For more than two decades, fellows entering the retina fellowship program at the University of Iowa knew they would leave with exceptional surgical training. What many didn't realize until much later was that they would also leave with a mentor whose lessons would shape every patient they would ever treat. 

That enduring influence is why H. Culver Boldt, MD, has been named the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Crystal Apple Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS). 

The Crystal Apple Award recognizes retina specialists who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to educating and mentoring the next generation of physicians. For Dr. Boldt, the honor reflects a career devoted not only to advancing the science of vitreoretinal medicine, but also to investing in the people who will carry the specialty forward. 

As the Marion and Frederick Fuerste Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa, Dr. Boldt serves as director of the Ocular Echography Service and co-director of the Ocular Oncology Service. During his distinguished career, he has mentored more than 80 retina fellows and has led Iowa's vitreoretinal fellowship program for more than 20 years. His contributions extend well beyond education. A fellowship-trained specialist in surgical retina, medical retina, and ophthalmic echography, he has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, participated in numerous clinical trials, and earned recognition as the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine's Clinician of the Year. 

Yet when his former fellows describe Dr. Boldt's impact, they rarely begin by talking about his résumé. Instead, they talk about his patients. 

"One patient told me that once Dr. Boldt steps into their exam room, he makes them feel like the most important person in the world," recalls former fellow Dr. Taariq Mohammed (F25). "Seeing this excellence in clinical care firsthand has inspired and motivated me to try and provide the same level of care for my patients."  

That commitment to patients became one of the defining lessons of fellowship. 

Former fellow Dr. Farzad Jamshidi (F24) remembers Dr. Boldt as "a role model physician," whose attention to detail, knowledge, and calming presence reassured both patients and the clinical team. Even years after training, Jamshidi says Dr. Boldt continues to make time to discuss difficult cases and mentor former trainees as they establish their own careers.  

For many fellows, the lessons extended far beyond clinical knowledge. 

"Dr. Boldt taught me to think beyond the obvious and to approach every patient with an unwavering commitment to doing what is best for them," says Dr. Sam Abbassi (F19). "Even today, years after fellowship, I often find myself asking, 'What would Dr. Boldt do in this situation?'" 

Whether facing a challenging surgical decision or caring for a complicated patient, Abbassi says he continues to rely on the standards Dr. Boldt established. 

"Whenever I am tempted to choose the easier path, I think of Dr. Boldt and the standard he set for himself and for those he trained. His influence continues to shape not only how I operate, but also how I care for my patients every single day."  

Leading by example 

Those who trained under Dr. Boldt consistently point to one quality that defines his teaching style: he never asks others to do what he would not do himself. 

If postoperative rounds began before sunrise, Dr. Boldt was already there. If complex surgeries stretched late into the evening, he remained until the final case was complete. His expectations were high, but they were matched by his own dedication. 

"Dr. Boldt leads by example," Abbassi says. "We never followed his example because we were afraid of him—we followed it because we respected him so deeply."  

Dr. Mohammed says that same commitment translated into a fellowship built around each trainee's success. 

"He cares deeply about our success as fellows, personally and professionally," Mohammed says. "He is always available to discuss difficult cases and complications and supports us in every way."  

Jamshidi agrees, describing Dr. Boldt as meticulous in both teaching and patient care. 

"He picks up the smallest details in cases that one might neglect and thinks through every possible scenario," he says. "Those suggestions and thoughts are almost always accurate predictions."  

A mentor for life 

For many physicians, fellowship mentorship ends with graduation. For Dr. Boldt, it often continues for years. 

Former fellow Dr. Douglas Jin (F23) recalls evenings when discussions after clinic routinely extended until 8 or 9 p.m., as Dr. Boldt patiently answered questions and explored complex retinal cases long after the workday had ended. 

"He helped shape me into a competent and confident retinal surgeon," Jin wrote in his nomination letter. "More importantly, he instilled in me a philosophy of scrupulous living."  

Jin remembers presenting Dr. Boldt with a small succulent plant upon graduation, a symbol of the growth he had nurtured in his trainees. Years later, Dr. Boldt shared a photo of the thriving plant—an image Jin says perfectly symbolizes the growth of the many fellows who have gone on to become leaders in retina care, research, and education themselves.  

Abbassi echoes that sentiment. 

"The lessons I learned from Dr. Boldt extend far beyond the field of retina and vitreoretinal surgery," he wrote in his nomination letter. "His guidance has shaped my approach to both medicine and life."  

A legacy that continues 

As part of receiving the Crystal Apple Award, Dr. Boldt delivered a distinguished lecture at the ASRS Early Career Section Annual Meeting, sharing his insights with the newest generation of retina specialists. It is a fitting role for someone whose influence is measured not only by the patients he has treated or the research he has published, but also by the fellows he has helped become better physicians. 

His former fellows now practice across the country and around the world. Many have become educators and mentors themselves. And when they face difficult clinical decisions, perform complex surgeries, or simply strive to make a patient feel heard, they often return to the lessons they learned in Iowa. 

The Crystal Apple Award recognizes excellence in teaching. In honoring Dr. H. Culver Boldt, it also celebrates a legacy that continues to grow—one fellow, one patient, and one generation of retina specialists at a time.