Dr. Vagefi joins us from the University of California, San Francisco where he was Professor of Ophthalmology and the Michal Vilensky Endowed Chair for Research in Ophthalmology. During his 12-year tenure at UCSF, he held numerous leadership positions within the Department of Ophthalmology, including Vice Chair for Clinical Services, Medical Director, and Quality Improvement and Safety Officer. He previously served as the Division Chief of Oculofacial Plastic Surgery at both the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Dr. Vagefi earned his bachelor's degree at Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine. He completed his medicine internship at Stanford University, followed by ophthalmology residency at UCSF. During his residency, he was awarded the Starr E. Shulman MPA Fellowship by the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. He then spent two additional years of fellowship training in oculofacial plastic and orbital surgery at the Center for Facial Appearances in Salt Lake City, UT.
Dr. Vagefi's academic career began in 2008 at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania where he was also the Division Chief of Oculofacial Plastic Surgery at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During his time at UPenn, he received the residency Surgical Teaching Award.
His area of medical expertise lies in oculofacial plastic and orbital surgery. He was the lead oculofacial plastic surgeon for the UCSF Skull Base Surgery team and the Facial Nerve Center. Dr. Vagefi is recognized in the field for his contribution to the treatment of rhino-orbital fungal sinusitis and spheno-orbital meningiomas. He has developed new surgical methods for oculofacial plastic surgery and has trained over 100 medical students, residents, and clinical fellows. His research has focused on surgical and quality of life outcomes, patient specific implants for oculofacial reconstruction, metagenomics of orbital inflammatory disease, and diagnostic imaging and treatment of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis.
Dr. Vagefi is recognized by national organizations as one of the top doctors in the United States in his subspecialty. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). He serves on the AAO Basic and Clinical Science Course Committee and Ophthalmic Technology Assessment Committee and has been recognized with an AAO Achievement Award.
