The doctors and staff at The Retina Partners are united in our commitment to a single principle: treating every patient as we would treat our own family member. Driven by this philosophy, we make it our top priority to provide personalized and honest care using the latest and most advanced technology in an environment of warmth, compassion, and respect. We encourage our patients to ask questions because it is the right of every patient to learn about the nature of their disease and the latest that science has to offer in understandable terms. Only in this way can the patient, the doctor, and the staff work together as a team to achieve the best results.
Dr. Thomas Hanscom first began serving patients in 1980, starting on the faculty of the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, and as Chief of Ophthalmology at the Veterans Affairs Hospital. He soon developed a reputation as a leader and well-respected clinician, serving as Chief of Ophthalmology at St. John's Hospital and President of the Los Angeles Society of Ophthalmology and California Association of Ophthalmology. Realizing the need for advanced retinal care on the Westside, Dr. Hanscom founded his practice in Santa Monica, which has thrived as The Retinal Specialists.
Meanwhile, Valley Retina was founded in 2001 by Dr. Robert Engstrom, who had a faculty position at the Jules Stein Eye Institute since 1995. While serving as the Co-Director of the UCLA Ocular Oncology service and Division Chief of Ophthalmology at Olive View/UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Engstrom recognized a need for a state-of-the-art retina center in the San Fernando Valley and thus established his practice in Encino. Quickly outgrowing the initial space, the practice was relocated to our current location in 2004, and through the support of our highly respected referral community, we continue to serve a growing patient population.
In July 2009, Dr. Hajir Dadgostar joined the Valley Retina team after completing his residency in Ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute and his vitreoretinal fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Soon after, in January 2011, our Valencia office opened to serve the Santa Clarita Valley by providing a local center for the increasing number of patients who had been commuting long distances to receive their retina care with us.
Most recently, as of July 2013, Dr. Amir Guerami joined Valley Retina after serving as the Director of the Retina Division and Clinical Director of Ophthalmology at the University of Maryland. Dr. Guerami's arrival coincided with an opportunity to further expand our Encino office space so that we can continue to provide the most comfortable care experience to our ever-growing patient population.
Beginning in the fall of 2014, the physicians of Valley Retina Medical Associates and The Retinal Specialists joined together to form The Retina Partners to better serve our patients in Santa Monica. We continue to pride ourselves in setting the standards for prompt accessibility, effective communication, top quality care, and positive patient experience.
