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Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS Associate Professor of Optometry; Cornea and Contact Lens/Ocular Disease Residency Coordinator Next Previous Phone: 312-949-7110 Email: lsicks@ico.edu All Faculty Christine Allison, OD, FAAO, FCOVD Kashifa Ansari, OD, FAAO Alaina Bandstra, OD, FAAO Tahira Bedgood, MS Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO Brittney Brady, OD, FAAO Aubrey Breithaupt, OD, FCOVD Kristen Buskirk, OD, FAAO Elyse L. Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Samantha Dodda, OD, FAAO Katie Foreman, OD, FAAO Kelly A. Frantz, OD, FAAO, FCOVD Geoffrey Goodfellow, OD, FAAO Greta Gregg, OD, FAAO Eric Harris, OD, FAAO Jennifer S. Harthan, OD, FAAO, FSLS Kathryn Hohs, OD, FAAO Erica Ittner, OD, FAAO Valerie Kattouf, OD, FAAO Darren Koenig, OD, PhD, FAAO Alyssa Lancaster, OD, FAAO Courtney Luce, OD, FAAO Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO Matthew McGee, OD, FAAO Mallory McLaughlin, OD, FAAO Janice McMahon, OD, FAAO Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO Stephanie Messner, OD, FAAO Dominick L. Opitz, OD, FAAO Yi Pang, OD, PhD, FAAO Jaymeni Patel, OD, FAAO Andria Pihos, OD, FAAO Danielle Piser, OD, FAAO Nicollette L. Purcell, MS, PhD Harneet Randhawa, OD, FAAO Daniel K. Roberts, OD, PhD, FAAO Anne Rozwat, OD, FAAO Patricia Salazar, OD, FAAO Navjit K. Sanghera, OD, FAAO Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS Denise Skiadopoulos, OD, FAAO William Skoog, OD, FAAO Ashley Speilburg, OD, FAAO Wendy J. Stone, OD, FAAO Christine Weber, EdD, MLS, AHIP Janis E. Winters, OD, FAAO Elizabeth Wyles, OD, FAAO Xiaohua Zhuang, PhD, FAAO Rebecca K. Zoltoski, PhD Why ICO? As a student, I loved being part of the ICO family. When it came time to decide what to do after residency, teaching was a natural fit for my strengths. At ICO, there are so many opportunities for students to discover their talents and to grow as clinicians, colleagues, and friends. You will end your ICO journey as a confident, prepared, and capable optometrist. Biography Dr. Sicks graduated magna cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2006 with a BA in Biology. She received her OD from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2010 and went on to complete a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. While in Oklahoma, she was certified in and performed therapeutic anterior segment laser and minor surgical procedures. Currently, Dr. Sicks serves as an attending optometrist for third- and fourth-year interns in the Cornea Center for Clinical Excellence. She is also involved in the didactic training of students in specialty contact lenses and ophthalmic surgical procedures including injections, minor surgical procedures, and anterior segment laser therapy. She has delivered continuing education and presented research and posters at both local and national optometry meetings. Dr. Sicks is Chair of the Faculty-Student Liaison Committee for the American Academy of Optometry and also serves on their Leadership Task Force. She is a member of the Communications Committee for the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators. She is also a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach. Special Interests Specialty contact lenses, keratoconus, corneal dystrophies, meibomian gland dysfunction, ocular surface disease, phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, pediatric dry eye, myopia management, orthokeratology Education 2011 Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry, Cornea and Contact Lens Residency 2010 Illinois College of Optometry, OD 2006 Illinois Wesleyan University, BA Experience 2021-present Matthew E. Schmidt, MD and Associates 2014-2015 Children’s and Family Eyecare (Mary Lou French, OD and Associates) 2013-present Illinois College of Optometry 2011-2013 Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry Awards & Honors 2015 Dr. Rodger Kame Award, American Optometric Association Cornea and Contact Lens Section 2011 George W. Mertz Contact Lens Residency Award, American Optometric Foundation 2010 Heart of American Contact Lens Society Grant Award 2010 Clinical Excellence Award, Illinois College of Optometry 2009 Robert D. Newcomb Fellowship for Leadership, American Academy of Optometry Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society Beta Sigma Kappa Optometric Honor Society Professional Organizations American Academy of Optometry (Fellow) International Association of Contact Lens Educators (Fellow) Scleral Lens Education Society (Fellow) American Optometric Association Illinois Optometric Association Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach Publications Sicks LA and Harthan JS. Phlyctenular Keratoconjunctivitis: a Teaching Case Report. Optometric Education. 2021;47(1). Bradley CS, Sicks LA, Pucker AD. Common ophthalmic preservatives in soft contact lens care products: benefits, complications, and a comparison to non-preserved solutions. Clinical Optometry. 2021;13:271. Harthan JS, Sicks LA. Sutureless amniotic membranes (Prokera) for filamentary keratitis: A case series. Journal of Dry Eye Disease. 2019 May 9;2(1):e10-6.

Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Aubrey Breithaupt, OD, FCOVD Aubrey Breithaupt, OD, FCOVD Assistant Professor of Optometry; Coordinator, Pediatric and Binocular Vision Residency Next Previous Phone: 312-949-7167 Email: abreithaupt@ico.edu All Faculty Christine Allison, OD, FAAO, FCOVD Kashifa Ansari, OD, FAAO Alaina Bandstra, OD, FAAO Tahira Bedgood, MS Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO Brittney Brady, OD, FAAO Aubrey Breithaupt, OD, FCOVD Kristen Buskirk, OD, FAAO Elyse L. Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Samantha Dodda, OD, FAAO Katie Foreman, OD, FAAO Kelly A. Frantz, OD, FAAO, FCOVD Geoffrey Goodfellow, OD, FAAO Greta Gregg, OD, FAAO Eric Harris, OD, FAAO Jennifer S. Harthan, OD, FAAO, FSLS Kathryn Hohs, OD, FAAO Erica Ittner, OD, FAAO Valerie Kattouf, OD, FAAO Darren Koenig, OD, PhD, FAAO Alyssa Lancaster, OD, FAAO Courtney Luce, OD, FAAO Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO Matthew McGee, OD, FAAO Mallory McLaughlin, OD, FAAO Janice McMahon, OD, FAAO Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO Stephanie Messner, OD, FAAO Dominick L. Opitz, OD, FAAO Yi Pang, OD, PhD, FAAO Jaymeni Patel, OD, FAAO Andria Pihos, OD, FAAO Danielle Piser, OD, FAAO Nicollette L. Purcell, MS, PhD Harneet Randhawa, OD, FAAO Daniel K. Roberts, OD, PhD, FAAO Anne Rozwat, OD, FAAO Patricia Salazar, OD, FAAO Navjit K. Sanghera, OD, FAAO Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS Denise Skiadopoulos, OD, FAAO William Skoog, OD, FAAO Ashley Speilburg, OD, FAAO Wendy J. Stone, OD, FAAO Christine Weber, EdD, MLS, AHIP Janis E. Winters, OD, FAAO Elizabeth Wyles, OD, FAAO Xiaohua Zhuang, PhD, FAAO Rebecca K. Zoltoski, PhD Why ICO? As one of the oldest optometric institutions in the country, ICO has provided our profession with a strong foundation for continued learning and advancement for over a century. There is something special about an institution that has been successful at providing exceptional education and patient care for such a long time! Not only does ICO have one of the richest institutional histories in the profession, but it also has some of the most knowledgeable, friendliest, and most genuinely caring faculty and administration I have had the pleasure of working with. Biography Doctor Aubrey Breithaupt is currently a full-time Assistant Professor at the Illinois College of Optometry where she specializes in pediatrics, vision therapy, and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. She holds bachelor’s degrees in biomedical sciences and music performance from Western Michigan University, and she earned her Doctor of Optometry degree as Valedictorian from the Michigan College of Optometry in 2014. She completed her residency at Wow Vision therapy in St. Joseph, Michigan, after which she worked at a private vision therapy practice in Austin, Texas. She has been a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) since 2017, and she served as Chief of Pediatrics at the UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry from 2018-2023. She has provided international guest-lectures in Pereira, Colombia and taught courses in pediatrics, case analysis, vision screenings, and ophthalmic optics. Dr. Breithaupt is excited to share her passion and excitement for the field of optometry and vision development with her students, colleagues, and patients! Special Interests Pediatrics, Binocular Vision, Vision Therapy, Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Education Western Michigan University Michigan College of Optometry Experience Wow Vision Therapy (St. Joseph, MI) Optometry Center for Vision Therapy (Austin, TX) UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry (San Antonio, TX) Awards & Honors COVD Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy NBEO Certificate of Commendation Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society, Member & Past Chapter President MCO Academic Achievement Award Walmart/Sam’s Optical Scholarship Professional Organizations Fellow, College of Optometrists in Vision Development Member, American Optometric Association Member, Illinois Optometric Association Publications

The Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the world’s leading optometric schools. Thanks to our curriculum, faculty, and clinical resources, ICO graduates enter the real world best prepared to practice. Illinois College of Optometry Make a real difference in optometry and the world. The ICO Difference We are one of the world's leading optometric institutions for good reason. Learn in the heart of Chicago. In Chicago Our location provides you with a diverse array of patients - ultimately making you a better doctor. Work with real patients in the clinic from year 1. We get you into clinic early because we believe you learn best when classes are paired with real-world clinical experiences. In the Clinic Join over 8,000 alumni More connections means better opportunities for your career. In the World Our program is for optometrists, by optometrists. Every course, every lab is built to prepare you to be the best doctor of optometry possible. In the Classroom HEAR FROM FACULTY & STUDENTS What is it really like to. . . support real people in a real clinic? be part of the ICO family? live and study in Chicago? be a Doctor of Optometry? We are a perfect collaboration between a community that wants to give and a community that is in need of service. - Leonard Messner, OD MAKE A DIFFERENCE Real Patient Story from Illinois Eye Institute REAL PATIENTS IN A REAL CLINIC Over 92,000 patient visits in our clinic, Illinois Eye Institute, every year. Why ICO? Make a real difference in optometry and the world. Watch the Film Let's get you started Learn how to apply Schedule a visit Shadow an Optometrist Continuing Education Our annual symposium takes place this month. We will focus on Glaucoma. From diagnosing to treatment, we have a packed schedule! Learn More Recent News Faculty Spotlight: An Interview with Dr. Pang View All News Annual CE Symposium 2022: Glaucoma View All News Pre-Clinical Assessment Honors View All News View All News Catch the very latest on Instagram. Follow ICO on Instagram

Louise Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Louise Sclafani, OD Louise Sclafani, OD Clinical Associate Professor of Optometry Email: LSclafani@ico.edu Part Time Faculty Megan S. Allen, OD, FAAO Kaori Asano, OD Eric Baas, OD Stephen Beckerman, OD, FAAO Pamela Boyce, OD Grace Castells, OD Kara Crumbliss, OD Robert Donati, PhD Helen M. Gabriel, OD, FAAO Colleen Govekar, OD David Gurka, PhD, MD Dennis Ireland, OD, M Ed Karina Langle, OD Michelle K. Man, OD, FAAO, FSLS Joseph McCray, OD Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO Catherine Niermann, OD, MS, FAAO Mary Flynn Roberts, OD Rahnuma Saiyed, OD, FAAO Louise Sclafani, OD Shmaila Tahir, OD Alex Tan, OD Bruce Teitelbaum, OD Michael Zost, OD Why ICO? Biography Louise A. Sclafani, OD, FAAO , FSLS ’89 ICO, served as Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of Optometric Services at University of Chicago from 1993-2017. Her main interests include contact lenses, corneal disease, and surgery co-management. She applies her experience of challenging hospital based care as Vice President of Professional Affairs for SynergEyes and continues to see patients at SoLo Eyecare, a private practice in Chicago and at the Illinois College of Optometry where she trains optometry interns. She has held leadership roles in the American Optometric Association including Illinois State President and Chair of the Cornea and Contact Lens Section. She was awarded the status of Diplomate by the American Academy of Optometry CCLRT and serves as Vice Chair of the Section. She’s a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society and Associate Member of the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists. She was selected by Review of Optometry as one of the Top 10 Females at the Forefront of Optometry and is founding member of GLOW, Global Ophthalmic Women. Special Interests Education Experience Awards & Honors Professional Organizations Publications

