New Faculty: Karan Johal, OD, Resident '24

During his junior year at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, Karan Johal, OD, Resident '24, discovered his passion for optometry. While shadowing various healthcare professionals, it was optometry that truly sparked his interest, leading him to pursue it wholeheartedly.  

 "From that moment, I put all my eggs in the optometry basket, and I’ve never regretted that decision," said Dr. Johal, who was born in Punjab, India, and moved with his family to New Jersey at the age of nine.  

 Dr. Johal’s decision proved to be the right one. After completing his residency at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, he had initially signed a contract to work in New York. However, he opted to stay close to The Eye Institute (TEI), PCO’s clinical facility, and joined Drs. Joshua Greene and Hugo Linares in clinical trials at Vision Research Solutions.

 And, as of Aug. 1, 2024, Dr. Johal became a faculty member at PCO. He now serves as the primary investigator for anterior segment trials and secondary coordinator for other research studies. In his role, he works closely with Drs. Greene and Linares, contributing wherever needed.  

 After earning his biology degree from Kean, Dr. Johal pursued his Doctor of Optometry degree at the Chicago College of Optometry. When it came time to select a residency, he applied and was accepted at TEI as an on-campus resident.  

 "Initially, I was interested in the contact lens residency, and I wanted to stay close to home in New Jersey,” said Dr. Johal. “But, in hindsight, I wouldn’t have been happy in that specialty. It requires a lot of organizational skills, which I realized wasn’t my strong suit. I absolutely love ocular disease, and that became my focus."  

 He chose to complete his residency at TEI because of his desire to excel. "Some of the smartest doctors are in academia, and TEI and PCO have so many great minds. It’s amazing to be surrounded by people who have been in the profession for years. Being able to bounce ideas off of them is something I’ve always valued," he said.  

Although Dr. Johal's primary interest lies in ocular disease, his time at TEI introduced him to clinical trials and research as previously stated, areas he hopes to continue exploring as a faculty member. "I never thought I'd go in that direction, but TEI opened that door for me, an opportunity I wouldn’t have found in private practice," he said.  

 As a PCO faculty member, Dr. Johal enjoys working with both Doctor of Optometry students and residents, an experience he finds both challenging and rewarding. "You never know what questions they’ll ask, which keeps me on my toes and pushes me to stay prepared. It also drives me to focus on high-yield topics related to ocular health," he said.  

 Outside of optometry, Dr. Johal enjoys exploring the outdoors, attending sporting events and concerts, and trying new restaurants. During football season, you’ll find him glued to the TV on Sundays, cheering on the New Orleans Saints. He also loves spending time with his Boston Terrier, Kobe.  

Looking ahead, Dr. Johal envisions staying in academia while balancing multiple roles. "Ideally, I’d like to continue teaching two to three days a week while also running my own practice four days a week. That would be the perfect mix for me, and I’d love to stay involved in research as well. If I could do all three, I’d be very satisfied. I’ll make it work if given the chance," he said.