Our Doctors

Dr. Alexander Izad, MD

Dr. Izad earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, one of the top-ranked medical universities in the world. He was also a visiting scholar at Harvard Medical School, Brown University, Emory University and Thomas Jefferson University Schools of Medicine. He completed his internship at Yale University School of Medicine and finished his residency in Ophthalmology at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University. He served as Chief Resident during his training. He completed his fellowship training in Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery at both the University of Texas Medical Branch and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He began his career as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine as the Director of Retina at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson. He continued his career in private practice in North Texas and Southern California. He founded the Highland Retina Associates in 2017 to fulfill his dream of bringing world-class retinal care to an underserved area. Dr. Izad has been actively involved in clinical research, serving as the principal investigator for many national research trials. He has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and lectured extensively on various subjects in retinal diseases and surgery.

He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Society of Retina Specialists and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology and Indiana State Medical Association. He is an adjunct clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at Indiana University School of Medicine and is involved in training our future doctors. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, exercising and hiking.

Dr. Melih Ustaoglu, MD

Dr. Ustaoglu earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, one of the top-ranked medical schools in Turkey. He completed his internship at Gazi University and finished his residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Health Sciences, Haseki Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. He was also a visiting scholar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Tuebingen in Germany and John Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, MA.

After completing his residency, Dr. Ustaoglu worked as a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist at tertiary care centers in Turkey. He was particularly interested in vitreoretinal diseases and glaucoma in the first years of his career. He completed his research fellowship training in Glaucoma at Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, and his two-year clinical fellowship training in Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery at the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY.

Dr. Ustaoglu has been an enthusiastic clinical researcher during his career. He has been actively involved in the training of medical students and ophthalmology residents. He published many papers in peer-reviewed prestigious journals in Ophthalmology and presented many scientific posters at national and international meetings. He is on the advisory board of ophthalmology journals. He passed four steps of the International Council of Ophthalmology boarding exams and was awarded the title of “Fellow of the International Council of Ophthalmology (FICO).” He also passed the board exams of the European Board of Ophthalmology and was awarded the title of “Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO).” Dr. Ustaoglu is an active member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Turkish Ophthalmological Association.

In his leisure time, he enjoys cooking for his family and spending time with them, running, hiking, playing tennis, watching soccer games, and traveling.