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Home • In the Classroom In the Classroom at Illinois College of Optometry Courses & Curriculum Student Resources NBEO Scores Faculty Research at ICO Library We know that you are coming to ICO well prepared. We also know there is a lot more to learn before you can provide the best possible care to your patients. Your clinical and classroom experience will challenge you, but we will work hard to ensure that you are prepared at every step of the way. We prepare you to diagnose and manage both common and rare conditions. Every year as your knowledge and experience grows, the conditions you treat will become more complex. Your education will prepare you to identify and treat anything from common refractive issues to rare sight threatening diseases. Courses & Curriculum at ICO You will have the support you need. We recognize that optometry school can be challenging. We want to make sure that throughout your optometric journey, you have the support you need: whether for tutoring or venting. Student Resources Four Years in Four Courses YEAR 1 Applied Ocular Anatomy BVS107 In Ocular Anatomy, you will learn the ins and outs of the eye. No Doctor of Optometry can treat diseases without having a full understanding of the eye’s anatomy. This course serves as the basis for all of your subsequent ocular disease courses. Clinical Methods & Procedures IV Taken in the Fall Quarter of your Second Year, this course teaches you the fundamentals of examining the health of the eye from front to back. YEAR 2 POP 262.1 We prepare you for the most advanced scope of practice, and this course instructs you in the use of laser procedures and surgical techniques relevant to optometric eyecare. Ophthalmic Lasers & Surgical Procedures YEAR 3 OCD370 Clinical Methods & Procedures IV YEAR 4 Resident Rounds during IEI Patient Care Rotation Your fourth year is all practical. Externships will take you all over the US and the world, but a portion of your fourth year will be spent in the IEI where you can participate in Resident Rounds. During Resident Rounds, you'll learn about hallmark cases picked from real IEI patients that our residents and attendings have treated. Learn More About Your Curriculum NBEO Pass Rates ICO students score above the national pass rate average on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. You can see pass rates from the last four years by clicking the button. NBEO Scores ICO Faculty All Faculty Dr. Courtney Luce Dr. Geoffrey Goodfellow Dr. Christine Allison Dr. Stephanie S. Messner Dr. Jaymeni Patel Dr. Michael Chaglasian Research at ICO Year over year, research at ICO has grown tremendously. Now there are opportunities at every stage of your optometric journey. As always, the quality of our clinic allows us to stand out amongst our peers. Research Initiatives

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 • ICO Faculty ICO Faculty Professors in the classroom are colleagues in the clinic. Courses & Curriculum Student Resources NBEO Scores Faculty Research at ICO Library The journey to OD cannot be made alone. Our talented faculty are here to support you every step of the way. ICO students learn from the same professors in both class and clinic. So, the mentors who teach you about intraocular pressure will be right there the first time you measure it in a patient. Faculty presence assures that ICO graduates are well prepared to practice in today’s world. Megan S. Allen Tahira Bedgood Michael Chaglasian Kelly A. Frantz Jennifer S. Harthan Darren Koenig Matthew McGee Stephanie S. Messner Andria Pihos Daniel K. Roberts Lindsay A. Sicks Ashley Speilburg Xiaohua Zhuang Christine Allison Raman Bhakhri Thomas Collins Geoffrey Goodfellow Kathryn Hohs Alyssa Lancaster Mallory McLaughlin Dominick L. Opitz Danielle Piser Anne Rozwat Reneta Simeon Wendy J. Stone Rebecca K. Zoltoski Kashifa Ansari Brittney Brady Samantha Dodda Greta Gregg Erica Ittner Courtney Luce Janice McMahon Yi Pang Nicollette L. Purcell Patricia Salazar Denise Skiadopoulos Christine Weber Alaina Bandstra Elyse L. Chaglasian Katie Foreman Eric Harris Valerie Kattouf Tracy Matchinski Leonard Messner Jaymeni Patel Harneet Randhawa Navjit K. Sanghera