ICO recently closed on the refinance of its long-term bond debt and locked in substantial savings for Why does the college have bond debt? Well, ICO was founded over 140 years ago, and over the years, the college and its facilities have required some improvements and expansions. The debt was incurred to keep pace with what has been needed to support a very competitive program. Why is now a good time to refinance? With interest rates at historical lows, this will allow the institution to maintain a low fixed rate, especially as rates are anticipated to rise in the future. When people hear the word “debt” it tends to have a negative connotation; can debt be a positive thing for an institution? It might be surprising, but most institutions carry some level of debt for making improvements to their facilities. The college’s bonds have allowed us to use the operating funds for just that, the operation of the program, while still being able to modernize the facilities. What does this mean for ICO’s bottom line in the short term and in the long term? Simply, it means good things for the institution. It ensures the institutions’ financial short term viability and long term stability. Why should students, faculty, staff, alumni care that ICO has refinanced its debt? I think all of our stakeholders should know that their institution is a good steward of its resources. Our goal is to make sure the college is financially healthy both in the short term and the long term.

It already went viral, with nearly 70,000 views and more than 1,000 likes on YouTube. Now, Jonathan Dong’s “Thrift Opt” video is an award winner, too, nabbing second in the University of South Carolina’s Medical Emmys competition. The first-ever student video contest drew 29 entries from health professions schools from across the country and around the world. ICO’s library will receive a $1,500 award as a result of Dong’s runner-up honors. First place was awarded to “Doc,” an entry from the Drexel University College of Medicine, and third place was awarded to “Look at Me Now,” from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

After months of work by the Illinois Optometric Association and the Illinois Eye Institute, Medicaid recently corrected an error that was causing unequal treatment in the Medicaid system between optometrists and medical doctors. Following the state’s implementation of the SMART Act in 2012, the reimbursement rates of many services, including those provided at the IEI, were reduced by 2.7 percent. Going forward, this reduction will apply only to vision exams and optical services provided by both ODs and MDs. Medical services provided by both professions will now be paid at the full reimbursement rate, rather than just for services provided by MDs, as had previously been the case.

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry recently released statistics on the Part I Basic Science exam, administered on ICO’s campus March 19 and 20. The pass rate for ICO first-time test-takers was 96.6 percent, and ICO’s overall pass rate was 95.3 percent. The national overall pass rate was 79 percent.

The honorable U.S. Rep. L. Tammy Duckworth will serve as the keynote speaker for the 170th ICO Commencement Ceremony to be held at 11:00 a.m., May 18, at Rockefeller Chapel. Duckworth will receive the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, during the ceremony. “Not only is Rep. Duckworth a distinguished member of Congress, she is a national hero and an amazing role model for our doctoral candidates,” said ICO President Dr. Arol Augsburger. Duckworth is an Iraq War veteran and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs. She was one of the first women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom when she was deployed to Iraq in 2004 as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard. Duckworth lost her legs and partial use of her right arm when her helicopter was hit by an RPG on Nov. 12, 2004. She was wearing polycarbonate lenses under her visor that protected her eyesight and credits Dr. Michelle Jurkovic, an ICO alum, with saving her vision during the explosion. She was awarded a Purple Heart for her combat injuries. Following her recovery, Duckworth became Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. In Illinois, she worked to create a tax credit for employers who hired veterans, established the first 24/7 crisis hotline for veterans in the nation, and developed innovative programs to improve veterans’ access to housing and health care. In 2009, President Obama appointed Duckworth to be Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs. At the VA, Duckworth led an initiative to end homelessness among veterans. She was elected to Congress in 2012.

The board’s responsibilities include advising the department director on public health policy, emergencies, and control of health hazards; reviewing department rules and program proposals; and recommending solutions to public health issues. “It’s important for doctors of optometry all over the state to be represented in this very broad-based health board,” says Dr. Conrad. “The board is instrumental in developing rules concerning the legislation of health matters and in the implementation of health laws. I look forward to serving the state of Illinois.” Dr. Conrad, who practiced optometry for 21 years, has worked at ICO since 1988 and has served as a vice president since 2003. Her department ensures that ICO’s programs fulfill regulatory and ethical expectations and manages outside legal counsel and auditors. Originally from Clarksburg, WV, she now lives in La Grange, Ill. Her work with the 20-member board, which includes a registered nurse, veterinarian, chiropractor, dentist and medical doctors, officially began in March. Her term will run until February 15, 2016. #StateHealthBoard

