The retina community mourns the passing of Jerry A. Shields, MD, founding director of the Ocular Oncology Service at Wills Eye Hospital and a pioneer in the field of ocular oncology. Dr. Shields died peacefully at home on June 22, 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by his family. 

Over a career that spanned 5 decades, Dr. Shields helped transform the management of intraocular tumors through innovations in diagnosis and globe-sparing treatment. At a time when eye cancer often meant eye removal, he championed more precise methods—including radioactive phosphorus testing and plaque radiotherapy—and meticulously documented clinical outcomes to shape more individualized care. Together with his wife and colleague Carol Lally Shields, MD, they built Wills Eye’s Ocular Oncology Service into a global referral center. Their work, as described in Retinal Physician’s 2018 profile Visionaries of Vision, laid the foundation for ocular oncology as a defined subspecialty within ophthalmology.

"Jerry Shields was a larger-than-life figure whose remarkable contributions to the field of ocular oncology, paired with his profound influence on the training of a generation of fellows, residents, and medical students at Wills Eye Hospital, leave an indelible legacy in our field," observed Julia A. Haller, MD, ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills Eye Hospital. "We shall not see his like again."

Dr. Shields trained hundreds of fellows from around the world and authored thousands of scientific papers and many of the field’s most important textbooks. He was a longtime member of the Retinal Physician editorial board, where he contributed his deep expertise and thoughtful perspective. “Dr. Jerry Shields has left an incredible legacy through his leadership in advancing ocular oncology, mentorship to training over 300 fellows throughout the world, compassionate patient care, and the countless lives he touched,” said Diana Do, MD, the editor in chief of Retinal Physician. “He was a giant in the field of ophthalmology, and his seminal contributions have truly left an indelible mark on the world.”

“This week the ocular oncology and retina specialty field lost a true superstar when Dr. Jerry Shields passed away,” added Timothy G. Murray, MD, of Miami Ocular Oncology and Retina. “Jerry will be remembered for his superior clinical care, the depth and breadth of his clinical research, and for his passion and commitment to teaching at all levels within our profession. Jerry’s decision making was legendary—but truly, his best decision was marrying Dr. Carol Shields. Carol has been carrying the legacy of excellence engendered by the Shields name, and she is a superstar in her own right.

“I first met Jerry Shields while a medical student at Johns Hopkins and from the first moment his passion for his patients and the field of ocular oncology was clear,” continued Dr. Murray. “Jerry was an inspiration to many aspiring ocular oncologists, and he and Carol shared their passion with several generations of our peers). Jerry was also uniquely capable of straddling both the ocular oncology world and the retina specialty world, helping to define and disseminate clinical pearls for his less ‘focused’ colleagues. Jerry played pivotal roles in the development of the International Society of Ocular Oncologist as well as contributing to the Retina Society, Macula Society and ASRS. Jerry Shields will be sorely missed.”

Dr. Shields will be remembered for his scientific rigor, humility, and enduring commitment to patients, trainees, and colleagues. His impact on the retina and oncology communities will be felt for generations. RP