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 Consumer Information Campus Conduct Policy and Title IX Guidelines CAMPUS CONDUCT POLICY Illinois College of Optometry is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and employment environment that is free from discrimination, harassment and any conduct that prohibits conduct which prevents free academic interaction and opportunities or which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive study or work environment. The ICO Campus Conduct policy addresses all forms of misconduct. Recent US Department of Education regulations specify Title IV recipient institutions (those participating in Federal Financial Aid programs, and this includes ICO) implement a prescribed process for the investigation and resolution of Title IX related complaints of misconduct. The Campus Conduct policy to follow will describe the institution’s policies and processes for both Title IX related complaints and non-Title IX related complaints. Sexual harassment and racial harassment have been held to constitute a form of discrimination that is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1977. Other types of harassment or discrimination (age, religious, national origin, disability or other protected status) are prohibited by applicable state and federal law or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies. Title IX states that: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." ICO's Title IX Coordinator: Michael Butz TitleIX@ico.edu 312-949-7311 If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of general campus misconduct, a report may be made utilizing the following resources: Email: TitleIX@ico.edu Phone: 312-949-7444 (Title IX hotline may be used for incidents of general campus misconduct) Phone: 312-949-7225 (the ICO Phone: Compliance Tip Line may also be used for reporting) In Person: Michael R. Butz, Sr. Director of Compliance, Risk Mgmt. & Quality Improvement, 312-949-7311 , Office 1211 Beth Karmis, Asst. Dean for Student Success, 312-949-7415 , Room 2721 Milissa Bartold, Sr. Director for Strategy & Administrative Technology Mgmt., 312-949-7440 , Office 2125 Campus Conduct Policy (PDF) Training References for the Title IX Team ICO Title IX Policy, 2024

Pamela Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Pamela Boyce, OD Pamela Boyce, OD Associate Professor of Optometry Email: pboyce@ico.edu Part Time Faculty Megan S. Allen, OD, FAAO Kaori Asano, OD Eric Baas, OD Stephen Beckerman, OD, FAAO Pamela Boyce, OD Grace Castells, OD Kara Crumbliss, OD Robert Donati, PhD Helen M. Gabriel, OD, FAAO Colleen Govekar, OD David Gurka, PhD, MD Dennis Ireland, OD, M Ed Karina Langle, OD Michelle K. Man, OD, FAAO, FSLS Joseph McCray, OD Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO Catherine Niermann, OD, MS, FAAO Mary Flynn Roberts, OD Rahnuma Saiyed, OD, FAAO Louise Sclafani, OD Shmaila Tahir, OD Alex Tan, OD Bruce Teitelbaum, OD Michael Zost, OD Why ICO? Biography Special Interests Anterior segment disease, dry eye, contact lenses, practice management Education 1990 Doctor of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry Experience Associate Professor, Illinois College of Optomery Awards & Honors Wesley-Jessen Excellence Award 1998: Evaluating Corneal Neovascularization and Vascularization: A Clinical Tool Professional Organizations American Academy of Optometry, Fellow American Optometric Association, member Illinois Optometric Association, member Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE) Association of Practice Management Educators Publications Reeder RE, Boyce, PJ, Mika RO. “The Performance of Two Different Hydrogel Lenses in Symptomatic Dry Eye Patients”, ICLC, 2001;27, 47-51. Lonsberry, Blair B. and Boyce, Pamela. “Circumscribed Posterior Keratoconus: Case Report”, Journal of the American Optometric Association, 1999;70:773-776. Capellani, John and Boyce, Pamela. “Are You Missing These Telltale Signs of Non-Compliance?” Rev Opt, July 1999. Boyce, Pamela J. M. “Orbital Lymphoma Masquerading as Thyroid Ophthalmopathy”, Journal of the American Optometric Association, 1998;69: 666-673. Boyce, Pamela. “A Method to Quantify Vascularization”, ICLC, 1998;25: 2-9. Kralich, Robyn G. and Boyce, Pamela J. "Treatment Options for Concurrent Ocular Disease Presenting with Posterior Lenticonus", Optometry and Vision Science, 1998;75: 468-475. Raber, Troy D. and Boyce, Pamela J. "Defining Non-Pathologic Inferior Corneal Steepening", Clinical Eye and Vision Care, 1996;8: 253-263.

