In his April 10, 1924, correspondence to William H. Welch, M.D., Johns Hopkins Advisory Board member William H. Wilmer, M.D., expressed his vision for the institute that would eventually bear his name. The ophthalmology department, said Wilmer, should “…provide for an extensive and intensive program — clinically, scientifically and pedologically…,” with education and mentorship as cornerstones of his vision. Wilmer understood that the benefit of a mentor was critical to the personal and professional maturation of a trainee because of his years of experience in both the armed services and private practice. He knew that a mentor is a leader who exemplifies a depth of knowledge, an unmatched skill set and the propensity to help others excel in their careers.

Kraig Bower, M.D., who retired June 30 after serving as an associate professor of ophthalmology, director of refractive surgery and director of the Cornea and External Disease Fellowship Program at Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine, embodies all those traits and more.

In 1984, Bower earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas with honors, having been appointed to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society for his character, knowledge, leadership and scholarship.

Bower, a retired colonel in the United States Medical Corps, was stationed in Germany as a general medical officer during the first Gulf War. His duty assignment in Germany was extended for a year because of the war, which meant that he had to delay his ophthalmology training until he was able to return to the U.S. Once he returned to the U.S., Bower began his ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. There, he met Randall Beatty, M.D., an assistant professor and ophthalmology residency program director, who also happened to be an Air Force colonel. Bower says that Beatty was a great friend, mentor and teacher who modeled the perfect balance for a successful military and academic career path.

Beatty, who is currently a neuro-ophthalmologist and an oculoplastics and reconstructive surgeon at Allegheny Ophthalmic and Orbital Associates, says Bower was an excellent resident despite the challenges of being separated from his family. “He was very social and made great friends — even with the attending,” he remembers. “His maturity was more than most, and his military experience showed. He was very helpful to the other residents and was a great teacher to the junior residents.”

After residency, Bower went on to become chief resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 1995 and completed a fellowship training in cornea and external disease at the medical center in 1996. From 1996 to 2010, Bower served in the ophthalmology department at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he was chief of the Center for Refractive Surgery and director of the Anterior Segment Section. During this time, he also served as the program manager of the Army Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program and a refractive surgery consultant to the Army Office of the Surgeon General before joining the faculty at the Wilmer Eye Institute.

Bower, pictured center, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center ribbon cutting ceremony, 2001

Upon joining Wilmer in 2010, Bower met another person he considers a mentor in Albert Jun, M.D., Ph.D., former chief of the Division of Cornea, Cataract and External Eye Disease. Bower calls Jun a multitalented chief, who helped him make the decision to prolong his career by entrusting him with leading the Cornea Fellowship Program.

Jun, now ophthalmology chair at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, says Bower is a tremendously skilled and caring physician and surgeon, profoundly dedicated teacher, and generous and wise colleague.

“He came to Wilmer after a full, impactful and illustrious career as director of refractive surgery for the United State Army,” says Jun. “Here at Wilmer, he formed the foundation of the refractive and cornea service as well as fellowship and residency education in refractive surgery.”

Divya Srikumaran, M.D., the Walter J. Stark, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology and chief of the Division of Cornea, Cataract, and External Eye Disease at Wilmer, says Bower has been an integral part of the cornea service since 2010.

“Throughout this time, he has not only been a dedicated colleague but also a friend and mentor to many of us here, including myself,” says Srikumaran. “He is a dedicated educator credited with staffing over a thousand refractive surgery cases with fellows, residents and fellow faculty members. He generously gives his time to staff the residents in the Patient Access Center for the Eye clinic as well — a job that only a handful of select faculty are invited to do on a recurring basis.”

Bower passed the reigns of the refractive surgery program to Isa Mohammed, M.D., before retiring from the institute in June. An assistant professor of ophthalmology, Mohammed lauds Bower for being an incredible mentor who ensured he was positioned for success by taking extra time to train in the operating room and providing valuable insights regarding challenging cases in clinic.

“From the first time I met him, his commitment to education and training the next generation of surgeons was impressive and inspiring,” says Mohammed. “His clinical experience gives him a wealth of knowledge, and I am grateful I could learn from him. As I look to continue this work, I will do my very best to embody his dedication to teaching.”

