I have not found at any other program. This atmosphere is conducive to an incredibly positive and optimistic outlook which allows a young physician to imagine what is possible with hard work and dedication to one’s career. I believe that my residency experience at CPMC gave me the background and motivation to pursue 3 separate fellowships following my graduation, and to continue a path of lifelong learning and personal evolution which continues to this day.