Dr. Debarshi grew up in Chicago and earned his bachelor’s degree with Honors in Chemistry from the University of Chicago. He then matriculated to Case Western Reserve University as part of the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program to earn his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Debarshi completed his Ph.D. dissertation work under the tutelage of noted vision scientist, Dr. Krzysztof Palczewski. He was recognized for his dissertation research on the genetic features of the retina in health and disease with a doctoral excellence award. He completed his ophthalmology residency at University of Southern California/LA County. Debarshi was awarded the prestigious Heed Fellowship upon finishing residency and completed his medical and surgical vitreo-retinal fellowship at University of Washington. He then joined the faculty at UW with his clinical practice at Seattle Children’s hospital and his research laboratory at the Karalis Johnson Retina Center.

His clinical and research practice focuses on pediatric patients afflicted with blinding diseases, most notably, inherited retinal diseases. He has received a Clinical Scientist Development K08 Award from the National Eye Institute and has been recognized for his work with research awards from the Sinskey Foundation, the Gerber Foundation, the Alcon Research Institute and the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

As the only dedicated pediatric retina provider in the state of Washington, Dr. Mustafi's practice sees Coats’ Disease across the state as well as the neighboring regions. He is involved in clinical care as well as research in Coats’ Disease.