Connor Robbs, OD ’22, might say that his path into optometry was written early, starting well before he ever set foot on the ICO campus. Growing up in the western suburbs of Chicago, Connor was introduced to the profession by his mother, Laura Giancola, OD ’90, who encouraged him to explore the rewarding career she had built. What began as a childhood curiosity, filing insurance claims and helping patients pick out glasses at Naper Grove Vision Care, has blossomed into a fulfilling practice where he now serves patients as a trusted family optometrist.

“I started here when I was about 11 years old,” Dr. Robbs recalls. “My mom always told me this was a very good profession to get into.” After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he enrolled at ICO, graduating in 2022 and stepping confidently into the role he had long admired. Now, as President of the Fox Valley Optometric Society and a dedicated member of the ICO Alumni Council, Dr. Robbs embodies the blend of family legacy and professional commitment that keeps the ICO community thriving.

Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Robbs has demonstrated a deep dedication to the future of optometry through his innovative Future Optometric Doctors Program. Launched in the spring of 2022 while he was still preparing for his board exams, this program aims to introduce younger students to the profession at a time when national applicant numbers have plateaued. Recognizing that many high school students view medical careers narrowly, as doctors or nurses, he sought to broaden their horizons by providing early exposure to optometry.

Leveraging his academic connections around the Chicagoland area, Dr. Robbs invited medically inclined high school students to ICO to shadow and engage with optometric professionals firsthand. The program’s first group, from Providence Saint Mel, a well-regarded private school on Chicago’s west side, visited the campus in March 2022. What began as a simple outreach effort quickly revealed the students’ enthusiasm; Dr. Robbs recalls an hour-long Q&A session where the students eagerly absorbed every detail about the profession.

“They would not stop,” he recalls. “I couldn't even keep up at that time, that's when I knew that these high schoolers were interested.” This early success affirmed Dr. Robbs’ conviction that providing immersive experiences for youth can spark a passion for optometry and inspire the next generation of eye care professionals. His commitment to education and recruitment not only reflects his personal journey but also ensures that the ICO community continues to grow and thrive.