00:00:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala shares his personal journey of resilience and self-belief. Born in India, Dr. Batliwala spent his formative years in East Texas, navigating complex family immigration issues and mental health struggles. Despite these challenges, he developed an innate fortitude and started a successful Tech Repair business at the age of 15. Later, he shifted his focus to medical school and specialized in Ophthalmology. After years of schooling and working for others, Dr. Batliwala recently made the decision to start his own private practice, Chez Vision. He emphasizes the importance of investing in oneself, sharing that our mindset and self-talk significantly impact our experiences. Dr. Batliwala's journey from India to Texas involved a significant culture change and the pursuit of an uncommon path in his family – entrepreneurship and medical education.

00:05:00 Dr. Batliwala shares his story of immigrating to the United States from India when he was seven years old. His family settled in Tyler, Texas, and his father, who did not graduate from high school, struggled to make ends meet. They came to the country on a tourist visa and were unaware of the need to apply for a green card, which led to their eventual encounter with immigration proceedings when Dr. Batliwala was 13. Growing up, he faced limitations due to his lack of immigration status, including not being able to get a job or a driver's license. To help support his family financially, he became resourceful and developed a passion for electronics and phones, eventually selling modifications he made to these devices. Dr. Batliwala reflects on how his experiences shaped his values, particularly his appreciation for freedom.

00:10:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala details growing up undocumented in the US and starting a business to fix cracked iPhone screens in Tyler, Texas. This business, called Smartphone ER, grew into a chain of seven retail stores over a decade. Simultaneously, Batliwala and his family were working on obtaining legal status through the immigration system. His father's case was particularly complicated, and they spent over 20 years trying to get the necessary paperwork. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Batliwala's father went to India to obtain his green card but ended up being stuck there for 18 months. During this time, Batliwala managed the business while in residency, demonstrating resourcefulness and resilience. In 2012, Batliwala finally became a US citizen, which allowed him to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. The feeling of obtaining legal status and belonging was described as an incredible and weight-lifting experience. When Batliwala's father returned to the US with his green card in late 2021, the family felt a sense of relief and joy, marking the end of a long and complicated immigration journey.

00:15:00 In this section, Dr. Shehz Batliwala shares his personal experience of living in fear of deportation for over two decades and the sense of freedom he felt upon obtaining a green card and later citizenship in the United States. Batliwala describes the anticipation and excitement he and his family experienced as they waited for his green card to arrive, comparing it to the feeling of getting accepted into college or Harvard. He also recalls the pride and patriotism he felt during his citizenship ceremony, which finally made him feel like he truly belonged in the country. Throughout the process, Batliwala emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the emotional impact of gaining legal status in a new home.

00:20:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala shares a story about his father's long journey to obtain legal status in the United States. Due to his mother's mental illness, Dr. Batliwala's father had to stay in the country to help take care of her, leading to decades of overstaying his Visa. The family had to file waivers and make a case to the US government to allow his father to stay based on their family's hardships. After years of effort, his father finally received a green card and was able to return to the country, bringing great joy and relief to the family. The reunion was emotional, with the whole family welcoming him home after his 18-month absence. Dr. Batliwala describes the feeling as a combination of relief, joy, and the culmination of decades of longing and effort.

00:25:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala explains how his parents' experiences as undocumented immigrants influenced his academic aspirations, particularly in pursuing a medical career. Prior to obtaining a green card and citizenship, his parents instilled in him the importance of education as a means of safety and security. However, their fear of potential deportation carried over to him, causing apprehension even after getting a green card. This fear influenced his decision to pursue medicine, as he felt it was the expected path. Despite facing barriers such as not being able to apply to certain universities due to his citizenship status, Dr. Batliwala remained determined and resourceful, eventually attending medical school and specializing in Ophthalmology due to his fascination with vision and the potential to make a significant impact in people's lives.

