Dr. Shehzad Batliwala

Dr. Batliwala was born in Mumbai, India, and raised in Tyler, Texas, where he attended the University of Texas at Tyler and graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. During undergrad, he launched a tech company focused on repairing and maintaining smart devices, which today operates retail stores in East Texas under the brand of SmartPhone ER. He then attended the University of North Texas Health Science Center for medical school and was elected into the Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society. During medical school, he married his childhood fascination with outer space and interest in ophthalmology by earning an internship at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, researching visual impairment experienced by astronauts in zero gravity. 

Dr. Batliwala completed his ophthalmology residency at Dean McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City. He then obtained further sub-specialty training in LASIK and presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens implants at ClearSight Vision Correction Center in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Batliwala thoroughly enjoys traveling. In his free time, he enjoys listening to engaging podcasts and audiobooks on business, leadership, and all things outer space. He, fortunately, had the opportunity to merge his passion for business and space by completing a Master of Global Management with an emphasis on the space business, leadership, and policy (MGM) through Arizona State University. He was part of the inaugural cohort of this one-of-a-kind program.

Dr. Batliwala’s life has been beautifully colored and influenced by his status as an undocumented immigrant for the majority of his adult life, the privilege he was afforded of receiving top-caliber public education, and the incredible resources available to citizens of the United States that allowed one to excel in all aspects of life.