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Special Olympics Chicago (SOC) is an organization dedicated to empowering athletes with disabilities.

Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) proudly announces that Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO has been named the inaugural recipient of The Rosenbloom Family Endowed Professorship in Low Vision Rehabilitation . This is the first named professorship in ICO’s history.  This professorship – made possible through the generosity of the Rosenbloom Family, strengthens ICO’s long-standing commitment to advancing low-vision rehabilitation through research, education, clinical innovation, and community-based care, whether locally, regionally and/or internationally . Its impact is especially timely, as an estimated 51.9 million adults in the United States report difficulty seeing even with corrective lenses (American Foundation for the Blind, 2025) , and more than 2.2 billion people worldwide live with some form of visual impairment (World Health Organization, 2019). Dr. Matchinski, a 1995 graduate of ICO , completed a Vision Rehabilitation residency at the Feinbloom Low Vision Center of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Since completing her residency in 1996, she has dedicated her career to low vision rehabilitation. As a tenured faculty member at ICO, Dr. Matchinski teaches the vision rehabilitation course and lab, and provides clinical care at the Rosenbloom Center, located at ICO’s Illinois Eye Institute (IEI). Additionally, she practices at The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, is a Low Vision Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry and has served as chair of the Low Vision Section and Diplomate program of the American Academy of Optometry. She has published and lectured nationally and internationally on Low Vision Rehabilitation. Her commitment extends deeply through her leadership in Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) . She is past president of VOSH/International and VOSH Illinois. As the faculty representative for Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH). Dr. Matchinski mentors ICO students as they participate in local and international volunteer clinics.  Dr. Matchinski was appointed by Dean Stephanie Messner, OD, with the approval of ICO President Mark Colip, OD. “The ICO community is extraordinarily proud of Dr. Matchinski’s commitment to advancing care for individuals with low vision,” said President Colip. “Her work at the Illinois Eye Institute—and around the world through SVOSH and VOSH— continues to inspire the next generation of students to live the ICO mission so that all patients receive optimal care.”  About the Rosenbloom Family  Alfred A. Rosenbloom, OD, a pioneer in low-vision rehabilitation, is a 1954 graduate of ICO and served as its president from 1972 to 1982. To honor his and his wife Sarah’s lasting impact, their children—Alfred Rosenbloom III and Susan Tobert—established the Rosenbloom Family Endowed Professorship in Low Vision Rehabilitation . This professorship builds on the legacy, which includes the Dr. Alfred and Sarah Rosenbloom Center on Vision and Aging at ICO’s Illinois Eye Institute, established in 2015, to advance specialized care for individuals with low vision and age-related vision needs.  About the Illinois College of Optometry  Founded in 1872, the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) is the nation’s oldest continuously operating optometric educational institution. With more than 8,000 alumni, ICO is dedicated to excellence in education, research, patient care, and service to the community. Located in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood on the city’s South Side, ICO provides rigorous clinical training and serves over 85,000 patients annually through its teaching clinic, Illinois Eye Institute. For more information about Illinois College of Optometry, visit www.ico.edu .

datasets, from visual fields to OCT scans to intraocular pressure readings, and AI has the potential to analyze My advice to graduates is always the same: keep learning, attend conferences, and stay connected to professional

As a professor at ICO, Dr. in the areas of retina-vitreous and neuro-ophthalmic disorders and, as such, has authored numerous professional Knight, OD ’87 will receive the Professional Achievement Award.  Hogan has served on the board of Special Olympics Chicago for the past six years. is actively involved in the development and organization of fundraising activities for both Special Olympics

ICO’s Class of 2026 competing in the ICO Olympics (Held August 20th). Also the staff played a big role in my decision as well “ICO - most prominent, most professional, oldest If you want to see more from this year’s orientation, we have an ICO Olympics album and a Move-in Day

Block has been a consultant to the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program since

Our students fundraise for local charity, provide eye care for the special olympics, and travel to other

I have found that the patients who remember me best are those who needed some extra handholding. They can plan their undergraduate career around their future professional goals.

all third- and fourth-year patient care courses: Class of 2019 Bendicion, Eric Murray, Meghan Alden, Barah

and future education offers the opportunity to elevate standards and raise awareness for providing professional Rosenbloom served as dean of ICO from 1955 to 1972, president from 1972 to 1982, and remains a distinguished professor

that had never been identified or had been identified, but never treated,” says Sandra Block, OD, ICO professor The clinic is outfitted with 13 professional eye exam lanes and is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to

OD '64, DOS, FAAO retired from ICO in December after teaching for 56 years and was named Associate Professor Schlange has taught nearly 7400 students during his storied career at ICO. Tennant, who played a significant role in shaping my professional career."