Tara Uhler is Director of the Wills Eye Residency Program at Jefferson and Associate Director of Undergraduate Education in Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. After earning her undergraduate, masters, and medical degrees from Harvard, Dr. Uhler completed residency training at Wills Eye Hospital. She received a Heed Fellowship and pursued clinical and research fellowships before joining the faculty in 2004.
Inspired by those who have taught her, Dr. Uhler is committed to excellence in medical student, resident, and continuing education. She believes team work and cross-pollination are essential to building stronger training programs. Her philosophy has been to share ideas and teaching resources across the learning continuum and to tap expertise from across disciplines, both within and outside medicine.
She has had the honor of serving on multiple committees and task forces for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology, and Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education including: Committee for Resident Education, Program Directors Council, Ophthalmology Milestones Task Force, and Resident Education Task Force. Currently, Dr. Uhler serves as Chair-elect of the Organization of Program Directors Association which is tasked with improving resident training, not just in Ophthalmology, but across all specialties. For contributions to education at the University and Hospital, Dr. Uhler received the Deans Award for Excellence in Education and the Citizenship Award. For contributions to national committees and organizations devoted to resident education, she has twice received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Secretariat Award.