Home • In Chicago In Chicago Day in the Life Student Blog Housing Clubs & Organizations Health & Safety There are many reasons to love Chicago — its food, its neighborhoods, but mostly we love it here because of the people you’ll meet. Few optometry schools in the nation will provide you with such a diverse array of patients. We are on the South Side for one fundamental reason: our commitment to the Bronzeville community and our surrounding neighborhoods. KEEP EXPLORING EyePod Residential Complex Library Gym Dr. Newton K. Wesley Research Center Discover a day in the life. Chicago is a big city, and no two students will experience it in quite the same way. All the same, in four years you will make it your own. Here are just a few views of what a day in the life at ICO might look like. A Day in the Life 'Twas the night before exams Read Blog Entry Acing the boards and lessons learned from softball. Bri Buckley, OD '20 Six lessons learned during my first five weeks Read Blog Entry How to take breaks and how to study. Rachel Shackelford, OD '23 Developing Clinical Skills: 1 or 2 Read Blog Entry Lessons learned from a beginner refractionist. Alek Karthikeyan, OD '23 A glimpse into externship selections Read Blog Entry Choosing the right externships for you. Kashifa Ansari, OD '23 Want to see some more? Read Student Blog Student Housing Students either choose to live in the RC or to live in their own rented apartment. Either way, most students choose to stay near ICO. Student Housing We're excited to have you join us! It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to become an optometrist. It also takes a strong support network. We want to make sure that you do well not only in school, but also that you live well throughout your four years here. Find your group. Volunteer, network, travel, or serve the local community. There are so many opportunities to get involved at ICO. Clubs and Organizations Recreation & Fitness From lifting in the gym to one-on-one trainings with fit coaches, there are many opportunities to take care yourself physically. Recreation and Fitness Health & Safety You can only succeed in optometry school if you also take care of your health and remain safe. We work hard to build a safe and healthy environment so that you feel supported throughout your time at ICO. Health and Safety

Eric Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Eric Baas, OD Eric Baas, OD Assistant Professor of Optometry Email: EBaas@ico.edu Part Time Faculty Megan S. Allen, OD, FAAO Kaori Asano, OD Eric Baas, OD Stephen Beckerman, OD, FAAO Pamela Boyce, OD Grace Castells, OD Kara Crumbliss, OD Robert Donati, PhD Helen M. Gabriel, OD, FAAO Colleen Govekar, OD David Gurka, PhD, MD Dennis Ireland, OD, M Ed Karina Langle, OD Michelle K. Man, OD, FAAO, FSLS Joseph McCray, OD Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO Catherine Niermann, OD, MS, FAAO Mary Flynn Roberts, OD Rahnuma Saiyed, OD, FAAO Louise Sclafani, OD Shmaila Tahir, OD Alex Tan, OD Bruce Teitelbaum, OD Michael Zost, OD Why ICO? Profile not available. Biography Special Interests Education Experience Awards & Honors Professional Organizations Publications

Home • Academic Calendar Academic Calendar for Illinois College of Optometry Courses & Curriculum Student Research NBEO Scores Academic Calendar Faculty Library

FACILITY UPGRADES & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS A Campaign by Illinois College of Optometry Home • Alumni • 150 for 150 Commit to Optometry's Future Home • Alumni • Stay Informed Giving Initatives Your Impact at ICO Gift Planning Keeping up with advances in technology ICO is dedicated to improving the environment of students and the healthcare care outcomes of our patients by investing in new tech. Make a Commitment Every day we strive to continue our commitment to: GOAL: $750,000 Learn More Patient Care GOAL: $1.5 MILLION Learn More Research & Education GOAL: $250,000 Learn More Our Community Patients Patient Care We want each and every patient to receive optimal health care. Patients have a right to good care, regardless of their ability to pay. Patient care has always been our foundation, and we want to continue that commitment by reinvesting in several programs and the clinic to better meet our patients’ needs. FOCUS AREAS Access for everyone – providing better care for more populations. Vision of Hope underwrites care for nearly 65% of our un/underinsured patients. We want to be prepared to meet current demands and to ensure that no one is turned away. Clinic updates – providing optimal care. We are committed to staying in this community and to continue serving our South Side neighbors. We want to make sure that our space best serves our patients' needs. GOAL $750K Programs Capital $500K $250K Giving