This letter was published in the Chicago Tribune on April 10. To the Editor: “Scrubbing Medicaid” (editorial, March 31) highlights an important and overdue state initiative to purge ineligible people from the Medicaid rolls. But the audit process has had an unintended consequence: Some of our most vulnerable citizens are suddenly without the health care insurance they deserve. That’s because they are unaware that they must re-enroll in the program to receive their benefits. This problem is playing out every day at the Illinois Eye Institute. With more than 100,000 patient visits annually, the IEI is one of the country’s largest providers of vision and eye care services. For more than 30 years, we’ve been a safety net for Chicago-area residents. In addition to medical and surgical eye care, the IEI provides glasses to more than 16,000 Medicaid patients per year. Many of these individuals are children. But since January, we have received many questions from patients who have been confused with the re-enrollment process or are bypassing necessary health services because they are not aware of the steps they need to take to continue to receive Medicaid services. I encourage all Medicaid-eligible Illinois residents to follow up with their Medicaid case worker or the Department of Health and Family Services’ Illinois Medicaid Redetermination Program Hotline (1-855-694-5458). These agencies can aid low-income individuals and families in making sure they have access to the life-sustaining services that the IEI and many other institutions across the state provide. Dr. Leonard V. Messner Executive Director Illinois Eye Institute Chicago, IL #ScrubbingMedicaid #ChicagoTribune #IEI

The Illinois Eye Institute’s senior director of government and external affairs, Vince Brandys, OD ’90, along with fellow alumni Timothy Wingert, OD ’79 and Pete Kehoe, OD ’84, have been inducted into the National Academies of Practice. They were installed Saturday, April 5 during the NAP Membership Banquet and Induction Ceremony in Alexandria, Va. The NAP is a nonprofit professional organization of distinguished practitioners and scholars from 10 health disciplines, including optometry. Only 150 members may be elected to each of the 10 academies. The NAP advises public policy makers on health care issues from the perspective of experts across numerous disciplines. “Working with all health care providers is necessary to provide the best care for each and every patient,” says Dr. Brandys. “The NAP enables providers to share information and educate ourselves on the latest public health and clinical research. Acting as a unified voice in Washington reinforces our commitment to our patients and their families.” Other ICO inductees in recent years include Christine Allison, OD, Arol Augsburger, OD, Sandra Block, OD ’81, Janice Jurkus, OD ’74 and Dominic Maino, OD ’78. #alumni #NAP

On April 1, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn visited the Illinois Eye Institute, the state’s largest provider of vision and eye care services and a safety net for Chicago’s neediest residents. Several IEI doctors and Illinois College of Optometry students joined Illinois Optometric Association representatives in talking to Gov. Quinn about the recent changes to Medicaid, noting that the program needs to work for all Illinois residents. The SMART Act was recently passed by the governor to help make Medicaid more sustainable so that low-income individuals and families in Illinois can continue to receive health care. Currently, there is a great number of vulnerable Illinois residents who are without the health care insurance they deserve because they are confused about the re-enrollment process. “I had the opportunity today to tour the Illinois Eye Institute, a clinic on Chicago’s South Side that plays a critical role in providing eye care to Illinois Medicaid patients,” said Gov. Quinn. “During the visit I saw firsthand the critical Medicaid services they provide to some of our most vulnerable citizens. My administration has worked very hard to put the Medicaid program on sound footing so that it is there to serve those who need it most.”

Fifteen ICO faculty members recently achieved board certification from the American Board of Optometry. To become board certified, practicing optometrists must achieve eligibility and pass a comprehensive written examination. Drs. John Baker, Elyse Chaglasian, Juliana Grove, Erica Ittner, Valerie Kattouf, Stephanie Klemencic, Heather McLeod, Trisha Newman, Dominick Opitz, Andria Pihos, Daniel Roberts, Anne Rozwat, Ashley Speilburg, Wendy Stone, Angela To and Janis Winters passed the recent administration of the exam. They join Drs. Geoffrey Goodfellow, Jordan Keith, Tracy Matchinski and Bruce Teitelbaum, who completed the certification process earlier. According to ABO Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Weaver, ICO/IEI faculty members are among the highest performers on the examination nationally. #ABOExamination

On Feb. 28, Dr. Lisa Thornton shot a public service announcement for Prevent Blindness America on ICO’s campus. Dr. Thornton is a Chicago-based pediatrician who has commented for such media outlets as NBC, CBS, ABC and CNN. Design agency SparkFactor is producing the PSA. #ICO #PreventBlindnessAmerica

The National Board of Examiners in Optometry recently released statistics on the Part II Patient Assessment and Management Exam administered in December 2012. The pass rate for first-time test-takers from the Illinois College of Optometry was 98.11 percent, exceeding by 4 points the national average of 94 percent. The PAM examination is administered at the NBEO test center in Charlotte, N.C., in a single day, over two sessions. Each session consists of 30 patient cases with 175 items. #ICO #NBEOPartIIExam