Prashanth Vallabhanath, M.D.

Dr. Prashanth Vallabhanath, M.D., specializes in oculoplastic surgery which entails cosmetic, corrective and reconstructive surgery of structures around the eye.

“At EyeHealth NW, we are all personally invested in our patients. I do the best by my partner as well as my own patients because we are all in this together.”

Anyone who knows Prashanth Vallabhanath, MD affectionately calls him Dr. PV. He was born in India and raised in his early years in California. Then his family moved to Michigan where he went on to graduate from college and medical school at the University of Michigan. Dr. PV was initially drawn to medicine because of his interest in science and the desire for an intellectual challenge.

Then, he had a profound experience while working in the development and testing of prosthetic devices that restored sight to the blind. This took place in his third year of medical school when he worked as a Howard Hughes Research Scholar at the National Institutes of Health. In one particular experiment, electrodes were implanted into a woman’s visual cortex in her brain. Afterwards, she was able to see for the first time in over fifty years. It was a tremendous experience to be part of a revolutionary process and to see the emotional impact on the participants. “The building of these remarkable relationships with the blind participants really deepened the overall practice of medicine for me.”

After completing his studies and working in the intense environment of research and academia, Dr. PV was drawn to Portland by the balanced lives he saw people living here. Thus, coming to EHNW was the perfect fit. In 2000, when Dr. PV had a chance to choose from several jobs throughout the country, he chose EHNW because of its excellent standard of practice and the wonderful people. “I was impressed with the humility of the many accomplished doctors who were practicing medicine in its highest form yet still were very down to earth.”

At EHNW, Dr. PV specializes in oculoplastic surgery which entails cosmetic, corrective and reconstructive surgery of structures around the eye. He also spends a good portion of his practice on comprehensive ophthalmology. “I like the balance I get from the intellectual rigor of a surgical specialty while still seeing patients in a general practice.” Though Dr. PV enjoys the creative process in reconstructive surgery, the heartful relationships built with patients over their lifetime is the most gratifying part of his practice.

Between the business of working and raising two young children, you might find Dr. PV enjoying time with his wife and their two children exploring the coast or visiting the zoo. Dr. PV delights in learning from the wisdom and exuberance of his kids as he believes that, “Children can teach us so much.”

When he has a little more time to spare, Dr. PV makes regular trips to visit relatives in the Phillippines, his wife’s country of origin. On his past trips, he has had several opportunities to provide charitable medical services to those in need. Dr. PV has been very grateful for these experiences as he is reminded of how fortunate we are in this country.