Dr. Jerry A. Shields, Emeritus Director of the world-renowned Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital and Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, has passed away peacefully at home on June 22, 2025, holding the hand of his wife, Carol L. Shields, and surrounded by his family.
Born of humble beginnings in Pride Station, Union County, Kentucky in1937, he was the youngest of 8 children. He attended Sturgis High School in Kentucky and later received his bachelor’s degree from Murray State University in 1960, where he excelled both academically and athletically. After earning his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1964, he embarked on a distinguished career marked by service to his country in the Marine Corps in Vietnam and groundbreaking contributions in the field of ophthalmology and especially the field of ocular oncology. Some would say he completely re-organized ocular oncology over his 50-year tenure with his extensive teachings, published articles, and written books and atlases so that all participants could understand categorization of each eye tumor and proper treatment protocols, and anticipate the impact on each individual patient.
Some speculate this scientific drive was related to his grade school and high school years catching butterflies in the wild - - and then categorizing each according to genus and species. He accumulated several thousand specimens and then exhibited the enormous array on numerous poster boards, tediously identified and accurately labeled. This was the beginning of his scientific endeavors. It has been said that his exhibition of butterflies was the second largest in the United States in the 1950s/1960s, a collection that he generously donated to a university in Kentucky, his home state.
A proud American, Dr. Shields served as a Marine Battalion Surgeon on the “front line” during the Vietnam War, followed by service in the US Navy in Europe. Upon returning to the United States, he completed his residency at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia in 1970, specializing in ophthalmology. He further pursued fellowships in ophthalmic pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington DC in 1971 and vitreoretinal surgery at the Wills Eye Hospital in 1972. Dr. Shields then proceeded to establish the Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital in 1974. This was one of the first eye cancer centers in the world, with complete focus on patients with eye tumors including treatments and outcomes. Here, Dr. Shields pioneered advancements in the field with improved detection of intraocular melanoma using ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography, and radioactive P-32 uptake. Tumor detection remarkably improved and countless lives and eyes were saved. He was one of the first doctors in the world to explore more refined treatment of eye cancers using plaque radiotherapy, a technique that is commonly used today, but was very rarely used when he started, as most eyes were managed with surgical eye removal, or enucleation.
During his tenure, Dr. Shields met his beloved wife, Dr. Carol Lally Shields, with whom he built the Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital into the world's largest center for ocular cancers and tumors. Dr. Shields was renowned for his multidimensional talents as a physician, surgeon, researcher, and speaker, authoring over 2,000 scientific articles, 700 textbook chapters, and 13 complete textbooks. He also trained approximately 300 fellows worldwide in ocular oncology, leaving an indelible footprint on the field.
Dr. Shields has been honored with numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Top National Physician of the Year Award for Clinical Excellence in 2013 from the Castle Connelly Awards, and the Laureate Award (for leading ophthalmologist in the country) in 2014 from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was the founding member and first President of the International Society of Ocular Oncology, an international subspecialty group focused on eye cancer. He has served on the editorial boards for numerous scientific journals and played key leadership roles in various ophthalmological societies.
Survived by his wife of 40 years, Dr. Carol Lally Shields, and their seven children, recognized him as a respected physician, warm and loving husband, and truly dedicated father with a wonderful sense of humor. Dr. Jerry A. Shields leaves behind an incredible legacy of excellence, compassion, and dedication to advancing the understanding and treatment of eye tumors.
Dr. Shields will be deeply missed by his family, colleagues, and the countless lives he touched throughout his remarkable career. In lieu of flowers or food donations, contributions in his memory can be made to: “The Jerry A Shields MD Eye Cancer Fund” to support future research in ocular oncology. This was his wish. Go online to <https://JASeyecancerfund.com> to learn more and contribute to his legacy.
Visitation and Mass in Celebration of the Life of Jerry A. Shields, M.D. will be held on Friday June 27th at St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church at 350 Conshohocken State Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035. Visitation from 10:00 to 10:45 AM with Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA.
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