Caviteño doc is worldclass innovator

OUTSTANDING INNOVATOR Dr. Melvin A. Sarayba (second from left) receiving the Oustanding Innovator award for his work in eye laser technology. Cheering him are top officials of The Medical City (from left): Professional Staff Development Office head Dr. Blesilda E. Concepcion, Medical Services Group head Dr. Eugene F. Ramos, and Dr. Victor Caparas, chair of TMC Department of Ophthalmology

“It’s nice to be back home.”

Home to 43-year-old Dr. Melvin A. Sarayba is The Medical City (TMC) in Pasig City where he finished his residency training in Ophthalmology in 1999.

Sarayba came back to the Philippines early last month in time for the awarding of The Medical City Outstanding Innovator Award. The award was presented to him in recognition of his outstanding contributions and innovations in Ophthalmology, particularly in laser eye surgery.

During the awarding, TMC’s Chair Dr. Augusto P. Sarmiento told Sarayba: “You have given the country and TMC great honor because of your dedication and devotion.”

Sarayba is a research scientist in the United States. He is currently the Director of Clinical Affairs of LenSx Lasers, Inc, which developed the first femtosecond laser to receive US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for use in cataract surgery. Located in Aliso Viejo, California, LenSx Lasers, Inc. is now owned by Alcon Laboratories, one of the world’s largest eye care companies.

Femtosecond laser technology is considered among the most advanced and precise methods available today which could revolutionize minimally invasive eye surgery.

Exciting opportunities

Sarayba left for the US in 2001 for a research fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the University of California at Irvine (UCI).

After completing his fellowship, he joined Intralase Corp., the developer of the first femtosecond laser system for LASIK eye surgery, a procedure to correct near or far-sightedness.

“The plan was to do my fellowship training in UCI for one year and return to the Philippines to rejoin my group practice. It was during my fellowship training when I met Dr. Ron Kurtz, the cofounder of Intralase who presented me with the opportunity to pursue a career as a clinical scientist,” he said.

At first, Sarayba admitted he and his wife were hesitant to make such a bold move so they decided to give it a try for six months.

A backstage pass

“My experience took me to a place that I was never exposed to while I was back in the Philippines. It was like a backstage pass in the world of Ophthalmology. I got to see how the products I used as a clinician were developed and commercialized. I was hooked,” he said.

Sarayba narrated how he and Kurtz, his boss at Intralase, met and subsequently became partners. Kurtz was a retina surgeon working at UCI while Sarayba was then completing his cornea and refractive surgery subspecialty training.

“He (Kurtz) asked for my help on a small research project and I provided a quality research study. That initiated our collaboration.”

Sarayba then progressed from clinical consultant to Clinical Scientist to Senior Scientific Product Manager while he conceived and developed clinical applications of IntraLase-Enabled Keratoplasty (plastic surgery of the cornea) and advanced keratoplasty techniques.

He became Global Marketing Manager for Advanced Medical Optics when it acquired Intralase Corp in 2007.  After a year, Sarayba rejoined Kurtz in LenSx, Inc., a start-up formed to develop a femtosecond laser for cataract surgery.

The femtosecond laser

He was the key man in developing the clinical applications for the LenSx, running multi-nation clinical trials, and eventually getting it through FDA approval. Alcon Laboratories later on acquired LenSx with Sarayba staying on as Director of Clinical Affairs.

The development of a femtosecond laser for cataract surgery is indeed a remarkable achievement considering the prevalence of cataract cases worldwide. Cataract refers to the clouding of the lens inside the eye. Cataracts generally occur as part of the aging process, but they can have other causes as well. In the Philippines, researches reveal that cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness in adults.

Refractive cataract surgery allows the patient to be free or minimally dependent on eyeglasses after surgery.

Looking Back

Sarayba recalled that in 1997, when he was just a resident at TMC, the residency program was in its infancy.

“I was part of the 4th batch. We wanted to be a world-class training facility and we took it upon ourselves to make the change. The residents and the consultants in the Ophthalmology Department rolled up their sleeves and got to work. We wore many hats. It was like a little start-up company that showed great promise,” he said.

Sarayba believes the traits he acquired during his residency were instrumental in his success. He was always motivated to think outside the box. Thus, the term innovator fits him perfectly. His thirst for continuous learning brought him to UCI for fellowship training. And cliché as it is, the rest is history.

On being a Filipino

“Working in a start-up company required employees to wear many hats. Since Filipinos are known to be ingenious and resourceful, I fit right in. I found working with other nationalities easy. In fact, I can see many Filipinos would fit in well working with other nationalities because of our pakikisama(camaraderie, a traditional value)” he said.

Working alongside foreign engineers, doctors, and research scientists, Sarayba said “I never doubted my skills while working abroad. My training in the Philippines and further training in California provided me with superior knowledge in the field I was working in.”

On being an innovator

“Ask yourself this question: Can you live with the best things the world has to offer? If the answer is no, then you have the mind of an innovator,” he said.

The California-based doctor and research scientist said he would often hear people say, “I had that idea before” or “I could have invented that.”

“There is a big difference between coming up with an idea, turning that idea into concept and successfully commercializing a product. You have to go through all the stages,” he explained.

Sarayba likewise belied the common belief that opportunity to develop products is only available in advanced countries.

“That is not true. Doctors in the Philippines can be innovators too. They can find other applications for already available products and be innovators,” he said.

He stressed that being an innovator was not exclusive to people working in his field or in medicine.

“I would urge other people to ask themselves the same question. It doesn’t matter what you are: politician, public servant, entrepreneur, employee, etc. There are many things, I’m sure you’ll find, that need change. No one will do it for you. Wear the hat and take it all the way,” Sarayba advised.

Cavite born

Sarayba was born in Cavite City. He and his family visit the Philippines every two years. They spend time with family, relatives and friends, enjoying the Filipino food they terribly miss when they are in the US.

“My wife and I grew up with strong ties to our families and we would like our children to have the same experience. My kids enjoy spending time with their cousins while we are here, and we miss them terribly when we return to the US,” he said.