William Skoog Janis E. Winters Part Time Faculty Kaori Asano Grace Castells Colleen Govekar Michelle K. Man Catherine Niermann Shmaila Tahir Eric Baas Kara Crumbliss David Gurka Diana Masolak Mary Flynn Roberts Alex Tan Stephen Beckerman Robert Donati Dennis Ireland Joseph McCray Rahnuma Saiyed Bruce Teitelbaum Pamela Boyce Helen M. Gabriel Karina Langle Erik Mothersbaugh Louise Sclafani Michael Zost Megan Allen, OD Kaori Asano, OD Eric Bass, OD, FAAO Frederic Banser, MS, OD Stephen Beckerman, OD Pamela Boyce, OD Chelsea Bradley, OD Grace Castells, OD Kara Crumbliss, OD (Hagerman) Colleen Govekar, OD Gary Gunderson, OD, MS David Gurka, PhD, MD Tanya Halikias, OD Dennis Ireland, OD, M Ed Joseph McCray, OD Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO Mary Flynn Roberts, OD Rahnuma Saiyed, OD Louise Sclafani, OD Shmaila Tahir, OD Alex Tan, OD Snehali Upadhyay, OD Michael Zost, OD Emeritus Faculty Arol Augsburger, OD President Emeritus Sandra S. Block, OD, MEd, FAAO, FCOVD Professor Emeritus Gerald Dujsik, MALS Director of Learning Resources Emeritus Gary Gunderson, OD, MS Associate Professor Emeritus Neil Hodur, OD Professor Emeritus Janice M. Jurkus, OD, MBA Professor Emeritus David Lee, OD, PhD, FAAO Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics Gary Lesher, PhD Professor Emeritus Dominick Maino, OD, MEd, FAAO, FCOVD-A Professor Emeritus Alfred Rosenbloom Jr., OD, MA Professor Emeritus - Deceased Darrell Schlange, OD Associate Professor Emeritus of Optometry - Deceased Derrald Taylor, OD, MS Professor Emeritus

Erik Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO Erik Mothersbaugh, OD, FAAO Dean of Student Affairs Email: EMothersbaugh@ico.edu Part Time Faculty 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 Diana Masolak, OD, FAAO 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? It feels really good to work with so many colleagues and students who are service-driven and operate with the common goal of providing the absolute best care possible to the patients in our community. Biography Dr. Mothersbaugh grew up in Lake in the Hills, IL and is the son of Ohioans who spent their careers in the automotive industry with a major tire corporation. He graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL in 2008 with a double major in Biology and Psychology – the first in his family to get a college degree. His interest in Optometry rose from a service-driven mindset and a passion for simplifying the complex: learning how to explain principles of optics and neurological pathways to patients was a natural fit. While he originally planned to spend his career in private sector Optometry, he fell in love with education while a student at ICO – and hasn’t left yet. Special Interests Medical Ethics, Physiologic Optics Education 2012 - Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago IL 2008 - Augustana College, Rock Island IL Experience 2012-Present - Illinois College of Optometry Awards & Honors 2018 Golden Apple Award 2019 Golden Apple Award 2019 Young Alumnus of the Year (ICO) 2020 Rising Star Award, Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry Professional Organizations American Optometric Association American Academy of Optometry Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry Publications

Catherine Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Catherine Niermann, OD, MS, FAAO Catherine Niermann, OD, MS, FAAO Assistant Professor of Optometry Email: CNiermann@ico.edu Part Time Faculty 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 Diana Masolak, OD, FAAO 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? ICO has a longstanding reputation for extraordinary patient-centered care, top notch student education, and a growing research scene. Each student, faculty member, and staff member I encounter demonstrates their compassion for the field of optometry and their willingness to be a part of the team. Biography Dr. Niermann earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her doctor of optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. She went on to complete a residency in low vision rehabilitation with a secondary concentration in ocular disease from the University of California- Berkeley. Prior