Options Vision of Hope Cronic Dry Eye Disease Geriatric & Low Vision Care Geriatric & Low Vision Care Myopia Progression Students Research & Education Since its founding, ICO has committed to training and educating optometrists who have changed the course of our profession. Every year, we graduate leaders in the field who are ready to take on new challenges and to expand Optometry’s scope. In a world where access to eye care is increasingly important, we want to commit to building and nurturing classes that serve all of our patient populations through innovations in optometry. FOCUS AREAS A state-of-the-art research facility – allowing us to make advances that will change how we think about dry eye, glaucoma, myopia and much more. Access for any student – expanding access and increasing socioeconomic diversity of the student body through scholarships. Research funding for students and residents -providing students funding to increase participation in ICO research activities and representation at national conferences. GOAL $1.5MM Research Center (capital) Scholarships & Awards Programs $800K $500K $200K Giving Options Residency & Faculty Dev Stduent Dev (research & conference) Scholarship Facility Upgrades and Capital Improvements - Wesley Research (floor plan) - Crouch Family Hall (alumni 65 - 95) list of opportunities; what a floor looks like and how they can name it) ---- subcategory/link of Blind Spot - Corena...(TBD) - Eyeware Center - Adv. Opthamlomic Care Community Our Community We want to commit not only to our students’ vision of the future, but also to that of our community. By that we mean both our student community and the community at large. FOCUS AREAS Student wellbeing and growth – providing a space and resources to promote personal wellbeing and mental health at every stage in their optometric journey. Increased representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color on campus – raising awareness of optometry through our newly launched White Coat Project as well as our long-established Focus on Your Future program. Continued support for Chicago Public School children – continuing to serve over 7000 CPS students every year and continuing to be the largest outreach program of any Chicago-area medical institution. GOAL $250K Programs Scholarships $125K $125K Giving Options Support Fund - Campus Life Special Initiaties (FOYF, White Coat Project, FOD) Will you commit? Make a Gift

Home • Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions for Illinois College of Optometry Why ICO? Contact ICO Shadow an Optometrist How to Apply Connect Students With Their Future Whether your student is already committed to optometry or is simply exploring health career options, we have resources to assist you. The links and questions below can help you learn both about optometry and ICO: Optometry as a Career What is a Doctor of Optometry? The American Optometric Association defines Doctor of Optometry as the independent primary health care professional for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. Doctors of Optometry prescribe spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and medications. They provide specialized care in low-vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, and pediatric vision, and perform certain surgical procedures. Optometrists counsel their patients regarding surgical and nonsurgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyles. Source: FutureEyeDoc.org What's life like as an optometrist? One thing that we hear repeatedly from our alumni is just how diverse the optometric experience is. As an optometrist students might open their own private practice or work at a Veteran Affairs office. They could be teaching and precepting future optometry students or they might be treating children in a vision rehabilitation clinic. There are just so many options. You can do all this while building a life you love. The work/life balance of an optometrist is a big reason why students choose a career in optometry. To explore a few of these career paths we recommend you visit Made at ICO and our online viewbook . Why have others chosen optometry? There are several reasons why students choose optometry, but usually it is a combination of three factors: They want to have an impact on their community, and they believe that treating those with visual impairments empowers those individuals. They are attracted to the work/life balance aspect of optometry. Optometrists in most cases have a much more reasonable schedule than many other health care professions. The starting salary and salary thereafter is significantly higher than the national average. According to the AOA, the average net income of an optometrist in 2021 was around $168,193. Another big reason