With more than 30 years of experience, retina specialist Michel J. Shami, MD, has served Texas Retina Associates since 2001, and sees patients in our Lubbock office.
Dr. Shami is an active researcher with the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net), serving as a co-investigator for numerous clinical trials. This collaborative research organization of more than 400 physicians throughout the United States is funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and works to improve the lives of patients with retina conditions.
Fluent in English, French and Arabic, Dr. Shami completed his viteroretinal fellowship training at both California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock.
What inspired you to become a physician?
My inspiration came from a high-school biology teacher who was also a medical doctor and a Jesuit priest. He shared with me that medicine was like priesthood in that it was a dedication to serving others.
Why did you choose to become a retina specialist? What do you enjoy about your work?
I find retina to be a fascinating and challenging field, and the greatest reward for me is to meet the expectations of a trusting patient and restore sight.
What do you think is most important in caring for a patient?
I have always believed in treating my patients as I would want myself or a loved one to be treated. I believe in providing care with integrity and earning the trust of each one of my patients.
What do you enjoy most outside of work?
Time permitting, I enjoy snow skiing, hiking and bicycling. What I enjoy most though is my weekly guitar lesson. I love blues music as well as listening to Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton and B.B. King.
Learn more about Dr. Shami.