Dr. Gower is an associate professor with more than 15 years of experience working in global health and ocular epidemiology. Her primary area of research interest is in improving trichiasis surgery outcomes for individuals with trachoma, which is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. She has led multiple clinical trials in Africa, and an ongoing clinical trial is investigating different approaches to trichiasis surgery in Ethiopia. Dr. Gower also leads an international team focused on improving trichiasis surgery training through incorporating low-cost surgical simulation.

Within the United States, Dr. Gower is engaged in improving access to care in marginalized populations and analyzing large-claims databases to assess the utilization of eye-care services.