Recent
- Nov 2026Launched Ophtho Case of the Day in beta, a daily ophthalmology diagnosis game in six clues. Play
- Nov 2026Launched Second Look, monthly critical appraisals of ophthalmology papers. First up: DRCR Protocol S. reads.seanleels.com ↗
- Oct 2026Launched Eye Atlas, an interactive anatomy-to-pathology ophthalmology study tool. Try it ↗
- Sep 2026Poster on FLOT vs CROSS neoadjuvant therapy at the American Foregut Society Annual Meeting, National Harbor, MD.
- Sep 2026Published a lung ultrasound meta-analysis in Cureus.
- Sep 2026Began a dedicated research year at the USC Roski Eye Institute.
- Aug 2026Published a multicenter study of ascites phenotypes in cirrhosis in Liver Transplantation.
About
I'm a medical student at USC Keck School of Medicine applying into ophthalmology. My current work at the USC Roski Eye Institute includes independent TriNetX cohort studies, ultra-widefield retinal imaging and vessel segmentation, gene therapy wet-lab research, and ophthalmic training for long-duration spaceflight.
Why ophthalmology. I'm drawn to the unending skill ceiling of microsurgery, and to a field that sits at the intersection of medicine and surgery, where I can operate and also care for patients over many years.
Earlier research spans general surgery, pulmonary and critical care, transplant hepatology, and emergency medicine, including multicenter studies of cirrhosis and liver transplant outcomes.
I also build clinical tools: Eye Atlas, an anatomy-to-pathology ophthalmology study tool; Before You Page Ophtho, a pre-consult checklist for overnight teams; Rounds, a mobile app for clinical rotations; and references for antibiotic selection and clinical scoring.
Before medical school I spent two years in oncology wet-lab research at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy, and a year as a patient liaison at Garfield Medical Center providing medical interpretation in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.
- School
- Keck School of Medicine of USCM.D. expected May 2028
- Clerkships
- Honors in Family MedicineHigh Pass in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Neurology, Psychiatry
- Research year
- USC Roski Eye InstituteSep 2026 – present
- Output
- 3 peer-reviewed publications8 manuscripts in preparation or under review
- Undergraduate
- University of Southern CaliforniaB.S. Human Biology, Healthcare Studies minor · 2019–2022
- Languages
- English, Cantonese, Mandarin, SpanishMedical interpretation in Cantonese; clinical history and exam in Mandarin and Spanish
Projects
Ophthalmology projects
Interactive anatomy-to-pathology study tool covering all 9 layers of the eye. Drag the depth rail from adnexa to optic nerve and click any structure to see its conditions, schematic drawings, and management. Built to OKAP depth.
Structured pre-call checklist for medicine and surgery teams working up eye complaints overnight. Enter the chief complaint, complete the guided exam, and know exactly what to report before you pick up the phone.
Monthly critical appraisals of ophthalmology papers: what each study found, how far to trust it (certainty and risk of bias), the one number that matters, and what it would change in clinic.
A daily case in six clues, written like an exam note: name the diagnosis with as few as you can, then read one teaching pearl. Covers 29 cases across retina, cornea, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology and trauma, with a practice mode for extra cases.
Clinical tools
iOS app built in React Native to reduce cognitive load on rotations: H&P and SOAP templates, task tracking, lab organization with auto-fill, timers, and signout checklists. Stores no patient data.
Empiric antibiotic reference for 29 infections across 9 body systems, with penicillin-allergy and MRSA adjustments and regimens by setting (outpatient, floor, ICU), based on IDSA and ASHP guidelines.
Calculators for 17 internal medicine scores (HEART, CURB-65, MELD-Na, Wells PE/DVT, SOFA, APACHE II and others) with interpretation as you answer.
Web tool that turns speech dictation and keyword recognition into structured clinical notes across encounter types. Stores no patient data.
Publications
Peer-reviewed
In preparation and under review
Presentations
Research
USC Roski
- PDR outcomes (TriNetX). Independently designed cohorts and analyses of 3-year outcomes and changes in ophthalmic care in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
- Sleep apnea and vitrectomy (TriNetX). Propensity-matched study of obstructive sleep apnea and respiratory complications after pars plana vitrectomy.
