Carlos Solarte, MD. MPH. MHPE

About

Dr. Carlos Solarte is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the University of Alberta and a Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Adult Strabismus Surgeon at the Stollery Children's Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Dr. Solarte received his medical degree from the Universidad del Cauca in Colombia and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Instituto Barraquer de América. He subsequently completed fellowship training in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). He also holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of Health Professions Education from Maastricht University.

His clinical practice focuses on pediatric ophthalmology, complex strabismus, ocular motility disorders, and adult strabismus surgery. He is committed to improving access to specialized ophthalmic care while advancing surgical quality, patient outcomes, and innovative models of care.

Dr. Solarte established an academic program in competency-based medical education (CBME) for several international programs and, with research focused on resident assessment, feedback, entrustable professional activities (EPAs), programmatic assessment, and faculty development. His work has contributed to the implementation and evaluation of CBME in ophthalmology residency training and has informed educational practice nationally and internationally. His scholarly interests also include pediatric ophthalmology, strabismus, and global eye health.

A recognized leader in medical education, Dr. Solarte served for nearly a decade as Residency Program Director at the University of Alberta, leading major curricular innovations and the transition to competency-based residency education. He currently serves on the Faculty of Medicine's Internal Review Committee and Academic Review Board and is an external reviewer for postgraduate residency accreditation through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Solarte has contributed to the national development and implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for Canadian ophthalmology residency training and is a frequent invited speaker on competency-based medical education, assessment, surgical education, and ophthalmic training.

Internationally, Dr. Solarte is actively engaged in global ophthalmology through educational partnerships focused on residency education, faculty development, curriculum design, and sustainable capacity building. He collaborates with academic institutions and professional organizations to strengthen ophthalmology training programs and improve access to high-quality eye care worldwide.

In recognition of his sustained contributions to education, research, clinical care, and global ophthalmology, Dr. Solarte was awarded the Aman Builders Professorship in Global Ophthalmology at the University of Alberta, supporting international initiatives in ophthalmic education, research, and capacity development.

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Teaching

Teaching has been the cornerstone of my academic career. I am committed to creating learning environments that promote clinical excellence, critical thinking, and lifelong learning while fostering the development of independent, compassionate ophthalmologists.

My educational activities span undergraduate medical education, residency training, fellowship supervision, continuing professional development, and faculty development. I teach across the full spectrum of pediatric ophthalmology, adult strabismus, ocular motility disorders, and ophthalmic surgery, with a particular interest in surgical decision-making and the management of complex strabismus.

Medical education scholarship is a major focus of my academic work. My interests include competency-based medical education, resident assessment, feedback, Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), programmatic assessment, and curriculum development. I have contributed to the national implementation of competency-based residency education in ophthalmology and continue to work with residency programs in Canada and internationally to advance educational innovation and assessment practices.

I am actively involved in resident mentorship and career development and enjoy supporting learners as they progress from novice clinicians to independent specialists. My teaching philosophy emphasizes timely feedback, graduated autonomy, reflective practice, and the integration of evidence-based medicine into clinical decision-making.

Beyond the University of Alberta, I collaborate with international academic institutions through educational partnerships focused on residency education, faculty development, curriculum design, and sustainable capacity building. These collaborations provide opportunities to strengthen ophthalmology education globally while promoting excellence in patient care and professional development.

American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2024 January; 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.01.032

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Journal of Rheumatology. 2023 January; 10.3899/jrheum.220261

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Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2023 January; 10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.05.008

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Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. 2023 January; 10.1007/s00417-023-06061-w

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Cheema M, Anderson S, Hanson C, Solarte C

Canadian journal of ophthalmology. Journal canadien d'ophtalmologie. 2022 May; 10.1016/j.jcjo.2022.05.003

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Marvi Cheema, Scott Anderson, Chris Hanson, Carlos Solarte

Canadian Journal Of Ophthalmology . 2022 May; Article in Press 10.1016/j.jcjo.2022.05.003

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Strabismus and Amblyopia. 2022 January;

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Zhang C., Feng Z.X., Solarte C.E., Li L.

Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2021 July; 58 (4):E19-E21 10.3928/01913913-20210416-01

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Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2021 January; 10.3928/01913913-20210416-01

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Zhang C., Feng Z.X., Li L., Solarte C.E., Ma X.

Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2020 December; 55 (6):e199-e201 10.1016/j.jcjo.2020.05.014

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Ophthalmology Retina. 2020 January; 10.1016/j.oret.2020.02.015

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Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2020 January; 10.1016/j.jcjo.2020.05.014

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Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2020 January; 10.1016/j.jcjo.2020.03.003

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Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2019 January;

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Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2019 January; 10.1016/j.jcjo.2019.10.003

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Journal of Glaucoma. 2017 January; 10.1097/IJG.0000000000000555

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Solarte CE, Awad AH, Wilson CM, Ells A

Middle East African journal of ophthalmology. 2010 April; 10.4103/0974-9233.63080

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Journal of AAPOS. 2010 January; 10.1016/j.jaapos.2009.10.008

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Journal of AAPOS. 2008 January; 10.1016/j.jaapos.2007.06.019

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Ophthalmology: Investigation and Examination Techniques. 2007 January; 10.1016/B978-0-7506-7586-4.50017-9

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