06/23/2025
The NMA Ophthalmology Section honors the life of Dr. Cheryl J. Powell, a beloved member of our community who passed on June 6, 2025, one month shy of her seventieth birthday. Dr. Powell left an extraordinary legacy in the field of ophthalmology and an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew her. A surgeon of vision and a beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend, her dedication to equity and ensuring everyone had access to vision care was a guiding force in her life.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Long Island, Cheryl graduated high school in just three years, and later earned her bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Georgia, Athens, where she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She completed her medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Madison, followed by her residency in ophthalmology at Howard University Hospital.
Cheryl began her private practice in South Central Los Angeles in 1995. Her clinic stood as the only one of its kind in the region, providing essential medical and surgical eye care to underserved communities, which included advanced cataract and anterior segment procedures.
Cheryl was the first Black female eye surgeon at California Hospital, Temple Community Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. She also served as Chief of Surgery at Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center. She held leadership roles as secretary and treasurer of the Charles R. Drew Medical Society and treasurer of the Golden State Medical Association.
Cheryl was a revered member of the faculty at the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute, where she mentored future ophthalmologists and served as a leader in emergency eye care.
Her involvement with the Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program and the Rabb-Venable Excellence in Ophthalmology Research Program, and her ongoing work with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) made her a guiding force for future generations, instilling hope and inspiration in the hearts of those she touched.
Dr. Powell will live on within the hearts of . We will always cherish her legacy and will continue her mission. 🙏🏽