- Retinal imaging. Ultra-widefield (Optos) imaging of inherited retinal diseases and AI-based vessel segmentation in retinitis pigmentosa.
- Rodent models. CRISPR-mediated knockout, anti-VEGF studies, subretinal and intravitreal injections.
Spaceflight
- Crew medical officer training. First author of a proposed ophthalmic procedural training framework for exploration-class missions.
- Narrative reviews. Post-traumatic endophthalmitis risk and the ocular–behavioral health axis in long-duration spaceflight.
Gene therapy
- PRPH2 sonogenetics. Wet-lab work on ultrasound-controlled gene expression targeting PRPH2 (peripherin-2), including ARPE-19 cell culture.
GLS / MIS
- FLOT vs CROSS. First author of a 28-patient retrospective series comparing pathologic response after neoadjuvant therapy; poster at the American Foregut Society 2026 meeting.
- EndoFLIP and hiatal closure. Data collection and results writing (Surgical Endoscopy 2026; second manuscript submitted).
- Gastric conduit oxygenation. Prospective NIRS study of anastomotic outcomes after esophagectomy.
- PRP in hiatal hernia repair. Retrospective chart review of intraoperative platelet-rich plasma.
Earlier researchPulmonary & critical care · Transplant hepatology · Emergency medicine · OncologyShow
critical care
- CT escalation in pneumonia (lead). Designed a retrospective study of predictors of CT after initial chest radiography, through IRB preparation.
- Lung ultrasound meta-analysis. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment (Cureus 2026).
hepatology
- Cystatin C–augmented MELD. Longitudinal chart review of 150+ liver transplant patients for a model of 90-day waitlist mortality.
- Ascites phenotypes. Multicenter data extraction (Liver Transplantation 2026).
medicine
- Prolonged length of stay. Quality improvement project building an automated ED flag; collected and analyzed admission diagnosis codes to define criteria.
research
- Smart-exosome drug delivery. Antibody candidate screening, protein and DNA purification, cell culture, and antibody-drug conjugate preparation.
Clinical experience
USC Roski
- Ophthalmology clinic. Supervised visual acuity, slit-lamp, and fundoscopic exams; evaluated outpatients and presented to attending ophthalmologists.
Leadership & service
Served as primary liaison between the student body and administration, advocating for housing equity, facility improvements, and mental health resource access.
Coordinated faculty and clinical speakers for a lunch talk series. Led outreach connecting students with research-active faculty across subspecialties.
Provided real-time medical interpretation in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. Analyzed HCAHPS, Leapfrog, and ED throughput metrics across a 9-hospital system.
Led an executive team of 15 organizing events for 2,000+ members, including multi-day retreats and workshops.
Longitudinal mentorship for grades 6–10 in science, mathematics, and evidence-based study strategies, emphasizing stepwise problem-solving and self-directed learning.
Observed clinical decision-making in high-acuity emergency care and assisted nursing staff with patient care, vitals, and unit operations.
Taught digital literacy (Zoom, Google tools) in Cantonese to elderly clients during COVID-19 to improve access to remote services.
Dmanisi, 2019
- Participated in active excavation at Dmanisi, one of the most significant Homo erectus fossil sites outside Africa, gaining hands-on exposure to paleoanthropological methods and human evolutionary history.
- Attended lectures on hominin morphology, species differentiation, and the significance of early human migration.
- Saw firsthand the burden of undertreated disease in rural Georgia, including cases of polio and other conditions rarely encountered in the U.S., which deepened my commitment to preventive medicine and global health equity.
"I went to excavate the origins of our species. I came back wanting to take care of them."Dmanisi, Georgia · 2019
Skills & interests
Certifications & awards
Technical and research skills
Interests
Contact
Whether you're a fellow researcher, clinician, or student, feel free to reach out. I'm open to discussing research, collaborations, or just connecting.
Send an email