Dan McGehee, OD '88 My Path The path to happiness is winding. According to Dan McGehee, OD ’88, it’s fine to change your mind, backtrack, and switch direction. Dr. McGehee himself was once determined to be a dentist. Then, after experiencing optical and geometric physics in college, he realized, “This is really cool!” He switched gears to optometry, and headed for ICO. Dr. McGehee admits he wasn’t the perfect student. “Academically, I wasn’t as strong as some of my peers, but clinically, I felt more at home. The location of the clinic at ICO and the types of patients that we’d see really provided a well-rounded education.” Changing paths from dentist to optometrist turned out to be the right choice. Dr. McGehee’s experiences at ICO prepared him to see as many patients as he desired, “but also have a life outside.” The world beyond optometry is just as important to Dr. McGehee as his OD. He met his wife, Mary, at ICO, and discovered a love for teaching while waiting for her to graduate. Exercise and athletics have always been huge parts of his life. Now, he enjoys cycling in the beautiful landscape of Arizona. It was family, in fact, that brought Dr. McGehee to the desert. Mary’s sister had moved there first. When the couple went to visit, they “realized it’s a pretty nice place.” Career-wise, Dr. McGehee found “very few optometrists in Arizona compared to other states.” While breaking into a new state’s medical scene wasn’t easy, it again turned out to be the perfect path. Academically, I wasn’t as strong as some of my peers, but clinically, I felt more at home. The location of the clinic at ICO and the types of patients that we’d see really provided a well-rounded education. Dr. McGehee had been at Swagel Wooten Hiatt Eye Center for 6 years when he felt the teaching bug bite again. He realized this was an opportunity to “give back to optometry a little bit.” He contacted ICO about becoming an externship site . Today, ICO students have been a presence at his clinic since 1999. “I feel like the students have helped me as much as I’ve helped them through the years,” he affirms. He always finds his ICO externs to be high quality, connected to current medical trends and technology. “It keeps the clinic day fresh.” Dr. McGehee describes his lifestyle as “divide and conquer.” He balances work, family, teaching, a side job doing research, and his passion for the outdoors. Endurance cycling, sometimes competitive, is his favorite form of exercise. On weekends, he takes his bike for “6, 8, even 10 hour rides. “That way,” he says, “I can come into work and be more focused. I envy those individuals who can stay focused on one thing constantly. For me, that would be burn out.” To prospective students looking for this same kind of lifestyle, Dr. McGehee says, “the best way to find the path that you feel you need to go down is to investigate different avenues.” He is the perfect example, from would-be dentist to academia and beyond. “If I didn’t step out and see other things,” Dr. McGehee admits, “I wouldn’t have realized what my path should be.” He recommends shadowing optometrists and attending industry events- places where the profession finds its “new, young faces.” Today, after 28 years in practice, Dr. McGehee doesn’t want the fun to end. “I sometimes wonder,” he muses, “do I actually need to retire? It would seem odd to me to go three weeks, a month, two months without walking into a room and seeing a patient. The gratitude that patients will show you when you’ve made a difference in their lives is the most rewarding thing in optometry.” As both a cyclist and an optometrist, Dr. McGehee embodies the spirit of exploration. He didn’t start out sure about his future. Once he knew where to go, though, he kept pedaling. ICO helped him see and achieve the vast options within optometry. Now, he gets to perfectly balance all of the things in life that make him happy- family, work, and more than a few bike rides into the sunset. Listen to the Podcast to Learn More

Home • In Chicago • The Library The Library Always something more to learn. Wesley Research Center The EyePod Residential Complex Library Gym For those looking for a place to study, look no further than our newly renovated library. The ICO library is open until midnight and longer during exam weeks. The library is built with our optometry students in mind. There are lots of great optometric resources and you can easily access online journals. Whether you are looking for a book to read or just need a place to study, there’s no more calming place to be than the library. Find new ways to learn and study.