to joining ICO, she worked at a private practice, taught at the University of Missouri- St. Louis College of Optometry, and provided direct care in low vision rehabilitation at the Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Niermann frequently lectures at the local and national level on how to maximize patient outcomes by providing evidence based and compassionate care. Dr. Niermann earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois in Health Communication where she aims to continue lifelong learning to benefit her students, her patients, and herself. Special Interests Primary Eye Care, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Health Communication Education 2014 University of California-Berkeley, Residency 2013 Southern College of Optometry, OD 2009 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, BS Experience 2024 - Present: Spectrios Institute for Low Vision 2022 - Present Illinois College of Optometry 2022 Wilmer Eye Center at the Johns Hopkins Hospital 2015 - 2021 University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry 2014 - 2015 private practice Awards & Honors 2012 Gold Key International Society, Southern College of Optometry 2011 – 2013 Beta Sigma Kappa, Southern College of Optometry 2013 Low Vision Award, Southern College of Optometry Class of 2013 Award 2009 - 2013 Dr. William Cochran Endowed Scholarship, Southern College of Optometry 2012 J. Pat Cummings Fellowship, Vistakon Professional Organizations American Academy of Optometry Publications

Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Alyssa Lancaster, OD, FAAO Alyssa Lancaster, OD, FAAO Assistant Professor of Optometry; Practice Readiness Curriculum Coordinator Next Previous Phone: 312-949-7189 Email: alancaster@ico.edu All Faculty Megan S. Allen, OD, FAAO Christine Allison, OD, FAAO, FCOVD Kashifa Ansari, OD, FAAO Alaina Bandstra, OD, FAAO Tahira Bedgood, MS Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO Brittney Brady, OD, FAAO Elyse L. Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Thomas Collins, 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, MA, FAAO Mallory McLaughlin, OD, FAAO Janice McMahon, OD, FAAO Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO Stephanie S. 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, MS, PhD, FAAO Anne Rozwat, OD, FAAO Patricia Salazar, OD, FAAO Navjit K. Sanghera, OD, FAAO Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS Reneta Simeon, OD 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 Xiaohua Zhuang, PhD, FAAO Rebecca K. Zoltoski, PhD Why ICO? The clinical experience at ICO stands out for its unparalleled patient population at the Illinois Eye Institute, offering an exceptional clinical educational opportunity for our students. As an ICO alumna, I deeply value the comprehensive classroom and clinical education ICO offers, and I am excited to now contribute as clinical faculty, experiencing the institution from a new perspective and with insight from my experience as clinical faculty at another optometry school. Biography Alyssa Lancaster graduated from ICO in 2021 and then completed residency at ICO in Ocular Disease/Primary Care in 2022. After residency, Dr. Lancaster became an assistant professor at the New England College of Optometry, where they taught a first year optometry course and examined patient in a community health center setting. In 2023, Dr. Lancaster founded PRIDE ODs, a national organization for LGBTQIA+ optometrists and allies and continues advocacy work for this demographic. Dr. Lancaster is thrilled to return to ICO to begin teaching Clinical Methods and Procedures II for first year students and continue clinical teaching at the IEI. Special Interests Primary Care/Ocular Disease Community Health LGBTQIA+ Eye Care Education Residency, Ocular Disease and Primary Care, Illinois College of Optometry OD, Illinois College of Optometry BS, Siena College Experience Awards & Honors 2022 Fellow, American Academy of Optometry Professional Organizations Founder of PRIDE ODs (People Respecting Inclusion, Diversity and Equity of LGBTQIA+ ODs) Publications

David Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • David Gurka, PhD, MD David Gurka, PhD, MD Associate Professor of Optometry Email: dgurka@rush.edu Part Time Faculty 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 Diana Masolak, OD, FAAO 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 I am the instructor for the Clinical Medicine course to the 3rd year students, providing a broad yet comprehensive overview of general medicine topics that the practicing optometrist is likely to encounter on a frequent basis. Medical disorders may have direct ocular manifestations or therapies may have ocular toxicities, and a foundation in basic clinical medicine is necessary to provide optimal comprehensive patient care. Special Interests Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease. Nutrition in critical illness, management of the critically ill patient, prevention of complications in critically ill patients Education B.A.: Northwestern University (1977): Biochemistry Ph.D.: Northwestern University (1985): Biochemistry M.D.: University of Illinois College of Medicine (1987) Residency, Internal Medicine (1987-1990): University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital and Clinics Chief Residency, Internal Medicine (1990-91): University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital and Clinics Fellowship, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1991-94): University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital and Clinics Experience 2000 - Present Associate Professor of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry 1994 - Present Professor of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center Chief, Section of Critical Care Medicine Rush University Medical Center Awards & Honors Fellow, American College of Physicians Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians American Board of Internal Medicine certification in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine Professional Organizations American College of Physicians American College of Chest Physicians American Thoracic Society Society of Critical Care Medicine Sigma Xi Publications Jeganathan N, Fox M, Schneider J, Gurka D , Bleck T (2013). “Acute Hemorrhagic Leukoencephalopathy Associated with Influenza A (H1N1) Virus”. Neurocritical Care . E- Published ahead of print 15 August 2013 Rimmer E, Kumar A, Doucette S, Marshall J, Dial S, Gurka D , Dellinger RP, Sharma S, Penner C, Kramer A, Wood K, Ronald J, Kumar A, Turgeon AF, Houston DS, Zarychanski R; Cooperative Antimicrobial Therapy of Septic Shock Database Research Group. (2012). “Activated protein C and septic shock: A propensity-matched cohort study.” Crit Care Med . 40 :2974-2981. Sheean PM, Peterson SJ, Zhao W, Gurka DP , Braunschweig CA. (2012). “Intensive medical nutrition therapy: methods to improve nutrition provision in the critical care setting. ”. J Acad Nutr Diet . 112 :1073-9. Balk RA and Gurka DP (2008) “Respiratory Failure” in Critical Care Medicine : Principles of Diagnosis and Management in the Adult ( ed. Joseph E. Parrillo, R. Phillip Dellinger). – 3rd ed. -- St. Louis : Mosby. 4thedition in press, expected early 2014. Vines DL, Tangney C, Meksraityte E, Scott JB, Fogg L, Burd J, Yoder MA, Gurka DP (2022). A Scoring Tool That Identifies the Need for Positive-Pressure Ventilation and Determines the Effectiveness of Allocated Respiratory Therapy. Respir Care . 2022 Feb;67(2):167-176. doi: 10.4187/respcare.08555. Epub 2021 Nov 23. PMID: 34815327 Speiser JL, Karvellas CJ, Shumilak G, Sligl WI, Mirzanejad Y, Gurka D , Kumar A, Kumar A; Institutional Review Boards (IRB) of the Cooperative Antimicrobial Therapy of Septic Shock (CATSS) Database Research Group. (2018). ”Predicting in-hospital mortality in pneumonia-associated septic shock patients using a classification and regression tree: a nested cohort study.” J Intensive Care . 2018 Oct 12;6:66. doi: 10.1186/s40560-018-0335-3. eCollection 2018. PMID: 30349726 Kok B, Karvellas CJ, Abraldes JG, Jalan R, Sundaram V, Gurka D , Keenan S, Kumar A, Martinka G, Bookatz B, Wood G, Kumar A and The Cooperative Antimicrobial Therapy of Septic Shock (CATSS) Research Group (2018). “The Impact of Obesity in Cirrhotic Patients with Septic Shock: A Retrospective Cohort Study”. Liver International . 38:1230-1241.

Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Kristen Buskirk, OD, FAAO Kristen Buskirk, OD, FAAO Assistant Professor of Optometry Next Previous Phone: Email: KBuskirk@ico.edu All Faculty Megan S. Allen, OD, FAAO Christine Allison, OD, FAAO, FCOVD Kashifa Ansari, OD, FAAO Alaina Bandstra, OD, FAAO Tahira Bedgood, MS Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO Brittney Brady, OD, FAAO Elyse L. Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Thomas Collins, 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, MA, FAAO Mallory McLaughlin, OD, FAAO Janice McMahon, OD, FAAO Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO Stephanie S. 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, MS, PhD, FAAO Anne Rozwat, OD, FAAO Patricia Salazar, OD, FAAO Navjit K. Sanghera, OD, FAAO Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS Reneta Simeon, OD 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 Xiaohua Zhuang, PhD, FAAO Rebecca K. Zoltoski, PhD Why ICO? Choosing ICO means joining a community dedicated to excellence in optometric education and patient care. The faculty's diverse backgrounds and experience provide students and patients with invaluable education and patient care. ICO fosters a supportive and collaborative learning environment that instills a strong sense of community and network of alumni. Biography Dr. Buskirk has a background in both clinical care and administrative leadership. She earned a B.S. in biology from Indiana University in 2010, followed by her O.D. at Illinois College of Optometry in 2014. To further specialize, Dr. Buskirk completed a residency in primary care and ocular disease at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center in 2015. From 2015 to 2024, Dr. Buskirk served at the Saint Louis VA Healthcare System. During her tenure, she acted as a clinical optometrist and was appointed as the assistant chief of optometry. In addition to these roles, Dr. Buskirk was dedicated to the clinical education of fourth year optometry externs and optometry residents. Currently, Dr. Buskirk is pursuing a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Saint Louis University, with an anticipated graduation in 2025. She is hoping to merge her clinical expertise with strategic healthcare management to drive excellence in healthcare delivery. In her free time, Dr. Buskirk enjoys traveling with her fiancé Nick, exploring Chicago restaurants and breweries, and doting on her 2 cats Lindell and McKnight. Special Interests Education Experience Awards & Honors Professional Organizations Publications

Home • In the Classroom • Faculty • Christine Weber, EdD, MLS, AHIP Christine Weber, EdD, MLS, AHIP Assistant Dean for Library and Archival Services Next Previous Phone: 312-949-7153 Email: cweber@ico.edu All Faculty Megan S. Allen, OD, FAAO Christine Allison, OD, FAAO, FCOVD Kashifa Ansari, OD, FAAO Alaina Bandstra, OD, FAAO Tahira Bedgood, MS Raman Bhakhri, OD, FAAO Brittney Brady, OD, FAAO Elyse L. Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO Thomas Collins, 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, MA, FAAO Mallory McLaughlin, OD, FAAO Janice McMahon, OD, FAAO Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO Stephanie S. 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, MS, PhD, FAAO Anne Rozwat, OD, FAAO Patricia Salazar, OD, FAAO Navjit K. Sanghera, OD, FAAO Lindsay A. Sicks, OD, FAAO, FIACLE, FSLS Reneta Simeon, OD 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 Xiaohua Zhuang, PhD, FAAO Rebecca K. Zoltoski, PhD Why ICO? ICO’s smaller, stand alone, optometric college atmosphere is very attractive with a sterling reputation and a long, successful history. The ICO Library produces "VisionCite," a vision science journal article citation database that indexes vision science journals, some of which are not indexed by PubMed. "VisionCite" is available via subscription to any vision science professional and institution. ICO Library staff members are awesome and include experienced, dedicated, professional librarians who are eager to help students succeed at ICO. Biography An information management professional for over 25 years, Christine is experienced in corporate, academic, and non-for-profit environments. She has also been a small business owner. She currently serves a member of ICO’s Academic Administration Team, the Educational Technology Committee, and the Distance Learning Task Force. Special Interests Library, document, and information management, professional organizing, leadership, strategic planning, and experiential learning Education EdD Doctor of Education, University of Findlay LIAL Certificate Leadership in Academic Libraries, Harvard University Graduate School of Education AHIP Certification Association of Health Information Professionals, Medical Library Association MLS Master of Library and Information Science, State University of New York College at Geneseo BA Bachelor of Arts in English and Comparative Literature, The Pennsylvania State University at University Park Experience Illinois College of Optometry Calumet College of St. Joseph Carnegie-Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute Career Education Corporation University of Rochester University of Chicago Awards & Honors Volunteer of the Year, North Shore Magazine Professional Organizations American Library Association Association of Research and College Libraries (Former Meeting Planning Committee) Association of Vision Science Librarians (Former Membership Chair) Health Science Librarians of Illinois (Scholarship Committee) Illinois Library Association Medical Library Association Sit, Stay and Read (Former Fundraising Committee) The Pennsylvania State University Chicago Alumni Chapter (Former Executive Board and Board of Directors) The Pennsylvania State University Chicago Alumni Chapter (Scholarship Committee) University of Chicago’s Lying-in Hospital (Former Fundraising Board of Directors) Publications

