Matthew Blau

Matthew Blau

Medical Resident/Fellow

Professional Summary

Personal Statement
Ophthalmology allowed me to apply my background in physics to understand the optics of surgical planning and the innovative technologies used in the field. I fell in love with eye anatomy while performing the slit lamp examination, and I loved assisting during cataract surgery. I was so motivated to begin providing eye care that I founded a medical student initiative called the Owl Watch Eye Service (OWES) to make primary eye care more accessible to the underserved North Philadelphia community. Through OWES, I have established visual acuity and diabetic retinopathy screening programs and coordinate the distribution of glasses to members of the community. While my fascination with the eye is important for sustaining a long and satisfying career, I believe that my empathy for my patients will be equally important to making me a great ophthalmologist.
 
Why I Chose Cincinnati
First and foremost, the people. I left my interview day feeling that the people at Cincinnati are invested in resident training and are among the kindest people in the country. They made me feel that the University of Cincinnati would be a place where I could thrive. Also, the residency program at Cincinnati is highly regarded and offers first rate academic training, with the opportunity to learn from world class ophthalmologists. Finally, I was drawn to the opportunity to care for an underserved patient population at UCMC.