Home • About • History History Providing education and healthcare since 1872. ICO Strategic Plan History Leadership Team From 1872 and the vision of Dr. Henry Olin, MD in founding the Chicago College of Ophthalmology and Otology to 1897 when Dr. George McFatrich amended our charter to be the first leading optometric institution to teach vision care to non-medical personnel our roots run deep. Although our name has changed several times over the course of our history, our commitment to eye health and the education of the next generation of doctors of optometry remain our focus. A look through our timeline shows you how the history of ICO and the origins of optometry and optometric education are linked. Key innovations of our alumni and faculty show how ICO has been a leader in the profession from the beginning. From the early work of accrediting schools of optometry to Dr. Newton Wesley a pioneer in modern contact lenses and orthokeratology to telemedicine during and after the pandemic, ICO is always looking toward advancing the profession of optometry, the education of our future optometrist and the care of our patients.

Home Consumer Information Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance The Illinois College of Optometry is committed to providing a supportive and accessible educational environment for students with disabilities. The College recognizes its legal and ethical responsibilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). The College will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified students for whom a disability substantially limits one or more major life activities. Inquiries about and requests for accommodation should be made to the Senior Director of Student Development. It is the student's responsibility to request accommodation by completing the "Request for Accommodation" form and provide documentation of his or her disability. The College has established guidelines to assist students in obtaining the appropriate documentation. Documentation Guidelines As appropriate to the disability, documentation should include: 1. A diagnostic statement identifying the disability, date of the current diagnostic evaluation, and the date of the original diagnosis. The diagnostic systems used by the Department of Education, The State Department of Rehabilitative Services, or other State agencies and/or the current editions of either the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM) or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems of the World Health Organization (ICD) are the recommended diagnostic taxonomies. 2. A description of the diagnostic criteria and/or diagnostic test used. The description should include the specific results of diagnostic procedures, diagnostic tests utilized, and when administered. When available, both summary and specific test scores should be reported as standard scores and the norming population identified. When standard scores are not available; the mean, standard deviation, and the standard error of measurement are requested as appropriate to the construction of the test. Diagnostic methods used should be congruent with the disability and current professional practices within the field. Informal or non-standardized evaluations should be described in enough detail that a professional colleague could understand their role and significance in the diagnostic process. 3. A description of the current functional impact of the disability. The current functional impact on physical, perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral abilities should be described either explicitly or through the provision of specific results from diagnostic procedures. Currency will be evaluated based on the typical progression of the disability, its interaction with development across the life span, the presence or absence of significant events (since the date of the evaluation) that would impact functioning, and the applicability of the information to the current context of the request for accommodations. 4. Treatments, medications, assistive devices/services currently prescribed or in use. A description of treatments, medications, assistive devices, accommodations and/or assistive services in current use and their estimated effectiveness in ameliorating the impact of the disability. Significant side effects that may affect physical, perceptual, behavioral, or cognitive performance should also be noted. 5. A description of the expected progression or stability of the impact of the disability over time should be included. This description should provide an estimate of the change in the functional limitations of the disability over time and/or recommendations concerning the predictable needs for reevaluation. 6. The credentials of the diagnosing professional. Information describing the certification, licensure, and/or the professional training of individuals conducting the evaluation should be provided. Once appropriate documentation is received, it will be confidentially reviewed. Due to the time involved in the review process, students are encouraged to request accommodations in advance. After the review, the student and the Senior Director of Student Development will meet to discuss the accommodations.

