Seeing the World - Illinois College of Optometry

a second look
Pamela Lowe
current position: Owner/
President of Professional Eye Care Center,
Inc. a private practice on Chicago’s Northwest
side
family life: Mother of two sons:
Cody, 20, and Trevor, 15
ico class of: 1988
ico leadership
circle: Bronze Member
THEN
When and how did you
decide to pursue a career in
optometry?
I was pre-med in college and majored in mathematics
and I really enjoyed the optics I learned in physics. I applied
to medical and optometry school and had to make a decision
on my ultimate career goals. I was newly married and knew
I wanted to eventually start a family; I decided optometry
was a healthcare profession that fit into the lifestyle that
would be best for my family’s future.
Why did you choose ICO?
ICO was the only choice for me. I was born, raised
and educated in Chicago and I didn’t want to start my
professional career anywhere else. The icing on the cake
28 / Summer 2011 / ICO MATTERS
NOW
What kind of work do you do now?
In 1992, I decided to acquire my own
practice, so I purchased a practice from
a retiring OD on the northwest side of
Chicago. After 15 years in the original
1,900-square-foot practice location, we
had grown nicely and just didn’t have the
space to maintain the quality of practice
we wanted to offer our patients. In 2007,
we moved Professional Eye Care Center
to a larger, 5,400-square-foot facility. We
offer our patients the best in primary eye
care by investing in the latest technologies
to detect, treat and enhance our patients’
ocular health and vision.
How are you involved with ICO now?
I serve on ICO’s Alumni Council and get
back to campus occasionally to give CE
lectures or speak with students. Our office
also is an externship site for fourth-year
students and this summer we will host ICO’s
Cornea and Contact Lens resident one day
a week so they can gain insight into the
workings of private practice as part of their
training.
Looking back, how did choosing ICO for your education influence the rest
of your career?
ICO was the best investment I made as a foundation for my optometric
career. I received a top-notch education with excellent clinical
experiences that prepared me well for patient management. By
maintaining ties with the College, I have been able to network
with faculty, staff and fellow colleagues at a higher level; those
relationships are always beneficial at keeping one’s career strong.
was the fact that ICO was the oldest and largest optometry
school in the nation with the best reputation, so lucky for me
Chicago was my home!
What was your best memory of your time at ICO?
Along with the great patient clinical interactions, my best
memory of my time at ICO was the awesome Blind Spot
parties I shared with my fellow classmates. We shared a
special bond; we worked hard at our studies and played hard
to release some steam!
What did you do right after graduation?
I went into private practice as an associate with a Chicago
area doctor who had a two-office private practice in the
northwest suburbs.