The leadership team of Starling Physicians is comprised of exceptional individuals who set the strategic direction, oversee quality, efficiency, and profitability, and work closely with the Board of Directors.
Dr. Sarit M. Patel went to medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He then completed an ophthalmology residency in New York at the NYU/ Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital residency program. Afterward, Dr. Patel completed two fellowships: the first in ophthalmic pathology at the University of Wisconsin, and the second in oculoplastic surgery at West Virginia University.
Dr. Patel is a board-certified ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon. This means he is an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) who has completed additional training in plastic and reconstructive surgery as it relates to the eyes and their surrounding structures. Since such surgery can affect one’s ability to see, ophthalmic plastic surgeons are uniquely qualified to perform this delicate surgery and to provide any care that the eye itself may need. He is a fellow of the prestigious and rigorous American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), which indicates that he has a special interest and training in this subspecialty. There are fewer than 500 fellows nationwide.
Dr. Patel has published over a dozen peer-reviewed papers in the ophthalmology literature. He has been a speaker at a number of local, regional and national meetings. For the past 3 years, he has taught oculoplastic surgery techniques at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meetings. He enjoys playing tennis and spending time with his family. He lives in Farmington.
Dr. Agarwal is originally from New Jersey. He attended Georgetown University where he majored in English and graduated cum laude. He returned back to his home state to study medicine at Rutgers Medical School in Newark, NJ. Afterwards, he completed internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai in New York City and cardiology fellowship at Hahnemann Hospital, Drexel School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He is board certified in cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and echocardiography.
Dr. Agarwal originally joined Grove Hill Medical Center in 2012. In 2016 he helped integrate the cardiology practices of Grove Hill and Connecticut Multispecialty Group to become one comprehensive Starling Physicians Cardiology division. Clinically he is a general noninvasive cardiologist with a special interest in preventive cardiology. Dr. Agarwal went into medicine to take care of people and prides himself on being his patients’ advocate. Dr. Agarwal has a strong interest in education and holds a community faculty position at UConn School of Medicine.
In his free time Dr. Agarwal enjoys exercising, spending time with his family, and trying new restaurants.
Dr. Martin is originally from Maine and enjoys returning there to visit family. She received her Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She completed her medical school degree at Rush University in Chicago and returned to the East Coast for her pediatric residency and chief year at Baystate Medical Center. Dr. Martin has been in the Vernon Pediatrics office since 2012.
Dr. Martin enjoys teaching students and often mentors residents and physician assistant students in the office. She enjoys both well and acute care in her practice and has a special interest in lactation medicine and eating disorders. She is board certified in pediatrics and is also a certified lactation consultant. Dr. Martin enjoys sharing evidence with families and partnering with them to help them make healthy choices in a supportive environment.
In her free time, Dr. Martin enjoys being with her husband and kids, running, and reading.
Dr. Christopher Russo grew up in Long Island, NY. He attended Villanova University where he majored in biology. He attended medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his internal medicine internship at Winthrop University Hospital at SUNY Stony Brook. He then went on to specialize in ophthalmology with a residency at the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute at the University of Colorado. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
After his training, Dr. Russo spent five years in New Hampshire with White Mountain Eye Care, an affiliate of Speare Memorial Hospital. He joined the Starling Physicians Eye Center in 2015.
Dr. Russo provides comprehensive eye care to adults and children. This includes routine eye exams, diabetic eye exams, vision screenings, and prescription of glasses and contact lenses. He screens for a number of eye conditions including glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. One of his areas of specialty is anterior segment surgery, which involves surgery to the cornea due to growths, injuries, dry eye, or other conditions.
Dr. Russo prides himself on spending extra time with his patients to discuss their issues, educate them, and craft a personalized treatment plan. He likes the team approach to care at the Starling Physicians Eye Center.
When he is not working, Dr. Russo enjoys family time with his wife and three young children.