Home Consumer Information Privacy Policy Statement Statement This privacy policy sets out how ICO uses and protects any information that you give ICO when you use this website. ICO is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement. ICO may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. What We Collect We may collect the following information: name and job title contact information including email address demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers What We Do with the Information We Gather We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons: Internal record keeping. We may use the information to improve our products and services. We may periodically send promotional email about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided. From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you for market research purposes. We may contact you by email, phone, fax or mail. We may use the information to customize the website according to your interests. We may provide your information to our third party partners for marketing or promotional purposes. We will never sell your information. Security We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. Text Message Policy No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. Cookies and Links A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyze web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences. We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyze data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system. Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website. Our website may contain links to enable you to visit other websites of interest easily. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Home Consumer Information Non-Discriminatory Policy Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) adheres to all applicable federal and state civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. ICO does not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, parental status, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To give to ICO, please fill out the form below. For any questions or concerns, please call Matt Asciutto at 312-949-7073 . Home • Give • Make A Gift Make a Gift to Illinois College of Optometry Giving Initatives Your Impact at ICO Make a Gift Gift Planning

Home • In the Clinic • Residency Program How to Apply to ICO's Residency Program Thank you for your interest in ICO residency programs. Please follow the below steps and submit your application through the Optometry Residency Match (ORMatch), expected to launch in Fall 2012. The ORMatch code for each ICO residency program, with the exception of the James A. Lovell FHCC residency program, can be found at the top of the program overview page for each residency. Visit the ORMatch website and register by December 31, 2012. Contact the program coordinator declaring your interest in applying. This information is provided on the program overview page for each residency. Send the following documents to the program coordinator no later than February 1: Curriculum Vitae Brief letter of interest in the program Official optometry school transcript Official NBEO transcript Three letters of recommendation from clinical faculty 4. You may then be contacted for an on-site interview 5. After completing the interview process, complete the ORMatch Applicant’s ranking form. Submit this form on or before the OR Match-designated deadline (to be announced.) Candidates must graduate from an accredited school or college of optometry prior to matriculation and must be eligible for licensure in Illinois. All applicants will be evaluated without regard to sex, race, color, creed, age, national origin, or non-disqualifying physical disabilities.

Home • In Chicago • Clubs & Organizations Clubs & Organizations You're more than your OD. Day in the Life Student Blog Housing Clubs & Organizations Health & Safety Our students are not only dedicated care givers and hard-working students. They are passionate go-getters who take the time to follow their interests beyond optometry as well. In the classroom and in the clinic, we are a dedicated team working hard together, but sometimes it’s nice to focus on something that isn’t school. The clubs and organizations on campus help you connect and build relationships through your shared interests. Find Your Group Black Student Union The Black Student Union supports students of the African diaspora academically, culturally and socially by fostering meaningful mentor relationships between black students and practicing optometrists. They also provide leadership and service opportunities to optometry students and encourage undergraduate students to pursue a career in optometry. Multicultural Association The cultural diversity at ICO has increased exponentially over the past several decades. As a result, the MCA is organized to promote the understanding of the diverse cultures within the ICO and IEI communities. Private Practice Club This club prepares students to enter private practice by deepening their understanding of the business aspects of the profession. Monthly, the club offers presentations or panel discussions on practice management. Sample topics include associating with a doctor, practice acquisition, practice management, finance, and marketing. This group focuses on LGBTQ health, specifically within optometry, and hopes to foster a community for queer students here at ICO as well as to build solidarity with other marginalized groups on campus. Queer Eye hopes to advocate for the LGBTQ community and help ICO students become better, more inclusive doctors of optometry. Queer Eye SVOSH The student branch of VOSH, SVOSH‘s objective is to provide vision care to those who do not have access to professional care. Students accompany a practicing OD on mission trips to examine local residents and distribute eye glasses free of charge. Tomb & Key Honor Society Founded in 1934 to recognize academic excellence and to promote ethics within the field of optometry, Tomb & Key is ICO’s highest academic honor organization. Students are eligible for membership during their second year if they achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher. Explore More: Professional American Academy of Optometry (ICO Chapter) – The Illinois College of Optometry's student chapter of the American Academy of Optometry shares the AAO's commitment to promoting vision care through lifelong learning. We strive to foster personal growth, education, and active participation in optometry at the