optometrists love what they do is because of the strong doctor-patient relationships that optometrists have. Optometric patients are loyal, and they often stay with the same doctor for years and even decades. With frequency the bond between the patients and the doctors grows. At the IEI, that’s a big reason doctors come back. To hear some of our patient stories, we recommend viewing our It’s More Than Just Eyes videos. About ICO Why ICO? We exclusively teach future doctors of optometry, meaning our curriculum is built with optometrists in mind. As one of the largest optometry schools in the nation, we have a diverse array of faculty with different specializations. Our students also score well above average on the national board exams. This is in large part because of our rich clinical experience that we provide throughout a student’s optometric education. To get a better understanding of how we have built our curriculum, please visit our courses and curriculum page. What are ICO students like? One thing we hear over and over again is how much of a sense of a community there is between our students. Students are not here to compete against one another, but rather to support and to encourage one another on their optometric journey. Throughout our students’ four years, they frequently interact with both upper and lower classmen. Through our student success center, upperclassmen serve as academic coaches and tutors and. Students also interact with in the clinic. For example, during the Clinical Assistant Program first years follow third years. Many students say it’s a fantastic way for them to see just how far they will have advanced in only a few years! Like our doctors and preceptors, our students are committed to our patients, and we often hear that they chose ICO specifically because of our rich clinical experience. To learn more about student life, we recommend visiting our In Chicago page . What is the clinical experience like at ICO? Our clinical experience is one of the things we are most proud of at ICO. We get students into clinic within the first quarter of their first year. By the second year, they have acquired the needed skills and will perform eye exams on their own. We also work hard to ensure that students are prepared for what they encounter in the clinic. We do this by ensuring that there is significant crossover between what students learn in the classroom and labs and the patients they encounter in the clinic. Given our location, we treat an underserved population, and our patients come with all types of issues from common refractive issues to sight-threatening diseases. Our location is critical to providing our students with world class clinical education. To learn more about our clinical experience. We highly recommend visiting our page In the Clinic. How does ICO prepare their students? 2022 marks our 150th anniversary. That means we have been preparing optometry students for nearly 150 years. As optometry has advanced and become more clinical, we too have become more focused. The combination of excellent faculty, state-of-the-art equipment and an immersive and rich clinical experience means that we prepare students very well both for the NBEO and for whatever type of practice students wish to pursue afterwards. Our long history also means we have the largest optometry alumni network in the US. Students connect with alumni both during Homecoming and during the Practice Opportunities Symposium – our yearly networking event. However, our alumni are ready to walk with our students from shadowing through when they are out in practice as ODs. Our externship program is also exceptional. Few optometry schools have as many externship opportunities as ICO. This allows students to explore the many specialties and modalities they might be interested in as optometrists. What is optometry school really like? Optometry school is a professional health degree program, and there is no denying it will be a lot of hard work. That being said, students will have a strong support network and they will have faculty working closely with them both in the clinic and in the classroom to ensure that they get the support needed to succeed as optometrists. To learn more about life at ICO and optometry school in particular, we recommend visiting the ICO Difference page on why.ico.edu. What degrees does ICO confer? Students who pass all four years of optometric training will graduate with a doctor of optometry degree. This, along with passing the National Board of Examiners in Optometry will allow citizens to practice as an optometrist in the United States. In rare instances, we also have students join ICO before completing their undergraduate degree. Students who apply for this degree and meet the required pre- requisites