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Summer 2026
New BOT Chari Kevin Danahey, OD ’91
WRITTEN BY:
Kevin Danahey, OD ’91
Kevin Danahey, OD ’91, has built a career defined by innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing patient care and optometric education. Since joining Michiana Eye Center in 1993, he has helped grow the OD/MD practice from a single location into a six-location regional network serving north central Indiana.
Dr. Danahey has also played an important role in shaping the next generation of optometrists as an externship preceptor for ICO students.
Now, as the newly elected Chair of ICO’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Danahey brings decades of clinical expertise, business leadership, and dedication to optometric education to this important role. In this conversation, he reflects on his professional journey, the future of the profession, and his vision for ICO.
Frank Wang, OD ’24, and Karly Gruett OD ’24, FAAO, both mentored by Dr. Danahey, now work for Michiana Eye Center caring for patients in the very communities that they grew up in.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, how did you come to choose ICO?
I grew up in Chicago’s South Side. I am one of seven children from working-class parents who valued faith and family. My parents taught me that the key to success in life is defined by how hard we worked. From an early age, my father pushed us to work tough jobs that most kids never see. Long hours, physical labor, and responsibilities that forced me to grow up fast. At 18, I was already driving a semi-truck delivering structural steel in the city of Chicago. I did this job for eight years during the summer breaks of both college and while I was attending ICO. Those early years were not easy, but they built the foundation for everything I have achieved since. They taught me that success is not about luck, talent, or intelligence alone—rather, it’s about work ethic, discipline, and the ability to keep pushing through even when things are difficult. These were the tools that helped me get through ICO’s rigorous academic curriculum.
I attended De La Salle Institute for high school, located directly down the block from ICO. It was there that I discovered my passion for optometry and knew at an early age that I wanted to attend ICO someday. As a matter of fact, I did not apply to any other optometry school. ICO had a strong reputation in the community, and I knew that the clinical population they served so well would prepare me best for a career in optometry.
How has being an ICO alumnus shaped your career?
ICO has the largest alumni network in the world, providing access to a wealth of alumni mentors. This extensive network enables students to connect with ICO alumni for opportunities such as job shadowing and career guidance. I had the opportunity to shadow James Sanderson, OD ’69, for an externship while I was in college. This experience reinforced my passion for both ICO and optometry and I am forever grateful to him for this experience.
My professional career at Michiana Eye Center was made possible by my mentor Bernard Nevel, OD ’55, who gave me a job opportunity in 1993—where I still work, 33 years later.
As a result of these opportunities, one of the many ways I give back to ICO is by mentoring as many students as possible through employment, job shadowing, and personal guidance. I have personally set a goal to have at least one of my students attend ICO every year.
How did your career lead you to serve on ICO’s board?
My journey back to ICO and its Board began because of the influence of my mentor Dr. Bernard Nevel. Dr. Nevel and I felt that our clinic would provide an excellent environment for fourth-year ICO students to develop their already strong clinical skills. Since our practice sees a great deal of ocular emergencies and pathology cases, we knew that our patient population would help ICO students develop into highly qualified, clinical optometrists, staying true to their mission.
ICO students impress our doctors each and every day. They have clearly distinguished themselves from students of other programs that we have been affiliated with within the past.
Our optometrists and ophthalmologists always know when a student is from ICO by the quality of their character and their knowledge base.
Dr. Nevel also influenced me through his example of generous stewardship. Each year, without exception, he would make a financial contribution to ICO. He made it a yearly habit. He never once asked if I was giving back to ICO, he just led by example.
After working with the ICO students at our externship site and seeing the great work that Dr. Colip and his administration were doing, I decided to follow Dr. Nevel’s lead and start making regular contributions to ICO. I am grateful for the opportunity that ICO has provided me with a fulfilling career that has given me the opportunity to help so many patients, provide for my family, and give my life meaning and purpose.
How can ICO uniquely serve today’s practitioners?
We never stop learning after we leave ICO. One of the best ways we can support ICO is by taking advantage of their many lifelong learning opportunities. ICO offers several COPE-approved CE courses each year, such as Residents' Day and Homecoming CE, offered both in person and virtually. It’s a great way to meet our CE requirements while uniquely supporting our college.
Do you have a call to action for ICO alumni?
My call to action for ICO alumni would be this—challenge yourself to mentor at least one student per year who is considering optometry and guide them to the Illinois College of Optometry. It doesn’t cost much other than your time, but this modest investment can yield significant returns by leaving a great legacy of ICO optometrists who will help reshape their patients, their communities, and our world. This has been my call to action, and the greatest success I have had in my life is the joy that comes from helping others become successful.