Dr. Francesco Pichi

Dr. Francesco Pichi, MD, is an Interim Chair in the Eye Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, US.

Dr. Pichi subspecializes in uveitis, ocular inflammations and infections, and diseases of the retina. He is an expert in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of complex ocular inflammatory diseases and conditions, including uveitis, scleritis, and ocular autoimmune disorders.

Dr. Pichi received his medical degree from the University of Bologna, Italy, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Milan, Italy, where he trained in cataract surgery. During his training, he developed an interest in the fields of medical retina and uveitis, and became an intern at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.  He underwent a preceptorship in uveitis and ocular immunology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, US.  He then went on to complete a fellowship in Uveitis and Ocular Immunology at the Cole Eye Institute at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, US.

With more than 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. Pichi is an accomplished physician and researcher who has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and presented at numerous international conferences. He is recognized as a leader in the field of uveitis and ocular immunology and is frequently invited to speak at national and international meetings.

Dr. Pichi’s experience in both Europe and the US has contributed to his diverse expertise in disease presentations in the fields of uveitis and retina. His clinical and research work has contributed to innovations in the fields of retinal imaging and the treatment of inflammatory eye diseases. He was one of the leaders in employing a non-invasive new imaging modality such as Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography to assess the status of the iris vessels in patients with vascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and vasculitis.

Dr. Pichi’s current research interest is the use of multimodal imaging of the retina in order to understand the etiology of various pathologies and to accurately guide treatment. In the fields of uveitis and ocular inflammation, his efforts are in creating objective ways of measuring inflammation which would provide a better outcome for patients.

As a member of the faculty at several prestigious academic institutions, including Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, University of Milan, and Khalifa University, Dr. Pichi is committed to training the next generation of Emirati ophthalmologists and advancing the field of uveitis and ocular immunology. This passion led him to the position of Director of the Ophthalmology Residency Program in 2021.

Dr. Pichi is fluent in several languages, including English, Italian, and Spanish, which enables him to provide care to a diverse patient population.