will also graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Vision Sciences. What is the Bachelor of Science in Visual Science (BSVS) degree? The BSVS degree is available only to those students who entered ICO without a bachelor’s degree. However, the BSVS Degree is not a terminal degree and does not connote graduation from the Illinois College of Optometry. The degree is only awarded with the Doctor of Optometry degree at Commencement, and it requires an application available from the Registrar’s Office. The BSVS degree includes humanities, social studies, and human-related biological sciences courses taken at the undergraduate level in combination with courses taken within the ICO curriculum. Requirements for the BSVS degree can be viewed here. More details regarding eligibility are available on the application and within ICO's Student Guide. Application Process What courses are needed before applying? To review our pre-reqs, we recommend students visit our “Due Dates and Pre-Reqs" page. How do students apply to ICO? For students interested in applying to ICO, we recommend that they visit the “How to Apply” page on why.ico.edu which gives students step-by-step instructions on how to apply. How do international students apply? The application process as an international student is very similar to the normal application process and we recommend starting on our “how to apply” page . There are a few additional steps required as international students. We recommend they also visit the International Admissions page. What happens after applying? Once you apply, a student’s application will be processed in 1-2 weeks. They will then be invited to an interview. If they are interested in learning more about the interview process, we recommend visiting our interview day page. Financial Aid What courses are needed before applying? For a breakdown of costs and how to fund your education we recommend visiting our Cost of Attendance page. For a full breakdown of four years, you can also our Consumer Information page. How do students apply to ICO? We have access to nearly $500k in scholarships and work hard with students to ensure they take out the most reasonable loans possible. To get a better understanding of scholarships and federal aid, we recommend visiting our federal aid pages and our scholarships page. Living in Chicago What's it like living in Chicago? We recognize that students in a professional degree program want a life outside of the classroom and the clinic. In this way, Chicago has so much to offer. As the third largest city in the United States, it has everything a big city has: great coffee shops, Michelin-starred restaurants, and of course the lakeshore path that moves up and down Chicago. The other thing students quickly realize about Chicago is that there is so much more to Chicago beyond downtown. Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and allows students to set up their life in a specific neighborhood where Chicago can quickly feel like home. One of the best ways for students to get a better understanding of what student life in Chicago is like is to follow our Instagram page. Where we have had many takeovers and often post about our favorite places. What's it like on campus? One of the big reasons students choose to go to ICO is because everything is conveniently located next to one another. Within five minutes you can access labs, clinic, and the classroom. We are also close to downtown. In three public transit stops, students can be soaking up those downtown views. There are so many reasons to choose ICO. To learn more about Life in Chicago we recommend visiting our Living in Chicago page and our page dedicated to student life in Chicago. Connect with ICO Is ICO visiting a place near me? If your students are interested in learning more about ICO, there is no better way to connect than to speak with one of our admissions advisors. To see when ICO might be visiting your school, you can visit our recruitment events page. Can I visit ICO? If you or your student is interested in visiting ICO, we are always happy to host. The best place to start planning your trip is on our how to visit page. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us at admissions@ico.edu . Can I talk to a practicing optometrist? For those students who are interested in shadowing an optometrist before they apply to ICO, we are happy to connect them with one of our graduates. If students would like to shadow an optometrist, please have them fill out this form. Additional External Resources The Optometry Admission Test (O.A.T.) OptomCAS: One-stop applicatin for optometry school American Academy of Optometry (AAO) American Optometric Association (AOA) The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)