Zeynep Gursel, MD

I am an ocular oncologist specializing in the diagnosis and management of tumors of the eye and periocular region in both pediatric and adult patients. My journey into ocular oncology began during my early career in Turkey, where I practiced as an ophthalmologist. While working there, my department chief selected me to establish an ocular oncology clinic—an area in which I had no prior formal training. Recognizing the complexity of this subspecialty and the responsibility inherent in caring for patients with ocular tumors, I decided to pursue advanced training abroad before undertaking this endeavor.

In 2015, I moved to the United States and worked as a researcher in ocular oncology in Michigan. During this period, I developed a deep interest in the field and realized that I wanted to pursue comprehensive, hands-on clinical training. To achieve medical equivalency in North America, I successfully completed the required examinations, after which I began my clinical ocular oncology fellowship in 2019 in Toronto.

Following two years of intensive clinical fellowship training and an additional two years of dedicated research experience, I was academically and professionally prepared to return to Turkey to establish an ocular oncology service. However, personal circumstances, family considerations, and life events ultimately led me to Cincinnati, where I continued my career in ocular oncology.

Currently, I practice at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where my clinical focus is primarily on retinoblastoma. I am deeply fortunate to work as part of a highly experienced, multidisciplinary retinoblastoma team, providing comprehensive and collaborative care to our patients. In addition to retinoblastoma, my practice includes the management of a wide spectrum of ocular and periocular tumors, including hemangioma, astrocytoma, uveal melanoma, medulloepithelioma, metastatic ocular tumors, and conjunctival and ocular surface neoplasms.

My research is focused on understanding the ocular side effects of radiation therapy. Radiation remains a critical and frequently utilized treatment of modality in ocular oncology, particularly for malignant tumors. Through my research, I aim to better characterize radiation-induced ocular toxicity and to contribute to strategies that minimize long-term visual morbidity while preserving oncologic outcomes.