Carol Shields

About Carol Shields

Your three wishes?

To save every life; to save every eye; to save every visual acuity.

Realizing that this might not be possible, currently, then I would modify the last: to protect every visual acuity.

Piece of advice for your younger self?

Enjoy the precious journey through ocular oncology and trust that you will succeed. 

Do not worry as the Greater Good will guide you.

The most serendipitous moment of your career?

Three years ago, I met a young baby with retinoblastoma whom I treated with systemic chemotherapy. This child came from my hometown in western Pennsylvania, lived on the same street where I was born, and resided in my own old home! How rare is that? When we met, I hugged both parents and told them that I would forever be a spirit guiding their young daughter.

The most unexpected turn your career took?

When I arrived at Wills Eye Hospital, I had one goal – to become an excellent and experienced cataract surgeon, and work with my older brother Patrick T. Lally in western Pennsylvania. Four months into my residency, my career took a right turn into ocular oncology as I had met Jerry A. Shields; we worked on academic projects together, and eventually we were married, leading to my career in ocular oncology, rather than cataract surgery.