Memphis Doctor Performs First MacTel Surgery in Tennessee

For patients with macular telangiectasia type 2, a rare disease that slowly steals vision, there was no way to stop the progression. That changed in December when Dr. Salar Rafieetary performed Tennessee's first surgery using a new FDA-approved implant to treat the condition.

Rafieetary, a retinal surgeon at the Charles Retina Institute in Memphis, used the ENCELTO implant at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women. The procedure offers the first real hope for slowing MacTel, which affects the center of the retina and gradually destroys sharp, central vision.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity to perform this new procedure because previously there were no other treatment options available for this disease," Rafieetary said. His patient is already seeing results, reporting that her scans show improvement after the surgery.

The path to this breakthrough started long before medical school. As a Rhodes College student in 2012, Rafieetary worked at Regional One Health's Elvis Presley Trauma Center through the Bonner Scholarship program. He spent his college years transporting patients, running lab specimens, and learning the hands-on realities of patient care.

His commitment to service extended beyond Memphis. The Bonner Program sent him to Thailand, where he taught English and worked in an orphanage. On campus, he led student government and conducted neuroscience research while giving tours to prospective students.

After graduating with honors in neuroscience, Rafieetary earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed his ophthalmology residency in 2021 and a specialized retina fellowship in 2023.

Why This Inspires

Rafieetary's story shows how early exposure to patient care can shape a career focused on solving real problems. His years volunteering in trauma centers and orphanages built the foundation for a practice centered on bringing new treatments to patients who need them most.

The ENCELTO implant represents more than a surgical first for Tennessee. For people facing inevitable vision loss with no options, it opens a door that was previously closed.

Now board certified and specializing in retinal diseases, Rafieetary continues practicing in the same Memphis community where he started as a college volunteer. His patient's improving scans prove that dedication to service can lead to real breakthroughs.