Dr. Mark Williams was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Arizona State University on a full merit-based scholarship, where he received multiple awards for research. He then attended the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine on a merit scholarship where he received his medical degree.
After medical school, he completed an internship in Internal Medicine and residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Arizona where he served as chief resident and scored 99th percentile across the country on the boards. Throughout residency, he conducted multiple medical mission trips centered around the screening and treatment of diabetic retinopathy in Sonora, Mexico as well as to Egypt.
He subsequently completed his Vitreoretinal Surgery fellowship at the high-volume and world-renowned Dean McGee Eye Institute at the University of Oklahoma, where he achieved mastery over the treatment of the most rare and complex retinal pathology and surgery in patients of all ages. While there, he also served as an attending in ocular trauma, lecturing and teaching surgery to residents.
While in residency and fellowship he also published and presented on novel techniques in complex intraocular lens fixation, novel findings regarding perfluoro-octane – a heavy liquid used in retinal detachment repair – and a novel use of OCT-Angiography for the detection of diabetic microaneurysms.
Dr. Williams is especially passionate about medical missions work and has served in Kenya, Egypt, and Mexico. His chief motivation as a retinal specialist is the same locally and abroad, which is to be in a place of service and compassion for his patients, and to treat each of them as his own family.
Outside of work, he is also passionate about music, playing the guitar and the oud. He also enjoys being involved in his church, hiking, swimming, and learning to surf.
Dr. Williams is excited to join Orange County Retina to be a part of their legacy of outstanding patient care, research, and education for the patients of Orange County.