The USC Eye Institute has recruited two new directors to lead its cornea and neuro-ophthalmology programs.

Ophthalmologist and corneal specialist Jonathan Song has been appointed director of the division of cornea and external disease. Song, who has conducted extensive research on corneal transplantation in children, returns to the Keck School of Medicine of USC as associate professor of clinical ophthalmology from the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins.

Vivek Patel has been appointed director of neuro-ophthalmology and adult strabismus. Patel comes to USC also from the Wilmer institute, where he was an assistant professor of neuro-ophthalmology. He now holds the title of associate professor of ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine.

The USC Eye Institute’s faculty physicians serve patients in six locations in the Los Angeles area.

“The USC Eye Institute offers comprehensive eye care, and each physician contributes a unique specialization to the mix,” said Rohit Varma, the institute’s director and professor and chair of the department of ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine. “Drs. Song and Patel are among the best and most experienced in their respective specialties, helping us broaden the depth and breadth of services we offer.”

Song completed his residency at the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center and fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and completed an internship in translational medicine at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center.

Patel received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and is also board certified in Canada. He completed his internship and residency training in ophthalmology at McGill University prior to completing fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology at the USC Eye Institute.

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