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Summer 2026
Alumni Ambassador Highlight: Tiffany Andrzejewski, OD ’10
WRITTEN BY:
Tiffany Andrzejewski, OD ’10
As an alumni ambassador, Tiffany Andrzejewski, OD ’10, has maintained a strong connection to ICO. Whether serving as a panelist at ICO’s Practice Opportunities Symposium or as a speaker at the Contact Lens Symposium, Dr. Andrzejewski continues to guide future optometrists through her commitment to ICO.
Why is it important for you to continue your connection to ICO?
ICO is where my foundation was built. The education and clinical training I received there shaped the clinician I am today, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back to the institution that gave so much to me. Whether lecturing at symposia, assisting in contact lens workshops, or working with fourth-year externs on rotation or the Cornea and Contact Lens residents, staying connected to ICO keeps me grounded in the next generation of optometry. It’s important to me that students have access to practitioners who are actively working in the field and can bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world clinical practice.
What’s one thing you’d want people to know about alumni ambassadors?
We genuinely care. This isn’t a ceremonial role—alumni ambassadors show up because we remember what it felt like to be a student figuring it all out, and we want to make that journey a little clearer for those coming after us. We’re a resource, a sounding board, and a connection to what life looks like after graduation. The relationship goes both ways too; I learn just as much from the students and residents as I hope they learn from me.
What knowledge do you hope to impart to those you mentor?
The technical side of optometry is only part of what makes a truly great clinician. The other part is compassion. Patients need to feel that you genuinely care about their well-being, not just their prescription. When someone sits in your chair, they’re trusting you with something incredibly precious—their vision—and it’s our job to honor that trust every single time.
A big part of that is communication. I try to instill in my externs and residents the importance of explaining complex clinical concepts in a way that is relatable and accessible to each individual patient. When patients understand their condition and treatment, they become partners in their own care, and that changes everything.
I also want to help them build lasting patient relationships. Trust isn’t built on a single visit—it’s built over years of consistency, follow-ups, and genuinely showing up for people. Teaching the next generation how to cultivate that kind of trust is something I take seriously.
Finally, I want them to embrace a lifelong commitment to learning. Optometry and medicine are constantly evolving—new technology, new research, and new treatments are emerging all the time. The clinician you are on graduation day is just the starting point. The best practitioners I know are the ones who remain students at heart, who stay engaged with the literature, attend conferences, seek out new perspectives, and never become complacent. The landscape is always changing, our patients deserve doctors who change and grow alongside it.