Dr. Rob Pintwala

Dr. Rob Pintwala's surgical expertise is built upon a unique dual background in medicine and engineering. He first established a strong foundation in complex problem-solving, earning an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science and a Master of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo. His master's thesis focused on the innovative development of an in vitro model to assess the biocompatibility of intraocular biomaterials, a key area of research directly relevant to modern surgical technology.

He went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University, followed by an Ophthalmology Residency at the University of British Columbia, where he served as the Chief Ophthalmology Resident.

Dr. Pintwala is a practicing Cataract Surgeon and Comprehensive Ophthalmologist with surgical and academic privileges maintained since 2023. He currently holds clinical roles at Fort Saint John Hospital and Providence Health Care, where he has performed thousands of intraocular procedures.

As a dedicated educator, Dr. Pintwala holds the title of Clinical Instructor at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine. His extensive teaching experience includes supervising dozens of ophthalmology residents in areas such as cataract, oculoplastics surgery, and laser procedures, as well as teaching hundreds of medical students via lectures and clinical supervision. His commitment to academic excellence is further demonstrated through his leadership role as the St. Paul's Hospital Site Lead for the UBC Residency Training Program.

Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Pintwala has been recognized with numerous awards and scholarships. During his residency, he won the Resident Research Presentation at the UBC Ophthalmology Research Day in 2020. While completing his medical and graduate studies, he was awarded the Stanley and Eileen Miller Scholarship in Medicine at Western University in 2014, and the Global Health Electives Grant in 2016.

His engineering graduate work at the University of Waterloo was heavily funded through prestigious scholarships, including an Ontario Graduate Scholarship and a President's Graduate Scholarship for the 2013-2014 academic year. He also received a Graduate Research Studentship from 2012 to 2013 and graduated with Distinction while appearing on the Dean's Honours List in 2012.

In addition to his academic accolades, Dr. Pintwala has a robust publication record. He has co-authored textbook chapters, such as a 2021 chapter on myelinated retinal nerve fibers in the Fundamentals of Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology. Additionally, he has published multiple peer-reviewed articles in reputable journals, including the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology and Cureus, covering topics ranging from goniotomy outcomes to orbital apex syndrome.

• Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
• Refractive Surgery Alliance
• BC Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Canadian Ophthalmology Society