Over the past 25 years, Bower has trained more than 100 residents and 55 fellows, staffing more than 6,000 surgeries with a resident or fellow. Here’s just a sampling of what Bower’s students have to say about the experience.

I was fortunate to work with Dr. Bower as a resident and cornea fellow. I learned so much from him about cataract surgery, refractive evaluations, managing refractive complications and treating corneal diseases. He was a kind and patient mentor and one of the best role models for demonstrating how to talk with patients. I am forever grateful to Dr. Bower for his excellent teaching, and I work every day to incorporate his wisdom and spirit into my own practice.

Angela C. Gauthier, M.D., 2023
Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgeon
Glaucoma-Cataract Consultants
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Dr. Bower was an outstanding mentor. He taught us the fundamentals of refractive surgery, ensured an educational experience for the fellows and exemplified excellent patient care.

Patrick Commiskey, M.D., 2023
Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Specialist
Eye Associates of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Bower is the best! He was an incredible mentor to me, and I learned so much from him during my time at Wilmer. He has a great sense of humor and is so dedicated to his patients and to the fellows. I am forever grateful for the time I got to spend with him as a cornea fellow.

Shelly Watson, M.D., 2021
Corneal Specialist 
Northern Virginia Ophthalmology Associates
Falls Church, Virginia

Dr. Bower had the tall task of teaching his fellows the nuances of refractive surgery. We were so fortunate to benefit from his decades of experience and from the calm and fun environment he created in the clinic and in the operating room. He generously and unreservedly shared his knowledge and advice with us to provide the best care for patients. This continued past fellowship, where Dr. Bower has helped me care for complex patients without reservation. A particularly valuable lesson I learned from him was how to make patients feel genuinely welcomed and secure, ensuring they had a thorough understanding before proceeding with surgery. I try to emulate this myself every day.

Cherie A. Fathy, M.D., M.P.H., 2021
Medical Officer at the FDA, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Ophthalmology Cell and Gene Therapy Products
Washington, D.C. 

Dr. Bower was a great mentor to me during my time as a cornea fellow. He taught me the art and science of refractive surgery. Thanks to him, I became proficient in planning and performing LASIK and PRK, and got some experience in implanting ICL (implantable collamer lens) as well as in post-op care after these procedures. I perform these procedures regularly now as a surgeon and as the director of refractive surgery at the Center For Sight in Sarasota Florida. I am grateful for having worked with Dr. Bower. He is an excellent teacher, doctor and human being.

Joaquin O. De Rojas, M.D., 2019
Director of Refractive Surgery
Cataract, LASIK & Corneal Surgeon
Center for Sight
Sarasota, Florida

Dr. Bower was an outstanding refractive surgery mentor. We developed a solid foundation of skills to start our career after fellowship. He was always calm, patient and methodical in the operating room, which was the ideal environment for trainees. I’m grateful for my time with him and have incorporated many of his pearls of wisdom into my refractive surgery practice today.

Priya Mathews, M.D., M.P.H., 2019
Director of Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease
Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgeon
Center For Sight
Sarasota, Florida

Dr. Bower was my program director and mentor. I was a fellow during the peak of COVID-19. There was a lot of fear and uncertainty during that time in the country and in the health care setting. However, I look back to my fellowship days only with fondness. Under Dr. Bower and Dr. Jun’s leadership, they managed to not only provide a great atmosphere for academic learning and patient care, but also created a small nurturing family for me and my two co-fellows. We always felt well cared for, supported and respected.

I learned cataract and refractive surgery from Dr. Bower. He was a great teacher with an even better sense of humor. Even to this day, I sometimes email him with questions regarding upcoming surgery plans. I am sad that Wilmer will be losing such a great leader and doctor. I know he will enjoy and make the best of his retirement, mountain biking and camping in his Volkswagen bus.

Dian Yu, M.D., 2021
Cornea Specialist and Refractive Surgeon
The Eye Center in Northern Virginia
Sterling, Virginia