student level. American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) – The student branch of the American Optometric Association, AOSA, includes students representing all optometry schools in the US and Canada. Each institution elects a student trustee to represent its students at all AOSA functions. This organization represents student concerns to other optometric groups including the AOA and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) – COVD is an organization devoted to the enhancement and rehabilitation of vision and vision development. In addition, COVD works towards educating the public on the benefits of vision therapy. Cornea & Contact Lens Society – Serves to expand the knowledge of contact lens care and management of anterior segment disease among students, while also familiarizing students with advances in optometric health and the availability of products available to assist in improving patient care. Private Practice Club – Established to help prepare students to enter private practice by making them more knowledgeable of the business aspects of the profession. On a monthly basis, the club offers presentations, lectures and panel discussions concerning all facets of practice management. The presenters include a variety of nationally known speakers, optometrists, and other professionals. Sample topics include associating with a doctor, practice acquisition, practice management, finance and marketing. Identity / Multicultural Black Student Union – The Black Student Union’s aim is to support students of the African diaspora academically, culturally and socially by fostering meaningful mentor relationships between black students and practicing optometrists. We seek to provide leadership and service opportunities to optometry students and to encourage undergraduate students to pursue a career in optometry. Canadian Association of Optometry Students – Canadians comprise approximately 20 percent of ICO’s student body. The Canadian Students Association provides an opportunity for Canadians to meet and discuss topics ranging from financial aid to life in Chicago. Additionally, the group strives to maintain an awareness of optometry in Canada by examining changes to the profession in each of the individual provinces. Multicultural Association – The cultural diversity at ICO has increased exponentially over the past several decades. As a result, the MCA is organized to promote the understanding of the diverse cultures within the ICO and IEI communities. Muslim Students Association – The MSA seeks to facilitate better networking and communication in the community, as well as help others through community service events and fundraisers. National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) – The student branch of the National Optometric Association, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of minority optometrists. The NOSA also aims to advance the visual health of minority populations. The NOSA at ICO is involved in a variety of activities oriented toward educating youth about optometry, increasing awareness of and interest in the profession, and helping underserved populations in need of eye care. Queer Eye – This group focuses on LGBTQ health, specifically within optometry, and hopes to foster a community for queer students here at ICO as well as build solidarity with other marginalized groups on campus. Queer Eye hopes to advocate for the LGBTQ community and help ICO students become better, more inclusive doctors of optometry. This club plans to organize various fundraisers and vision screenings centered around underserved LGBTQ communities. All are welcomed to join! Community Service Fellowship of Christian Optometrists – FCO seeks to help optometrists further the Gospel of Jesus Christ both in the workplace and through mission trips. Recent destinations include Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. FCO meets weekly for fellowship, prayer, snacks, and Bible study. Members also participate in frequent service outings. ICO Omega Leo Club – A service organization with a focus on enhancing the local community and promoting widespread community service through Lions Club International. Student Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity (SVOSH) – The student branch of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, SVOSH, is an independent charitable organization whose objective is to provide vision care to foreign and domestic people who do not have access to professional vision care. Student volunteers for this independent organization accompany a practicing OD and other healthcare professionals on mission trips to examine local residents and distribute eye glasses free of charge. Medical referrals are made when needed. Students go on multiple missions each year; recent missions include Peru, Guatemala, Mexico and Morocco. Student Wellbeing All Bonding through Life and Eyes (ABLE) – ABLE is a mental health group run by students for students. The working mission is to 1) enhance the mental health and quality of life for the student body of ICO, 2) serve as a safe space for students to come together as a community, and 3) foster a non-discriminative attitude while simultaneously minimizing the stigma of psychopathology. Student Association (SA) – All enrolled students are automatically members of the SA. Functioning in cooperation with the college administration, SA considers matters concerning student welfare, and monitors a wide variety of student activities and publications. The SA president and board of directors are elected by a school-wide ballot, and serve as the official representatives of the student body on all matters. Honor Societies Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society – This honorary society enlists students who have excellent academic records and who wish to serve the college and community. Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society – This honorary society recognizes upperclassmen who have demonstrated outstanding professional and ethical attitudes through leadership in their class, college and profession. Membership consists of five percent of the third year class and ten percent of the fourth year class. All candidates are chosen for lifetime membership. Tomb & Key Honor Society – Founded in 1934 to recognize academic excellence and to promote ethics within the field of optometry, Tomb & Key is ICO’s highest academic honor organization. Students are eligible for membership during their second year if they achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.

