Dr. Hema Ramkumar was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She completed her undergraduate education at Northwestern University with dual degrees in Developmental Neurosciences and International Studies. She obtained her medical degree at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine with Honors in Research. During her stay, she received the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship at the National Eye Institute. Dr. Ramkumar went on to complete her residency at The University of California, San Diego where she received the resident research award and was selected by peers and faculty to serve as Chief Resident. She also completed subspecialty fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery at Shiley Eye Institute and Jacobs Retina Center at UCSD, earning the Thrasher Foundation Early Career Award.
She is a specialist in macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, complex retinal tears and detachments, floaters, ocular inflammation, macular holes, and retinal imaging. Her training also includes the treatment of intraocular tumors, complex uveitis, inherited retinal diseases, and pediatric retinal diseases.
In addition to her clinical interests, Dr. Ramkumar has an extensive background in retinal research. She is the founder of a research and development company, Oculogenex, which is developing novel therapies for retinal diseases. She has over ten years’ experience investigating molecular causes, vitamin combinations, retinal imaging, and treatments for macular degeneration. Dr. Ramkumar has been published in over 30 peer-reviewed journals and presented at numerous national and international meetings. As a contributor to many of these journals and an active investigator of clinical trials, she evaluates and offers her patients the latest technology and advanced treatments. Atop her already impressive list of credits, she is the principle investigator in grant-funded studies from NSF and NASA evaluating new macular degeneration treatments.
Finally, Dr. Ramkumar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and a member of societies including the American Society of Retina Specialists and Orange County Society of Ophthalmology, Women in Ophthalmology, and Women in Retina. Impressively, she is a quadrilingual doctor who speaks English, Spanish, Hindi, and Tamil. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. She is passionate about dancing, traveling, music, and hiking.