00:30:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala shares his personal story of pursuing a career in medicine, specifically in neurosurgery, and how he eventually ended up in Ophthalmology instead. He explains that his initial motivation came from his fascination with the human mind and his mother's mental illness, as well as his aptitude for working with his hands. However, after realizing the lengthy residency required for neurosurgery, he reevaluated his motivations and decided it may not be the best fit for him. Instead, he chose Ophthalmology due to its competitive nature and his desire to stand out. He acknowledges now that this was not a healthy foundation for making decisions and that there were other reasons, such as the field's innovation and high-tech nature, that also attracted him to Ophthalmology.

00:35:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala discusses his decision to pursue Ophthalmology as a medical specialty. He was drawn to the field due to its intricacy and the shorter residency duration compared to other branches of neuroscience. However, he also chose Ophthalmology because it helped him stand out from the crowd and gave him a unique perspective. Dr. Batliwala discovered space medicine during medical school, which aligned with his lifelong interest in NASA and space exploration. This newfound field provided him with a valuable perspective, helping him appreciate his place in the world and pushing him to overcome challenges. Combining his passion for Ophthalmology and space medicine, Dr. Batliwala set an ambitious goal to become the first to excel in both fields, with backup plans in various medical fields in case he didn't make it. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Batliwala shares his self-doubt and the importance of self-belief in achieving one's goals.

00:40:00 In this section of the podcast episode with Dr. Shehz Batliwala, he shares his personal journey from regretting past decisions to embracing the present and finding gratitude for his current path as an ophthalmologist. He reflects on how his experiences have given him the privilege to help restore vision and give the gift of sight to others. The conversation then shifts to discussing myopia, or nearsightedness, which is a growing issue due to the increased demand on eyesight to see things up close at a young age. The condition occurs when the eyeball becomes longer, causing light to focus in front of the retina. Laser eye surgery, ideally done in one's early to late 20s, can correct this issue by adjusting the shape of the cornea to focus light on the retina properly.

00:45:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala discusses the changes in the eyes as we age and the corresponding vision issues. He explains that LASIK surgery is performed on the cornea for young people, while lens replacement procedures or cataract surgeries are done for those in their 40s and beyond when the lens inside the eyeball starts to get stiff and lose its ability to focus up close. These procedures involve making small openings in the cornea, removing the lens, and replacing it with a man-made lens that stays in the eyeball for life. Dr. Batliwala expresses his enthusiasm for these procedures, particularly for those with extreme nearsightedness, as the impact on their lives can be profound. He mentions a procedure called an ICL, which involves adding a contact lens inside the eyeball between the cornea and the natural lens for young people with healthy eyes. The gratification of these surgeries comes from helping people regain their vision and live without glasses or contacts.

00:50:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala discusses the difference between reversible and irreversible blindness. Reversible blindness, also known as Optical blindness, is caused by how light rays interact with the eye's optics and can be improved with keratronic refractive surgery. Irreversible blindness, on the other hand, is damage to the optic nerve, which is the cable connecting the eye to the brain. Once the optic nerve is damaged, it does not regenerate, making the blindness irreversible. The conversation also includes an analogy of the eye and brain as a tugboat and ship, emphasizing the importance of a strong connection between the two to maintain good vision. Dr. Batliwala shares his passion for self-love and speaking to high school students about self-confidence, which stems from both his personal experiences and a desire to give back.

00:55:00 Dr. Shehz Batliwala shares his personal journey of pursuing passions in medicine, space, and business, driven by a need for recognition and validation. He discusses how his childhood experiences shaped his belief in constantly having to prove himself, leading to a pathological ambition that didn't allow for self-compassion. Batliwala reflects on his burnout in 2020 and the realization that understanding oneself and having a good relationship with oneself is crucial for compassion, empathy, and love towards others. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and introspection to inspire the next generation of leaders and create a more compassionate world.

01:00:00 In this section, Dr. Shehz Batliwala shares his motivation for starting the Visionary Doc platform. He reflects on the impact of speaking to high school students about his journey and the inspiration he received from their engagement and questions. This experience led him to centralize the themes of self-awareness, self-compassion, and compassion for others in his blog and podcast content. Excited about opening a new practice and leading a team with authenticity and vulnerability, Dr. Batliwala expresses his eagerness to help others grow in the same way.