Recently, we featured a study published by our hypotony service, which showed remarkable results, giving Nicki and others their sight back.
Dr Karla Orsine Murta Dias, uveitis fellow, is one of the team, having joined Moorfields in 2020, but her journey here actually started in 2018:
“When I moved to the UK in April 2018, I was already an ophthalmologist in Brazil, but I had to get my medical degree validated in the UK and be registered with the General Medical Council to practice.
“I was a Friends of Moorfields volunteer at the City Road reception for one year (August 2018 - August 2019). It was an amazing experience for me to learn more about the British and the hospital's culture, how to work as a team, and I could improve my English. I met incredible people and could spend some time with patients. I helped patients to do their check-in in the old hubs with their bar codes, guiding them to the clinics and listening to their stories, fears and wishes.
“I also learned how to talk to patients at Moorfields, what they expected from their appointments and how I should speak to them when I became a doctor here, shaping my care. They also spoke about their disease, and I could explain what this meant in simple words, using my medical knowledge.
“My registration came through in June 2019, and in August 2019 I became a senior research medical retina fellow at Southampton University Hospital.
“I returned to Moorfields as a fellow in April 2020, and have been here ever since – for six years now!
“While I was away, I maintained contact with the Friends of Moorfields team, and recently spoke about my experience at their AGM. Overall, it was an awesome experience, which I will carry with me forever”.
Click here for more information about volunteering with Friends of Moorfields
February 2026