Ophthalmologist and retina specialist Dr. Aref Rifai, a SAMS board member, shares his experiences restoring sight through medical missions in Syria, mentoring doctors, and navigating healthcare delivery in crisis zones.
Dr. Rifai is a distinguished ophthalmologist. Born in Southampton, England, he graduated from Aleppo University’s Faculty of Medicine in 1989. He furthered his education with an internship at the University of Tennessee, a residency in ophthalmology at George Washington University, and a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at Louisiana State University.
As the owner and principal surgeon at the Retina Center of Pensacola in Florida, Dr. Rifai has established himself as a leading expert. He has built a fulfilling personal life, marked by 35 years of marriage to Rasha Rifai, and is a proud father of four children. His eldest son, Faysal, is an internist at Advent Health in Orlando, Florida. He is married to Sara Rifai, a dentist, and they have two sons: Aref Adam and Rami Zayd. His second son, Fareed, is completing his retina fellowship in Kentucky and will be joining the Retina Center of Pensacola. He is married to Maela Hyder, who is finishing her ophthalmology residency at Cornell University in New York City. His daughter, Noor, is an engineer based in Chicago and is preparing to begin her MBA studies this fall. His youngest son, Fares, is graduating from Florida State University in Tallahassee and is on the pre-med track.
Beyond his profession, Dr. Rifai enjoys reading, traveling, and family time. His commitment to service is evident through his involvement with the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), which he joined in 2007. Since 2017, he has held key leadership roles, including chairing the Jordan committee, serving on the society board, and serving as Treasurer. In April 2025, Dr. Rifai was elected President of SAMS, taking on new leadership responsibilities for the next two years.