Laser-focused ambition leads to ophthalmic imaging career

During a summer co-op in the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Melanie Ng’s career vision began to take shape. 

Ng ’26 (photographic sciences) assisted with patient care while gaining knowledge in specialized imaging techniques. She adapted her imaging approach to meet diagnostic needs while balancing patient comfort.

The co-op experience, coupled with a laser-focused ambition while studying in RIT’s one-of-a-kind photographic sciences program, led to a full-time position as an ophthalmic photographer at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. As an ophthalmic photographer, Ng assists ophthalmologists visualize eye diseases through various mediums of imaging.

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Melanie Ng

An example of Ng's ophthalmic imaging work.

She begins her position in Boston, Mass., in June, following graduation. 

“I feel very prepared from my experience at RIT,” Ng said. “I learned a lot from my (ophthalmic imaging) professors Christye Sisson and Heather Carmello, who both helped me learn different techniques and refine my skills.”

Ng’s co-op at Columbia also provided work in a professional setting while still in school that paid dividends during her job search. Ng was part of a team caring for patients of all ages with a wide range of ophthalmic conditions. She helped manage clinical flow, archive images, fulfill records requests, and communicate with physicians.

“I worked with different ophthalmologists ranging from retinal specialists to genetic ophthalmologists and learned how to adapt imaging techniques based on each provider’s needs,” Ng said. “I learned ophthalmic imaging techniques such as fundus photography, OCT imaging, and slit lamp photography.

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Clay Patrick McBride

Melanie Ng

“Going on co-op gave me valuable hands-on experience and helped me clarify my career interests,” she added. “Being immersed in a clinical environment allowed me to understand what working in the field is really like.”

Ng said RIT allowed her to combine her passion for photography with science to find a career field that felt right to her, and the supportive faculty drove her to succeed.

“I immersed myself in diverse courses to build the soft and technical skills that will help me after graduation and make me a more versatile photographer,” Ng said. “It allowed me to explore different avenues of photography that I didn’t think were out there.”