Dr. Engel’s interest in science and medicine developed at an early age. As a senior at a high school in Queens, New York, he was awarded a prize in the Westinghouse Talent Search (now the Intel Science Talent Search), sparking a fascination with the emerging field of molecular genetics. During medical school, he discovered a passion for ophthalmology and the treatment of retinal disease.

Following fellowship training in ophthalmic pathology and vitreoretinal disease, Dr. Engel devoted much of his career to academic medicine and physician education. He rose to the rank of Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in recognition of his contributions to education, clinical care, and research. Today, he remains actively involved in the management of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low-birthweight infants.

Medicine has long been a part of Dr. Engel’s family. His sister, Ivy, was a highly respected radiologist at Weil Cornell Medicine, while his daughter, Allie, is a resident physician at Mount Sinai Medical Center. His wife, Suzanne, has dedicated her career to education and training in speech-language pathology at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Engel enjoys staying active and pursuing a variety of interests. He plays the saxophone, fly fishes for trout and salmon, and enjoys tying intricate fishing flies during the winter months in preparation for springtime outings. When conditions permit, he still enjoys downhill skiing.

Dr. Engel remains an active surgeon with special expertise in retinal detachment repair and the management of traumatic eye injuries. He believes the foundation of exceptional patient care is simple: to care. He is honored to be part of the team at Empire State Retina, where that philosophy is shared by every physician dedicated to serving their patients.