Our Doctors at
West Coast Retina Consultants
Our physicians are leaders in patient experience, clinical outcomes, research and education.
David A. Albiani, BSc, MD, EMBA, FRCSC
Academic Position
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia
Education
Executive Master’s in Business Administration - University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business (Vancouver, British Colombia)
Retina Fellowships:
Surgery of the Vitreous and Retina - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Pediatric Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship - Children’s Retina Institute (Los Angeles, California)
Ophthalmology Residency - University of Ottawa Eye Institute (Ottawa, Ontario)
Doctor of Medicine - Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario)
Undergraduate education - Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario)
Board Certification
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Background and Training
Dr. David Albiani obtained an undergraduate Life Science degree and attended medical school at in Kingston, Ontario. He then did ophthalmology residency at the University of Ottawa Eye Institute. Following his residency, he did his fellowship training in medical and surgical retina at the University of British Columbia. He also obtained his Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the UBC Sauder School of Business.
Dr. Albiani’s clinical expertise and research interests include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, surgical macular disorders and complicated lens surgery.
Dr. Albiani is the current Head, Retina Division at UBC and Department Head of Ophthalmology at Providence Health Care. He is the current Chair, PHC Medical Advisory Committee. He has served as Director of the UBC Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, member of the Provincial Surgical Executive Committee and President of the British Columbia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons in the past.
Professional Memberships
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Canadian Retina Society
Canadian Medical Association
Doctors of British Columbia
American Society of Retina Specialists
Andrew Kirker, BSc, MD, FRCSC
Academic Position
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia
Education
Retina Fellowships: Surgery of the Vitreous and Retina - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Ocular Oncology - Wills’ Eye Institute (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Medical retina, Uveitis and Ocular Oncology - University of Sydney (Sydney, Australia)
Ophthalmology Residency - Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Doctor of Medicine - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Undergraduate education - University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta)
Board Certification
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Background and Training
Dr. Andrew Kirker attended medical school at the University of British Columbia before completing a residency in ophthalmology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He subsequently undertook surgical retinal fellowship training at the University of British Columbia. Following his training in Vancouver, he completed additional vitreo-retinal training in Calgary before traveling to Philadelphia where he spent time at the Wills’ Eye Institute in the Ocular Oncology service with Drs. Jerry and Carol Sheilds. His last fellowship was in medical retina, Uveitis and Ocular Oncology at the University of Sydney, Australia under the direction of Professor Peter McCluskey.
Dr. Kirker has expertise and performs research in the medical and surgical management of vitreo-retinal surgical diseases, medical retina, and Ocular Oncology.
Professional Memberships
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Canadian Retina Society
Canadian Medical Association
Doctors of British Columbia
American Society of Retina Specialists
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Andrew B. Merkur, MD, FRCSC
Academic Position
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia
Education
Retina Fellowships:
Surgery of the Vitreous and Retina - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Pediatric Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship - Children’s Retina Institute (Los Angeles, California)
Ocular Pathology Fellowship - Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, Maryland)
Ophthalmology Residency - University of Ottawa Eye Institute (Ottawa, Ontario)
Doctor of Medicine - University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Ontario)
Undergraduate education - McGill University (Montreal, Quebec)
Board Certification
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Background and Training
Dr. Andrew Merkur is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He is actively involved in training the next generation of medical retina specialists and retinal surgeons as Director of the UBC Medical and Surgical Retina Fellowship program.
Dr. Merkur was granted early acceptance from Undergraduate studies at McGill University, Montreal into medical school at the University of Ottawa. After his medical training his Ophthalmology Residency training was also performed at the Ottawa Eye Institute where he was honoured with Chief residency. He completed a fellowship at John's Hopkins University - Wilmer Eye Institute. He completed his fellowship as a vitreoretinal surgeon at the University of British Columbia. He subsequently completed a fellowship in pediatric vitreoretinal diseases.
Professional Memberships
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Canadian Retina Society
Canadian Medical Association
Doctors of British Columbia
American Society of Retina Specialists
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Kaivon P. Vaezi, MD, FRCSC
Academic Position
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia
Education
Retina Fellowships:
Medical Retina Diseases - Moorfields Eye Hospital, University College London (London, England)
Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Diseases - University of Washington (Seattle, Washington
Ophthalmology Residency - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Doctor of Medicine - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Undergraduate education - University of Victoria (Victoria, British Columbia)
Board Certification
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Background and Training
Dr Kaivon Vaezi attended medical school and Ophthalmology residency at the University of British Columbia. He was then awarded sponsorship by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to undergo subspecialty training in Medical Retina diseases at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, United Kingdom – Europe’s oldest and largest center for ocular treatment, training and research. Following this he underwent further subspecialty training in Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Diseases at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington under the direction of Dr Russell Van Gelder.
Dr. Vaezi’s clinical expertise and research interests include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disorders, central serous retinopathy, advanced retinal imaging, retinal dystrophies, advanced molecular diagnostic testing, and ocular inflammatory disorders. He performs routine and complicated cataract surgery, particularly in the context of retinal diseases.
Dr Vaezi is heavily involved in the medical and surgical training of medical students and ophthalmology residents at the University of British Columbia. He is also an active instructor in the Medical and Surgical Retina Fellowship program at the University of British Columbia.
Professional Memberships
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Canadian Retina Society
Canadian Medical Association
Doctors of British Columbia
American Society of Retina Specialists
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Uveitis Society
Bryon R. McKay - MD, PhD, FRCSC, DRCPSC - Retina
Academic Position
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia
Education
Retina Fellowships:
Medical Retina Fellowship - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellowship - University of British Columbia (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Ophthalmology Residency – University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)
Doctor of Medicine – University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
Doctor of Philosophy – McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario)
Master of Science – Western University (London, Ontario)
Undergraduate education – McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario)
Board Certification
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Diplomat of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Area of Focused Competency - Retina
Background and Training
Dr. Bryon McKay completed a master’s degree in human physiology and a PhD in molecular physiology at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario prior to medical School. He attended medical school in Australia at the University of Melbourne where he was president of the Melbourne Surgical Students Society. He then completed Ophthalmology residency at the University of Toronto where he was co-Chief resident. Dr. McKay completed a one-year Medical Retina, Uveitis and Ocular Oncology fellowship at UBC in Vancouver. He then completed his Vitreoretinal Surgery fellowship at UBC in Vancouver where he was Chief fellow. Dr. McKay is the first Canadian graduate from that fellowship program to be awarded the prestigious Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Area of Focused Competency in Retina and is one of the first Canadian Surgeons to hold this designation.
Dr. McKay’s clinical expertise and research interests include retinal detachment surgery, vitreoretinal surgical instrumentation, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular diseases, age-related macular degeneration, and central serous chorioretinopathy. Dr. McKay also has a keen interest in complex lens surgery, and surgical disorders of the macula.
Professional Memberships
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Canadian Retina Society
American Society of Retina Specialists
European Society of Retina Specialists
Canadian Medical Association
Doctors of British Columbia
Ontario Medical Association
American Academy of Ophthalmology