Sila Bal

Dr. Sila Bal, MD, MPH is a Cornea and Refractive Surgery Fellow at Harvard and an Associate Scholar at the Center for Global Health, University of Pennsylvania. She earned her medical degree and Master of Public Health from the Perelman School of Medicine, where her work on eye health disparities earned her the United States Excellence in Public Health Award. Her clinical and research focus lies at the intersection of ophthalmology and global health equity.

Her research interests include eye health disparities, the epidemiology of vision impairment, and the impact of social determinants on health outcomes. She is particularly committed to improving eye care access for displaced and underserved populations through community-based models, advocacy, and capacity building.

Dr. Bal's recent publications analyze visual health access among refugees and displaced persons, including a systematic review and a study on Syrian refugees in Philadelphia. Her work demonstrates a strong trend in global ophthalmology, refugee health, and health equity research with both local and international applications.

• United States Excellence in Public Health Award

Dr. Bal has mentored multiple medical students on eye-related research projects, resulting in presentations at CUGH and a publication. She has been involved in global health projects in Ecuador and Jordan, including board membership with PACH and developing partnerships with SAMS to deliver corneal tissue to Syrian refugees. She is set to begin a global ophthalmology fellowship, continuing her mission of health equity.

She is affiliated with the Center for Global Health at the University of Pennsylvania and has collaborated with international organizations to advance eye care in low-resource settings.