DALLAS—Unifeye Vision Partners (UVP), a leading network of comprehensive eyecare providers, has completed a new strategic partnership with Palm Desert-based Southern California Desert Retina Consultants (Desert Retina), according to an announcement late last week. Desert Retina serves patients in the Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Inland Empire (Riverside) areas of California with its three locations in those markets. The new partnership expands upon UVP's existing presence within the Inland Empire region, including the previous partnerships with both Upland-based Pacific Eye Institute and Rancho Cucamonga-based Inland Eye Institute.

UVP was formed in 2017 with a growth investment from private equity firm Waud Capital Partners. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed.  
 
This latest partnership “represents the continued execution of the company's strategy of partnering with leading eyecare providers and supporting their growth,” UVP said. The group provides management and support services to ophthalmology and optometry practices, as well as single-specialty eye surgery centers, through its network consisting of 91 providers, 32 clinical locations, and six ambulatory surgery centers. 
 
The eyecare team at Desert Retina specializes in the treatment of diseases of the retina, vitreous, and macula, including retina detachments, according to the announcement. The practice’s physicians Clement K. Chan, MD, and Steven G. Lin, MD, regularly participate in research and clinical trials, which have been featured in numerous medical journals.
   
"We are excited to finalize our partnership with UVP," Dr. Chan, a founder and managing partner of Desert Retina, said in the announcement. “We were drawn to UVP because they prioritize people-centric values and place physicians, our team members and exceptional patient care at the heart of all practice management decisions.”
 
Added Sami Abbasi, president and chief executive officer of Unifeye Vision Partners, “We're excited to welcome Desert Retina to the UVP community. Dr. Chan and his team bring more than 32 years of retinal experience serving the greater Coachella Valley and Inland Empire markets and have earned an outstanding reputation for delivering clinical excellence and compassionate patient care. Their expertise allows us to extend our retinal subspecialty offerings to the referring physician and patient communities that we serve.”