8 Questions With: Dr. Daniel Straka
Daniel Straka, MD
Where you were born and/raised? I was born and raised in Columbus, OH
What was your first job? My first real job was working in a shipping department of a small business of a family friend and assembling boxes prior to being filled and shipped. I was probably 15 or 16 years old and I'll never forget getting my first paycheck!
What made you become a physician in particularly in Ophthalmologist? My interest in medicine began at an early age when I would follow my dad around at his office and look at all of the pictures of the facial skeleton and moldings he constantly had lying around. This eventually led me to a fascination with the human body, in particular facial anatomy. I discovered ophthalmology while doing independent rotations during holiday breaks in my first year of medical school. I was drawn to the intricacy of the surgery and life changing impact on patients. I eventually discovered oculofacial plastic surgery during my residency and realized I had found the perfect match so I applied for and completed two years of fellowship training in the field. The breadth of cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid, orbital, and facial plastic surgery allows me to apply my love of facial anatomy while performing intricate and detail oriented surgery to provide my patients with the best possible functional or cosmetic outcome.
What hobbies do you participate in your free time? Current hobbies include running after my three young children (7, 4, 2) and spending time with family and friends. When I'm not doing that I'm either fishing, hunting, or working out.
What would you like your fellow CMA physicians to know about you? It's very simple. I sincerely love what I do and feel so grateful that I am able to help serve the people and community that I was raised in. Columbus is such a wonderful community of people and physicians and I owe them a debt of gratitude, specifically to the physicians who have helped train me and welcome me home.
In your opinion, which animal is the best (and why)? Dogs, of course, because they are so versatile. They can lead the blind, comfort the sick and dying, fight crime or be a hunting partner. Where else can you find that?
What was the first concert you attended? I saw Tom Petty at the Polaris amphitheater back in 1994 when I was in 6th grade. I barely knew who Tom Petty was at that time but am now grateful I was able to witness a legend!
When you’re able to travel freely again, where is the first place you’d like to go? Greece. I had a trip planned with my wife and 4 other couples for an amazing trip to Mykonos and Santorini that was cancelled due to the pandemic.