Dr. Dhaliwal earned her medical degree from Northwestern University, and completed her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh. She then completed a prestigious fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the University of Utah. She became a licensed acupuncturist in 2006 and founded the Center for Integrative Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh to systematically research holistic treatments for eye disease. Her other research interests include corneal regeneration, dry eye disease, ocular microbiology, and pediatric refractive surgery.
Dr Dhaliwal is passionate about leadership and service. She currently serves as the president of the International Society of Refractive Surgery and is president-elect of the Cornea Society. As a recognized expert in her field, she is invited to teach corneal and refractive surgical techniques to ophthalmologists around the world. In addition to teaching and research activities, she has authored several book chapters, numerous journal articles, and serves on the editorial board of several ophthalmology journals. In recognition of her clinical and surgical skills, she has been selected as a “Top Doctor” by her peers every year since 2006, has received the Senior Achievement Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and has been selected to be on The Ophthalmologist Power List which recognizes the Top 100 in the world.
- University of Utah, Refractive Surgery, Cornea/External Disease, and Anterior Segment Surgery Fellowship
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Ophthalmology Residency
- Evanston Hospital (Northwestern University/McGaw Medical Center), Transitional Medicine Internship
- Northwestern University Medical School, MD
- Northwestern University, BSM, Honors Program in Medical Education
Education & Training
Double Povidone-Iodine 5% Preparation Before Cataract Surgery for Endophthalmitis Prevention. Odden JL, Winters J, Zlotcavitch L, Mammen A, Romanowski EG, Shanks RMQ, Dhaliwal DK. Eye Contact Lens. 2025 Jan 21. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000001164.
Severe Corneal Flattening After Endothelial Keratoplasty: Collagen Compaction Syndrome. Moloney G, Al-Zanki S, Burgos-Blasco B, Fadaifard Martinez M, Bujak M, Dhaliwal DK. Cornea. 2024 Nov 7. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003752
A Full Good Manufacturing Practice-Compliant Protocol for Corneal Stromal Stem Cell Cultivation. Santra M, Hsu YS, Khadem S, Radencic S, Funderburgh ML, Sawant OB, Dhaliwal DK, Jhanji V, Yam GHF. Bio Protoc. 2024 Sep 20;14(18):e5074. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.5074. eCollection 2024 Sep 20.
Embracing Independence: A New Chapter for the International Society of Refractive Surgery. Ambrósio R Jr, Dhaliwal DK. J Refract Surg. 2024 Feb;40(2):e72. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20240112-01. Epub 2024 Feb 1.
Good manufacturing practice production of human corneal limbus-derived stromal stem cells and in vitro quality screening for therapeutic inhibition of corneal scarring. Santra M, Geary ML, Rubin E, Hsu MYS, Funderburgh ML, Chandran C, Du Y, Dhaliwal DK, Jhanji V, Yam GH. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024 Jan 8;15(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s13287-023-03626-8.