Meet Dr. Patel
Dr. Saagar Patel was born in Austin, Texas and grew up in Houston, Texas. He attended high school at Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas where he was drum captain of his high school drumline. He then graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Plan II Honors and Dean’s Scholars Biochemistry Honors at the University of Texas in Austin. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. During his time there he studied chemical analogue synthesis of xanthofulvin, a neuroregenerative natural product. He then attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine on a partial scholarship.
Following medical school, Dr. Patel completed an internship at the University of Texas Dell Medical School in internal medicine before heading to Pennsylvania State University for his ophthalmology residency. During his time in residency, he was selected to attend the Heed Foundation Fellow’s retreat in Denver, Colorado. He is currently completing an intense vitreoretinal diseases and surgery fellowship at the University of Colorado Sue-Anschutz Eye Center in Aurora, Colorado. Outside of work, Dr. Patel enjoys hiking, basketball, snowboarding, cheering on the Longhorns, and attending live music events.
Dr. Patel and his wife, Dr. Weiss (dermatologist), are excited to return to Central Texas to take care of fellow Texans!
- What are your areas of expertise? Surgical and medical retina, secondary lenses, complex diabetic care, vascular diseases
- Do you speak any other languages? Intermediate Spanish proficiency
- Why are you excited to join Austin Retina? I am excited to join a group of excellent and down to earth professionals who have expertise with the full range of vitreoretinal disease and enjoy teaching the next generation of vitreoretinal surgeons
- Why are you passionate about what you do? It is a privilege to help patients with sight threatening disease given the profound impact sight has in all of our lives. My patients' gratitude fuels my passion to try and provide the best care I can.
- What is your care philosophy? There is no one size fits all approach to patient care. I strive to listen and personalize care to each patient's needs and issues.
- What do you want patients to know about you outside of the clinical setting – hobbies, family, fun facts? I was born in Austin and subsequently raised in Houston. I attended the University of Texas at Austin.
- What are you most excited to do now that you live in Austin? (visit certain place(s), food, etc) I look forward to enjoying a pleasant afternoon hanging out at Barton Springs or the greenbelt and exploring new music throughout Austin's many venues.
