Wu, Jolan

By Michael Hilleary | June 6, 2023

 

 

Jolan Wu, DO, MS

Dr. Jolan Wu

Hometown:

Olympia, WA

Undergraduate School:

San Francisco State University

Graduate School:

Western University of Health Sciences

Medical School:

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Bio:

I was born in Taiwan, raised in California by my mom, and spent my summers in Taiwan with my dad. Growing up in two different cultures has given me a unique perspective that has allowed me to embrace cultural diversity. Simultaneously, my interest in medicine and surgery grew, and at one point, I considered veterinary medicine. Eventually, I became the first physician in my family. Over time, I became driven to make positive differences in a goal that would marry my passions: improving healthcare equity through medicine, surgery, research, and service. In medical school, trips to Nicaragua and Haiti were revealing experiences that showed me the power of low-cost care in underserved communities. In my research fellowship, I was privileged with the opportunity to study retinal imaging methods in infants at the bedside for possible implementation in teleophthalmology. I also worked on an innovative project using artificial intelligence to more easily identify strabismus, a particularly useful tool to have in countries where there is a shortage of specialists. Currently, I am also developing an eyecare training curriculum for Community Health Workers in Honduras to improve access to low-resource, rural settings. Now as I enter my surgical internship at UW, I am eager to embrace my training and further my lifelong goals of providing excellent surgical and patient care, all while building lasting friendships in my new family to come.

Personal Interests:

Biking, figure skating, hiking, running, spending time with my kid, dogs, and husband.

Clinical Interests:

Pediatric Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Plastics, Clinical Education, and Public Health.

Professional Activities:

American College of Surgeons
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Why UW?

I feel very fortunate to be accepted at a world-class surgical institution filled with elite experts and educators who create a culture that prioritizes excellence, compassion, inclusion, and supportive training that is second to none.

What advice do you have for incoming interns?

Be excellent to your colleagues and help simplify their lives. Stay truthful, never stop growing your craft, and prioritize patient well-being above all else.

What do you like best about living in Seattle?

I enjoy living in Seattle because it is a remarkable city with stunning water views and great outdoor recreation. It offers diverse dining options and excellent coffee shops. Whether you crave city life or retreats in nature, Seattle has it all.

Publications:

  1. Kubsad D, Ohan MA, Wu JG and Cabrera MT. Vitreoretinal biomarkers of retinopathy of prematurity using handheld optical coherence tomography: a review. Front. Pediatr. 2023 May 31:11:1191174. doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.1191174
  2. Vu JT, Wang E, Wu J, Sun YJ, Velez G, Bassuk AG, Lee SH, Mahajan VB. Calpains as mechanistic drivers and therapeutic targets for ocular disease. Trends Mol Med. 2022 May 28:S1471-4914(22)00123-X. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.05.007. Epub ahead of print.PMID: 35641420.
  3. Faramarzi B, Rich LJ, Wu J. Hematological and serum biochemical profile values in pregnant and non-pregnant mares. Can J Vet Res. 2018 Oct;82(4):287-293. PMID: 30363350; PMCID: PMC6168017.