Graduated from the University of Iowa School of Medicine in 1965. He completed his internship and went on to do a  residency at USC Los Angeles County Medical in internal medicine. He completed his residency in Ophthalmology in 1972 at the University of Iowa. Dr. Crowell is a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology and International College of Surgeons. He is currently a member of and past President of the Phoenix Eye and Arizona Ophthalmological Societies. He has done volunteer cataract surgery in Africa with Kenya medical missions.