Our Team

Dr. Mark Whitten, board-certified ophthalmologist, Medical Director of Whitten Laser Eye and Founding Partner of Vision Innovation Partners, is the most experienced LASIK surgeon in the Mid-Atlantic Region, with more than 40 years of ophthalmology experience in the Washington D.C. and Richmond, VA areas. He has performed over 400,000 laser vision correction procedures and earned a national reputation for excellence in eye care.

Dr. Whitten stays at the forefront of new technology to achieve the best vision results for his patients. While he has achieved recognition in his field and has earned many honors, his greatest satisfaction is improving vision every day. The highest compliment that Dr. Whitten receives is when his patients refer their family and friends.

More About Dr. Whitten

Dr. Whitten earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed his residency at the Washington National Eye Center. Dr. Whitten went on to train new doctors in residency programs at Georgetown University and Washington Hospital Center. Throughout his career, Dr. Whitten has served as the Regional Medical Director for laser eye centers in Rockville, MD, Tysons Corner, VA, Reston, VA, Richmond, VA, and Pittsburg, PA.

Dr. Whitten was born and educated in Richmond, VA, built his world-class reputation in the Washington DC area, and currently resides in southern Maryland. He is proud to bring advanced vision care to all of these locations. In his free time, Dr. Whitten enjoys sailing, fishing, or perfecting his swing on the golf course.

Dr. Whitten was also just recently named as a 2023 Top Doctor by VA Top Docs!

Dr. Marc Malouf, MD, is a board certified ophthalmologist at Whitten Laser Eye, who has taken on some of the area’s toughest cases and performed thousands of cataract and glaucoma surgeries. In addition to his expertise in complex, high-risk cataract surgery, he has a special interest in laser-assisted cataract surgery, laser vision correction, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. His stellar reputation amongst his peers earned him a “Top Doctor” designation by Northern Virginia Magazine in 2021 and 2022. Dr. Malouf sees patients in our Charlotte Hall location.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, Dr. Marc Malouf earned his MD from George Washington University, followed by an internship in general surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, VA. He then completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he gained extensive experience in traumatic eye injuries, glaucoma, cataract surgeries, and was involved in multiple research projects and medical journal publications. He has also served as a principle investigator on a clinical trial working to develop a new treatment for dry eyes. 

Dr. Malouf is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Maryland Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Maryland State Medical Society, Virginia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, and the Virginia State Medical Society. 

When not working, Dr. Malouf enjoys traveling to both domestic and international destinations, especially where he can experience new cultures and cuisines. 

From our Chevy Chase, MD, location, Dr. Nguyen Waterman practices comprehensive eye care including routine eye exams, contact lens fittings, glaucoma and cataract evaluations, as well as pre and post-op surgery care. She also specializes in macular degeneration, diabetic eye, and strabismus evaluations. Dr. Waterman has a passion for treating dry eye patients and those who suffer from eye related allergies.

Prior to joining Whitten Laser Eye, Dr. Waterman worked at Kaiser Permanente where she focused on promoting preventative care of the patient. This entailed working hand in hand with internal medicine to ensure patients with hypertension, diabetes, and other systemic conditions were well monitored. She also participated in telemedicine consults reading retinal photos as a screening measure for diabetic patients.

Additionally Dr. Waterman previously worked at Texas Tech University Health Science Center, where she was responsible for teaching clinical skills to first and second year medical students as they rotated through the different sections. Dr. Waterman also worked as a civilian optometrist at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center where she received the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service in her care of the military community and their family members.

Dr. Waterman attended Washington University in St. Louis where she worked in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology. After graduating cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in Biochemistry, Dr. Waterman attended the University of Missouri in St. Louis Optometry School where she graduated on the Dean’s List.

While in optometry school Dr. Waterman was awarded the Mary M. Gilbert scholarship, a Merit Scholarship, and was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa International Honor Society. She was also awarded an American Academy of Optometry research stipend and a National Eye Institute Summer Research Fellowship at the University Of Houston School Of Optometry. During her summer fellowship, she published an abstract on corneal healing at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

While not in the clinic, Dr. Waterman enjoys cooking and trying out new restaurants in the DMV area. You can also find her traveling, hiking, skiing–and more recently, at a barre or spin class.

Languages

• Fluent in English and Vietnamese
• Speaks some Spanish