Dr. Milind Naik is a distinguished oculoplastic surgeon based at the L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad — one of India’s most respected centres for ophthalmic care and research. His recent appointment to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma and Reconstruction marks a significant addition to a publication already known for its exacting academic standards. The journal, managed by the AO Foundation’s Craniomaxillofacial (AOCMF) division, is PubMed-indexed and peer-reviewed, occupying a position of considerable authority at the intersection of facial trauma and reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Naik’s journey in medicine began in India, where he completed his postgraduate training in Ophthalmology at the Christian Medical College — an institution synonymous with clinical rigour and academic excellence. He subsequently pursued a fellowship in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), between 2006 and 2008, an experience that shaped both his surgical philosophy and his commitment to internationally benchmarked standards of practice.
He has since devoted the past twenty Five years exclusively to oculoplastic surgery at an academic institution — a deliberate choice that reflects what he describes as a lifelong passion for academics. His clinical work spans a demanding and technically complex spectrum: orbital tumour management, orbital decompression procedures, complex eyelid and orbital reconstruction following trauma, socket surgery, and broader facial reconstruction. He also performs cosmetic procedures including blepharoplasty and endoscopic brow surgery.
What distinguishes Dr. Naik’s practice, in his own assessment, is precisely the interdisciplinary nature of oculoplastic surgery. The speciality sits at a productive convergence of ophthalmology, maxillofacial surgery, ENT, and general surgery — a breadth of engagement that he regards as one of its defining intellectual attractions and one that makes his contribution to a craniomaxillofacial journal both natural and substantive.
His academic output is considerable: more than 200 peer-reviewed publications to his credit, alongside an active international lecturing schedule that has taken him to platforms across the globe. He is a member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) and has served as Vice President of the Asia Pacific Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (APSOPRS) — leadership roles that reflect the profession’s confidence in his scientific and organisational contributions.
Dr. Naik’s association with the AOCMF community extends over eight years, during which he has been actively involved in organising seminars and workshops focused on orbital reconstruction and trauma — areas where his clinical expertise and the journal’s scope overlap most directly. It is a collaboration, he notes, built on a shared commitment to the highest academic standards.
Beyond the operating theatre and the lecture hall, Dr. Naik brings a creative sensibility that finds expression in painting and sketching. He is also a pioneer in surgical education through three-dimensional video — producing professional 3D recordings of surgical procedures specifically designed to enhance the learning experience for students and trainees, a medium he believes offers a depth of visual understanding that conventional video cannot replicate.
As a new member of the editorial board, Dr. Milind Naik looks forward to engaging with the global craniomaxillofacial community — contributing to the collective advancement of facial surgery and trauma science under the broader framework of the AO Foundation’s enduring academic mission.
–Rashmi Kumari
