Jerry A. Shields

Career After graduating from the University of Michigan Medical School, he completed a residency in ophthalmology at Wills Eye Hospital and completed post-residency fellowships in ophthalmic pathology and retinal surgery. He was part of a full-time practice devoted to tumors and pseudotumors of the eyelids, conjunctiva, intraocular structures, and orbits.

Shields' main contributions were in the treatment of malignant melanoma which affects the eyes of adults, and retinoblastoma which affects the eyes of children. With regard to melanoma, Shields and his associates improved and popularized techniques of local irradiation, local surgical resection, laser photocoagulation, and thermotherapy. With regard to retinoblastoma, they were active in improving techniques of local irradiation, laser photocoagulation, thermotherapy and chemotherapy. He also made research contributions in the diagnosis and treatment of other benign and malignant tumors, such as tumors of the ciliary body epithelium, pigment epithelium, and leiomyomas.

As of 2013, he had authored or co-authored more than 1,200 articles and textbook chapters and had authored or co-authored 13 major textbooks related to ocular tumors. He lectured widely, having given 69 named lectures.

Death Shields died on June 22, 2025, at the age of 88.

Publications