May 15, 2005
Dr. Carol Lally Shields (’79) – a three-time captain of Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team – was presented an honorary bachelors of science degree at Notre Dame’s May 15 commencement ceremony. Shields is the associate director of oncology service at Wills Eye Hospital and a professor of ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
A world-renowned physician in her field, Dr. Shields earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed her residency in ophthalmology at Wills. The former leader of the Irish women’s basketball program is the author or co-author of five textbooks, some 700 articles in major journals and more than 140 textbook chapters. She was the first woman to receive the Donders Medal, given by the Netherlands Ophthalmologic Society every five years to an ophthalmologist of world fame and outstanding merit.
At Notre Dame, she was the first female student-athlete to receive the Byron Kanaley Award for excellence in academics and leadership, the highest honor given to Notre Dame student-athletes.