• Eastern Illinois University
  Charleston, IL
  B.A. Degree in Psychology
  B.S. Degree in Zoology
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  New York, NY - M.D. Degree
• Graduate Hospital (Drexel University College of Medicine)
  Philadelphia, PA - Internship
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  New York, NY - Residency in Ophthalmology
• Emory University School of Medicine
  Atlanta, GA - Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• American Academy of Opthalmology - Member
• American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus - Member
• Joined Marietta Eye Clinic in 2011
• Specialist in Ambylyopia, Pediatric and Adult Cataracts, and Pediatric and Adult Strabismus
• Originally planned to be a pediatric primary care physician before discovering surgery
• Enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband and two children

She enters a room in a near whisper and with a warm smile. Her eyes are kind and her demeanor gentle. And when she speaks, Dr. Fatema Esmail reveals her knowledge, confidence, and love for medicine, a field her parents proudly call a noble profession.

“I was born in Hong Kong, but I moved to Chicago at age four with my family because my parents wanted me to have as much opportunity as they could make available to me. They knew that in the United States a woman could pursue whatever interested her.”

She did not decide to become a physician until she was in high school. “I had worked in an office setting helping my dad in his business, and also, for some time, I thought of being an elementary school teacher.“

“What drew me to medicine was my interest in biology, and knowing that I would be able to spend every day helping many different people.”

Dr. Esmail initially planned to become a pediatric primary care physician because of her love for children, “but I fell in love with surgery during my training,” she explains. “I was fascinated with the immediacy of results, the evidence that what I had done improved someone’s quality of life. And of course vision is such a huge component of the quality of life.”

Pediatric ophthalmology proved to be the perfect specialty for a physician who loves surgery and children.

“Strabismus surgery can often change the course of a child’s development by improving vision, and the child’s self esteem as well. It’s wonderful to know that you have helped prevent a child from having to endure vision impairment.”

“And a joy of working with children is not only that you can care for them for years, but you also have the privilege of watching them grow up. I look forward to my young patients continuing to have me to care for their vision well into their later years.”

Dr. Esmail, the oldest of three children and an only daughter, returns to Hong Kong occasionally to see her grandparents.

“Family is so important,” she observes. Her husband is also a physician. “We were introduced by a mutual friend while attending medical school. We have lived in several states while completing our training, but are very happy now to be in Georgia. This is a good place to raise a family, it has a good pace of life.”

The couple has two young children, a son and a daughter. “Sometimes we talk about medicine when at home, but mostly we play with our children,” she says with a smile.

Dr. Esmail describes herself as calm and laid back, and then with a chuckle goes on to say, “but don’t be fooled. I once was a competitive badminton player; when I get a good shot I take it.”

A frequent world traveler, Dr. Esmail loves to learn about a new culture while walking the streets and observing the people. “I love Mumbai, my husband’s homeplace. It’s hard to pick a favorite place!”

When not traveling or parenting, Dr. Esmail enjoys cooking Chinese and Indian foods, watching movies and reading fiction. “It may seem out of character for a surgeon, but I particularly enjoyed reading the entire Harry Potter series!"

When asked to describe how she would most like to see her career be measured, Dr. Esmail was quick to respond.

“What I desire most is to build long-term relationships with my young patients and inspire the confidence that would lead them to want me to treat their own children one day.”