December 22, 2021
Episode 16: Dr. Jenny Y. Yu, MD
A discussion on
“Global Oculoplastics: Project Theia”
Dr. Jenny Yu, MD
In this incredible episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenny Yu, who is an Oculoplastics specialist and the co-founder of Project Theia, a global oculoplastics nonprofit organization. Dr. Yu attended the Ohio State University where she received a BS with distinction, honoring in biochemistry. She later obtained her MD through OSU’s College of Medicine and Public Health before embarking on a residency in Ophthalmology at St. Vincent Hospital and the University of Pittsburgh where she also fellowship trained in Oculoplastics. Listen to this enriching conversation as we explore multiple trainee-level topics as well as the strong work Dr. Yu has been doing for women in ophthalmology and medicine as a whole!
Key discussion points:
What made Dr. Yu decide on Ophthalmology?
Specialization in Oculoplastics
Working with other surgical teams
Finding mentors early and staying engaged with all Ophthalmology subspecialties
Co-founding Project Theia with Dr. Katie Duncan, MD
Origin story
Surveying Ophthalmologists to assess need in global ophthalmology meetings
All the global settings have a common thread
Long term goals: Providing education and assessing needs (microscopes, surgical lights…etc.)
Building an organization to give back to the community and collaborating with colleagues to learn from one another
Hardships
Paperwork, funding, etc.,
Valuable outcomes:
Skills acquired by the surgeons at the global site so that patients can continue to be treated when Project Theia surgeons are not there
Education in the pandemic setting
“Always bring levity in a situation…” In trying to educate “I lead with humor, lead with vulnerability so that people know it’s ok to admit to going through various emotions during this pandemic time…It is ok to talk through this in the right settings”
Patent technology work
“There are times when you are in surgery, and something doesn’t make sense, or this is the way we do it or it’s always been the way we do it…then there is always opportunity to make it better…and you always have to remain curious!”
Taking inspiration from other specialties that may require taking macro-scale to micro-scale
Development of OcuDERM: Partner with Dr. Morgan V. Fedorchak, PhD
Strong interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership
Benefits of academic setting and resources
Women in Science
Women Leading Women
Partnership with Dana Hanna
Hosted 600+ virtual attendees
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, MD
What keeps Dr. Yu in the space of Global Ophthalmology?
“When you do Global Medicine…it’s the purest form of practice”
Patients traveling 4+ hours to see you who have waited for 2+ years for care
Reminds you of why we go into medicine in the first place
Lessons of adaptability
Starting Well-Founded
Platform for educating people on aesthetics and aging gracefully
Wide range of practicing oculoplastics and the incredible stories of patients that accompany the cases
What type of individual should consider specializing in Oculoplastics?
Least predictable of schedules
Always dealing with traumas, possible emergencies
Need to be adaptable and able to pivot
Variations in private practice vs. Academic setting
Episode-based Resources: