Dr. Carol Shields completed her ophthalmology training at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, followed by fellowship training in ocular oncology, oculoplastic surgery, and ophthalmic pathology. She currently serves as Director of the Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital and as Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
She has authored or co-authored 12 textbooks, 341 chapters in edited volumes, and over 2,000 articles in major peer-reviewed journals. She has also delivered more than 1,000 invited lectureships.
Among her many honors, the seven most prestigious include:
- The Donders Award (2003) – Presented by the Netherlands Ophthalmological Society every five years to a global leader in ophthalmology. Dr. Shields was the first woman to receive this honor.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology Life Achievement Honor Award (2011) – Recognizing her significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology.
- Induction into the Academic All-American Hall of Fame (2011) – Celebrating her lifetime achievements in both athletics and her professional career.
- President, International Society of Ocular Oncology (2013–2015) – Leading the largest global society focused on ocular tumors.
- Ophthalmology Power List (2014–2023) – Consistently recognized as one of the top 100 leaders in ophthalmology by peer nomination. She was ranked #1 in both 2020 and 2023.
- America’s Best Eye Doctors (2021) – Ranked #7 overall and #1 among female ophthalmologists by Newsweek magazine.
- Theodore Roosevelt Award – The highest honor from the NCAA, awarded to a former varsity athlete who has achieved national distinction in their career and civic life.