In October 2024, ICO welcomed two new members to our Board of Trustees: Jennifer Harthan, OD ’06 and 

Rupe Hansra, OD ’94.

On December 6 of last year, Dr. Colip attended an exclusive reception hosted by Senator Tammy Duckworth at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. With around 50 invitees, the setting allowed for candid, direct conversation. 

On January 15, 2025, we proudly celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Alfred and Sarah Rosenbloom Center on Vision and Aging. The event served as a meaningful reflection of how far the Rosenbloom Center has come over the past decade.

We’ve got some exciting news for our optometrists working in the VA system. Earlier this year, a new bill was passed that finally grants physician-level pay recognition to doctors of optometry within the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

While in Portland for the latest ASCO meeting, President Mark Colip, OD ’92 and Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs Stephanie Messner, OD made a quick trip up to Vancouver to reconnect with our wonderful alumni. 

On February 2, 2025, ICO held its annual Mullen-Ernest Symposium co-organized by the University of Chicago department of ophthalmology. This is always a wonderful opportunity for optometrists to take a deeper dive into the challenging and fascinating cases that we treat at the IEI. 

As our students geared up for the national quiz bowl in Minneapolis on June 25, ICO hosted its own competition on April 5. The partition walls came down, the crowd poured in, and in true ICO fashion, school spirit was on full display. 

For the second year in a row, we brought back the Residents’ Day Continuing Education program, thanks in large part to its past popularity. Approximately 200 doctors attended both in person and virtually as each resident presented their most compelling case in a grand rounds format. 

On April 11, 2025, ICO hosted our annual Practice Opportunities Symposium, welcoming optometrists, practice owners, and industry partners from across North America. Students had the chance to attend rotating panel sessions covering various practice modalities and career paths, gaining valuable insights into the rewards and challenges of each.

This year’s EyeBall took place in the historic Palmer House. The Palmer House has been a center for celebrations for generations, and it was fun to see ICO students be part of this grand Chicago tradition. 

On April 12, 2025, ICO hosted 28 pre-health students for our White Coat Project / Doctor for a Day event. Many were returning participants, eager to explore optometry within the broader context of systemic health.

On May 1, 2025, we proudly unveiled a stunning new artwork donated by third-year student Taylor Dunleavy ’27, who is pictured on the right in the corresponding photo.

ICO continues to find new ways to raise awareness about optometry. Over the past three years, in collaboration with Connor Robbs, OD ’22, we’ve hosted nearly 40 high school classes in the IEI. 

A very warm congratulations to Yi Pang, OD, PhD; Jennifer Harthan, OD ’06; and Elyse Chaglasian, OD who recently secured $71,050 and $68,000 in research grants. 

On May 15, 2025, our newly renovated gym was transformed into a place of celebration. Round tables draped in white linen, set with china, glassware, and fresh flowers welcomed the Class of 2025 back to ICO.

This year, a record six second-year students joined the Summer Research Program. 

It’s been a busy conference season for ICO. Students, residents, and faculty have attended specialty meetings across the nation, and the quality and depth of the work continues to impress those who interact with our researchers.