Home Consumer Information Veterans Benefits with Financial Aid & Shopping Sheet Use of Financial Aid with Veteran Benefits Financial aid can be used along with VA veteran education benefits. One-on-one assistance is available in the Financial Aid Office to help you understand the various types of aid potentially available to help you finance your education. In order to receive financial aid, all students must go to studentaid.gov and: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and list ICO (school code 001689) on their FAFSA. All students will need a FSA ID ( studentaid.gov ) to complete a FAFSA. For eligibility requirements, please click here . For the upcoming school year (fall term through summer term), the FAFSA opens on October 1st so students should aim to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after this date. Once you have submitted your FAFSA, review your ICO email account frequently as any additional requirements/information needed by the Financial Aid Office to complete the processing of your application will be sent to you via email. Estimating Cost of Attendance You can find our estimated cost of attendance at: https://www.ico.edu/estimated-cost-of-attendance-2024-2025 Financial Aid Shopping Sheet The Financial Aid Shopping Sheet below is an example of the Shopping Sheet that will be customized for you, once you are accepted to Illinois College of Optometry, based on the information you submit on your FAFSA. The cost of attendance and the financial aid award amounts are the maximum provided students. Your amounts may be adjusted if you are awarded an academic scholarship or have other outside scholarships. Since academic scholarships are based on merit and not need, we do not include them here. The Shopping Sheets also do not reflect any VA benefits since the amount received is dependent upon the benefit type being used. You can use the VA’s GI Bill® Benefits Comparison Tool to determine the best VA benefit for you. FA Shopping Sheet 2024-25 GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill .

Home • In the Clinic • Research Opportunities Research Opportunities Opportunities at every stage of your optometric journey. Illinois Eye Institute Research Opportunities Outreach Summer Opportunities Externships Residency Program Summer Research Program You have the first summer of optometry school off. Many students will choose to go home, but there are some students who choose to stay. For those who choose to stay, the Summer Research Program can be a great opportunity to conduct your own research. More About the Program 3rd Year Research Project or Independent Study During your third year, you will complete an independent study (BVS 403). Every year, 20-25% of our students focus their project on research. The others usually focus on clinical case studies. If you participated in the first-year Summer Research Program, you can expand on that research in this course. There are also opportunities to partner with faculty to help with their on-going research. Optometry is ever-growing. To be able to think both on your feet and to stay up to date with the current optometric literature will help you succeed as an optometrist. Research Assistant Program One way to get involved with research at ICO is as a research work study. As one of the largest optometric clinics in the nation, we have one of the strongest clinical research facilities in the nation. As a research assistant you will get paid to work with faculty on their current research projects. This could range from data entry to working one-on-one with patients. These projects can even lead to the development of your own research projects as you become an active OD. Master of Science in Clinical Vision Research Program The Illinois College of Optometry has a new degree option for students already enrolled in the College’s Doctor of Optometry program. This degree option is a thesis-based, dual degree Master of Science in Clinical Vision Research (OD/MS) with the opportunity to graduate with both degrees on schedule with the pre-established OD graduation date. More About the Program Student Research Awards, Travel Fellowships, and Graduate with Research Honors During your fourth-year capstone over $200,000+ is given out in scholarships and awards, this includes several awards for research projects. Illinois College of Optometry Research Award Illinois College of Optometry Research Award Awarded to one student who has exhibited excellent involvement in research on any topic. Dr. & Mrs. Rudolph H. Ehrenberg Research Awards Dr. & Mrs. Rudolph H. Ehrenberg Research Awards Awarded to students who have exhibited excellent involvement in research in the field of low vision rehabilitation or geriatrics . Dr. Newton K. Wesley Foundation Award Dr. Newton K. Wesley Foundation Award Awarded to students who have exhibited excellent involvement in research in the field of cornea and contact lenses. Travel Fellowships - In addition to these larger awards, we want to make sure that as many students can attend research conferences as possible. We offer several travel fellowships to offset the costs of attending this event. Graduate with Research Honors - If you are significantly involved with research at ICO which usually includes a first-authored publication, you can be granted the degree recognition “Graduation with Research Honors.” Just another way we get celebrate student involvement in research at ICO!