Student Financial Services at ICO can help FAFSA applicants find the most affordable way to attend optometry school. Loans, work-study, scholarships, and other opportunities are available. Home • Admissions • Funding Your O.D. • Cost of Attendance Cost of Attendance Discover ways to fund your O.D. Federal Aid ICO Scholarships Cost of Attendance We recognize each student's financial situation is unique to them. Together, we will build a customized solution that will work for your financial needs. Throughout your time at ICO, we work with you to understand your loans and educate you on repayment strategies for a manageable repayment process following graduation.   By choosing to pursue a Doctor of Optometry degree, you are making an important investment in yourself and your future. We understand the process of funding your education can feel complicated and overwhelming, but we are committed to assisting our students with receiving an education in the most cost-effective manner possibl e. Sample Estimated Direct Program Costs Additional Budgetary Items to Consider We want to ensure your financial aid covers your expenses. You may or may not incur these costs, but they are considered allowable education expenses that financial aid is able to cover. Because of that in most of our financial aid award estimates we also include the following costs: These costs are not exclusive to ICO. When choosing an optometry school, make sure to ask about these potential costs. Sample Financial Aid Award When looking at your aid eligibility, the financial aid office establishes an estimated cost of attendance that includes direct educational expenses, in addition to allowances for personal (or indirect) expenses. Direct educational expenses are those things that are billed to all students. Personal or indirect expenses are reasonable budget allowances for costs you can expect to incur as living expenses. Your living expenses will vary based on your personal choices, but we include a reasonable estimate of costs for our area. To see a breakdown of costs by year, you can visit our consumer information page or search "Estimate Cost of Attendance" in the search bar. FinAidEligible Frequently asked questions Do I qualify for U.S. federal financial aid? The following criteria must be met to receive aid from the U.S. Federal Student Aid programs. Demonstrated financial need. Enrollment in the program at least half-time or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree. U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen. Valid Social Security Number. If you don’t have a Social Security Number, you can learn more about applying for one. Maintain satisfactory academic progress. Sign a statement on the application for U.S. Federal Student Aid certifying that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes (ICO’s school code is 001689). Sign a statement on the FAFSA certifying that you are not in default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money back on a federal student grant. Registration with the Selective Service, if applicable (if you are an American male 18 through 25 years of age and you have not yet registered with Selective Service, you can register by checking a box on the FAFSA). How do I apply for financial aid? There are several types of financial aid and a variety of scholarships available to help with the cost of your education. To apply for U.S. Federal Financial Aid and Direct Loans, you will only need to complete the FAFSA. Our school code is 001689. This form is available every October 1 for the upcoming Fall Term and can be accessed through the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid. Annually, you will be asked to complete the FAFSA to renew your eligibility. If you are unsure of your eligibility, you can review the federal eligibility requirements as listed above to confirm that you qualify to receive financial aid. I completed my FAFSA, what's next? Following the submission of your completed FAFSA, we will put together a financial aid package that covers your full estimated cost of attendance and identifies all forms of Federal Aid for which you qualify. You select how much of the award you wish to accept and pursue. Scholarship recipients will see your award adjusted to include the scholarship. How do I apply for ICO scholarships? When applying for graduate programs in optometry, you might feel as though you have to submit a lot of information. We remove the step of having prospective students apply for ICO scholarships by automatically reviewing your application for merit-based scholarships; you do not need to apply separately. Scholarship recipients are notified by the Admission Office at the time of acceptance. Office of Financial Aid CONTACT P. 312-949-7445 E finaid@ico.edu LOCATION Illinois College of Optometry Office of Financial Aid 3241 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60616

