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. For 25 years, Doctor Shields has been active in the care of patients with ocular tumors and in clinical research to improve methods for the diagnosis and treatment of eye cancers. He and his associates have a full time practice devoted to tumors and pseudotumors of the eyelids, conjunctiva, intraocular structures, and orbits.

Dr. Shields’ main contributions have been in the treatment of malignant melanoma, which affects the eyes of adults, and retinoblastoma which affects the eyes of children. With regard to melanoma, Dr. Shields and his associates have improved and popularized techniques of local irradiation, local surgical resection, laser photocoagulation, and thermotherapy.

With regard to retinoblastoma, they have been active in improving techniques of local irradiation, laser photocoagulation, thermotherapy and chemotherapy.

The development and refinement of these techniques have contributed greatly to saving many eyes that would have been removed in the past. He has also made research contributions in the diagnosis and treatment of many other benign and malignant tumors, such as tumors of the ciliary body epithelium, pigment epithelium, and leiomyomas. He has published more than 800 articles and textbook chapters and has authored or co-authored 11 major textbooks related to ocular tumors. He has lectured widely, including 28 named lectures, and has received national and international recognition for his contributions in the field of ocular oncology.