She is a native Californian practicing medicine in Los Angeles since 1987. A graduate of the prestigious Claremont Colleges, she completed her medical training at USC, and her residency training at White Memorial, with additional research at the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

Dr. Semel is a Board Certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmic surgeon committed to excellence. She has performed refractive surgery since 1993 and began Excimer laser treatment for nearsightedness in 1997, and treatment for farsightedness in 1998, shortly after the FDA first approved these technologies. Her preferred procedure is the LASIK procedure, due to its increased comfort and faster visual recovery. She is also certified in the new procedure CK that allows patients to reduce their dependency on reading glasses.

Dr. Semel is skilled at a wide variety of microsurgical techniques, from laser vision correction to complex retinal detachment surgery. Her fellowship training in the area of vitreoretinal disease has allowed her to develop highly refined surgical skills. She remains up to date on new macular degeneration treatments in order to improve the quality of life of her senior patients. She is also very active in athletic medicine taking care of both college athletes from USC and professional athletes in Los Angeles.

Dr. Semel is also a pilot, and has a teenage daughter. She enjoys traveling and foreign languages.