I write to strongly support Dr. Rubin's clinical, surgical, and educational prowess. I do this as a patient who was referred to Dr. Rubin for reconstructive eyelid surgery.
A deep malignant melanoma was diagnosed on my lower eyelid/upper cheek.. radiation and immunotherapy followed. Dr. Rubin .. successfully repaired both lower lids to a high level of satisfaction. Throughout our doctor patient relationship I have found Dr. Rubin to be thoroughly professional. He is meticulous in his evaluation and he is obviously extremely skilled technically.
C Akins
Whether or not you remember me, I will never forget you. No matter how old I live to be, I could never thank you enough for saving my eye. Three years ago, I broke my cheekbone and everybody thought I was going to lose my eye. I was so scared and terrified about losing my eye because the break had been right next to my eye. I remember thinking that my situation was a hopeless one.
If you hadn't been born, Dr. Rubin, I believe I would not have my eye. Thank you for the care you gave me when I was in the hospital. You would focus all of your attention on just me- nobody else. Another thing I appreciate is that you gave me confidence by telling me that I would make it and that I would not lose my eye which made me believe that I would be okay. Another thing you did for me that I appreciated was treating me very nicely, by always joking with me and talking about sports. You gave me confidence by telling me that I was going to be okay and that I would not lose my eye. I especially liked when you told me the truth on how bad the injury was and how long I be out of action rather than telling me a lie to make me feel good. You are a gifted Physician and I am lucky to have known you.
W.B., age 10
I am a forty-seven year old woman with a rare disease called Steven Johnson's Syndrome. This was caused by a severe allergic reaction to a drug when I was three. My eyes became severely damaged at that time and many surgeries followed over the course of my life. I lost count, but I know there have been over fifty procedures performed on me by various surgeons. Some of these were helpful while others were not. In any case I have been in pain for forty-three years of my life.
I live in South Florida and have not been able to find an ophthalmologist in this area who will take my case because it is very complicated. In September of 2007 I flew to Boston to consult with a specialist who has expertise with my condition and he referred me to Dr. Peter Rubin. Since then Dr. Rubin performed two procedures on my eyes in his office under local anesthesia. I am happy to report that for the first time in my life I am completely pain free. I never would have believed that was possible. I expected to feel more comfortable after the surgeries, but never did I expect such wonderful results. In addition, I did not require narcotic pain medication afterwards and my discomfort was minimal both of which were first time events for me.
Without reservation, I would recommend Dr. Rubin to anybody with eye issues whether they are rare or common. I fly to Boston whenever I need to see Dr Rubin and it is worth it. After having had such positive results with him, I would not consider seeing another ophthalmologist regardless of where I live.
LF
Words are inadequate to properly thank you for your priceless contribution of time, services, expertise and kindness on behalf of [name removed and pronouns added to protect privacy]. I'm writing at her request and out of my own desire to thank you -- as her friend and one of many praying for the restoration of her eyesight.
While I imagine that you know her story well, I thought you might want to have it on file, in any event - to share with staff and colleagues. In my capacity as a writer, mainly of books, I am fortunate to meet many inspiring, heroic individuals -- some of them famous, some not. She is one of the most inspirational I will ever meet. The story of her courageous fight to overcome the worst conceivable tragedy continues to amaze and move everyone who hears it.
Five years ago in her native Jamaica, [patient's name], a beautiful woman, was attacked in her place of work - her own hardware store, a business she had built against the odds, in spite of numerous hardships and loss (including domestic violence). While at work, she was robbed, tied and gagged and battery acid was poured onto her face and upper body - burning her face beyond recognition, down to the bone, and blinding her. The two men who did this to her were never found. As you know, before your work began, she has already had more than fifteen surgeries, including three surgeries in which her entire face was replaced.
One might imagine that hate, anger and even the desire to die to have also consumed Carol. To the contrary, she refuses to be killed by those evils. Instead, she embraces life, she chooses love, seeks the goodness in others, believing there is hope to better herself and that God will guide her through. Now He has brought her here to this country to you two miracle workers.
We tend to use the word "angel" very loosely these days. When I say, with all my heart, thank you for being an angel to [patient ], I mean it most sincerely.
If there is ever anything I can do on your behalf, whether it involves writing or helping get out the word on the important work you are doing, please don" t hesitate to ask. I might add that I am on the board of directors of the National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund. In that capacity, let me thank you for the healing that you are doing on behalf of all the victims of violence the world over.
on behalf of C.G.
In July 1994 my local ophthalmologist referred me to the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary in Boston, following a period of unresolved eye problems. A team of doctors determined that I needed a biopsy, and placed me in the hands of Peter A.D. Rubin, M.D., an eye plastics surgeon specializing in complicated and unusual cases.
The biopsy indicated that I had a very rare form of eye cancer- a sebaceous cell carcinoma. I could not have asked for a better eye surgeon to manage my case. He understood my husband and my anxieties, since this was all new territory for us.
Always with encouraging words, Dr. Rubin calmly explained every aspect of what would be needed for the biopsy, which, in and of itself, is a very unsettling experience. When biopsy results indicated that surgery would be needed, he and his staff thoroughly reassured us about the necessary excision surgery, as well as the lid reconstruction that would be required several months later. Dr. Rubin made it very clear that it was his job, primarily, to save my life, but, secondly, to save my vision; and that I would be left with the best possible outcome.
We understood from the outset that mine was a very challenging case, to be managed unconventionally. Conventional intervention involves removal of the patient's eye and eyelids. At the time I didn't know all of the possible ramifications, but following a successful resolution, I know that it was Dr. Rubin's professional expertise and foresight that brought about a full recovery. Not only was my disease controlled, with no further signs of cancer; but also my eye was spared, with an excellent functional and aesthetic outcome. Details such as showing us the scans and test results and offering full explanations in layman's language, led to a very important aspect of patient care-feeling that I still had control of my wellness and that I would be left with the best possible outcome.
The journey has resulted in an extraordinary relationship with this compassionate, knowledgeable, and highly skilled surgeon. I have found it interesting over the years that Peter has retained absolutely the most professional demeanor, along with the utmost objectivity. (Yes, after around fifty appointments and my batches of homemade cookies, we are all on a first-name basis).
I continue to have periodic follow-ups, although now well spaced between years, rather than days or weeks. I consider myself blessed to be under the vigilant eagle's eye of Dr. Peter Rubin!
DT
I've known Dr. Rubin well since 2003 when I was referred to him to discuss the need to remove my left eye and insert a prosthesis. From our first encounter, I was impressed with Dr. Rubin's concern for understanding all aspects of my complex problem and his professionalism and willingness to take the time to help me understand the procedure and the likely outcome and potential risks.
In June 2003, he performed the surgery which has been a complete success. Within 48 hours of the surgery, the intense pain that I endured in the eye went away accompanied by a significant increase in my energy, well-being, and functional capacity. The quality of my ocular prosthetic eye is such that even my closest associates cannot tell which eye has the prosthesis. I have normal motion and remain pain-free in the prosthetic eye...
My long experience with medical professionals has taught me that, in addition to technical excellence, positive medical outcomes in complex cases result and are enhanced by physician willingness to invest the time to understand all aspects of the patient's problem, work as a member of a team to set priorities and address priority problems, and an ability to manage their medical practice so that as emergencies develop, the patient can gain immediate access to the physician so that crisis level decisions can be made without delay.
My medical encounters with Dr. Rubin described above illustrate his skills and commitment to patient-centered medicine, team-work and coordination of care necessary to address complex problems which, in my case resulted in better-than-expected outcomes.
SF