Home • Give • Giving Initiatives Giving Initiatives at Illinois College of Optometry Giving Initatives Your Impact at ICO Make a Gift Gift Planning There are many ways to give back to the ICO community whether you choose to join the Leadership Circle or to make a one-time gift, your impact will be felt throughout our ICO community. Join our Leadership Circle Leadership Circle recognizes Illinois College of Optometry’s most generous benefactors. The financial support of these members is vital to ICO, helping us to fulfill our mission to provide excellence in optometric clinical education. Leadership Circle Annual Appeal Our Annual Appeal helps to advance our ICO Mission and supports our scholarship, research, patient care and community initiatives. Be a part of advancing our mission today! Make a Difference D.E.I. Scholarships Through this campaign, we aim to increase the scholarship funds available to current and prospective Black and underrepresented minority students.  D.E.I. Scholarship Give Today Help move forward our institution and optometry. Give Today Giving & Legacy Society The Lifetime Giving Societies recognize those whose cumulative gifts in support of ICO and the IEI total $5,000 or more. Legacy Society members share the honor of having included us in their wills or estate plans.  Society Information Development Office CONTACT P. 312-949-7073 E masciutto@ico.edu LOCATION Illinois College of Optometry Attn: Development 3241 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60616

ICO gives its students a rich clinical education rooted in biomedical science. Courses include human anatomy, immunology, pharmacology, and more, centered around optometry and the eye. Home • In the Classroom • Courses & Curriculum Courses & Curriculum Learn the science of caring. Courses & Curriculum Student Resources NBEO Scores Faculty Research at ICO Library Dr. Messner During your first two years, you will receive clinical training that will help acclimate you to the patient care environment. Initial experiences in the Community Screening Program and the Clinical Assistant Program provide a foundation for direct patient care in primary eye care. Dr. Baker The second and third year programs more fully integrate students into direct patient care activities. As your knowledge progresses, the cases you see will also become more complex. Dr. Patel Fourth year is all clinical. This is your chance to deepen your knowledge and to specialize in your chosen optometric field.  Course Overview Every course takes you closer to your doctor of optometry. We have divided your ICO courses into six tracks. Each course will build on one another and bring you closer to your doctor of optometry. You will begin in a lecture-laboratory setting and move toward a one-to-one relationship between student and patient during your second and third year. Completion of the program prepares students for state licensure and employment. Note: For those joining ICO before completing an undergraduate degree, you may also graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Science. To learn more about this degree visit our pre-health advisor page. Biomedical and Vision Sciences (BVS) These courses provide the basic science knowledge needed to build upon in future years. For example: anatomy, physiology, optics, and vision science. These courses are taken primarily during the first and second years of the program.  Ocular Disease (OCD) These courses provide the student knowledge regarding ocular and systemic disease that is needed to adequately care for patients. These courses run through the second and third years of the program.  Primary Optometric Practice (POP) This category teaches the skills used in a comprehensive eye examination. The courses begin right away in first year, and continue through the second year. In general, skills are taught in the order they will be administered during an eye examination.  Patient Care (PCE) PCE hours are spent rotating through our various clinical departments: Primary Care, Eyewear Center, Contact Lens, Vision Rehabilitation, Pediatrics/Binocular Vision, Advanced Care, and Urgent Care. These rotations begin during the first professional year and become more intensive as you progress.  Specialty Optometric Practice (SOP) This portion of the curriculum emphasizes eye examination skills particular to optometric specialty areas: contact lens, pediatrics, and vision rehabilitation. These courses are taught in the second and third professional years.  Practice Management Ethics (PME) Finally, this category explores the ethical, legal, administrative, and clinical core issues of practice management to assure that the optometrist provides the health care consumer with quality, accessible, and cost-efficient eye health and vision care.  These courses cover the professional ethics and responsibilities, professional fundamentals, knowledge and skills, financial components, and administrative requirements necessary for the practice of optometry and office management.  Your four-year curriculum: Below is a year-by-year breakdown of the required curriculum. Elective courses in a variety of topics may also be available. FIRST PROFESSIONAL YEAR Students enter the Clinical Assistant Program and assist patients in making their way through the Illinois Eye Institute (IEI). SUMMER QUARTER FALL QUARTER WINTER QUARTER SPRING QUARTER SECOND PROFESSIONAL YEAR SUMMER QUARTER FALL QUARTER WINTER QUARTER SPRING QUARTER THIRD PROFESSIONAL YEAR SUMMER QUARTER FALL QUARTER WINTER QUARTER SPRING QUARTER FOURTH PROFESSIONAL YEAR * Students are assigned to one of these activities each quarter. The quarter may vary from student to student.