BUDGET MINDED: - Illinois College of Optometry

Because the last thing
Daum wants is to lose
strength in the faculty.
“Our faculty work at the
Olympic level,” he says.
“The parallel between
world-class effort and
accomplishment is right
here. Like the athletes, our
faculty do outrageously
incredible things. Teaching
is a major commitment,
but they are also engaged
in service – to the institution,
to the public, to the
profession. Our faculty are
vividly engaged in an
almost unbelievable array
of those activities. They
Dr. David Lee presents a lecture. are on committees, inside
the College, outside the
College in the city and state, nationally and internationally. They
make things happen.”
One thing they have made happen is teaching efficiencies. Daum
says the faculty are actively increasing its capabilities, such as
through the use of technology, and that has a major impact on the
institution and the budget. “If you figure out ways to do things
more efficiently, it has a good result in itself.” he says. “And when
that’s institution-wide, it makes a big difference. The faculty are
coming to grips with how to use technology to the fullest extent, to
make student contact as productive and efficient as possible.
Teaching is such an
interesting kind of animal,
and there are certain
things you can’t get past.
But there are ways to be
more productive and the
faculty are stepping up.”
94
total faculty,
full- and part-time
He continues, “ICO’s
faculty are typically
bright, talented, creative,
%
dedicated people. And,
there are lots of exceptionally
brilliant senior
faculty, who are, to a
person, very giving and
mentoring. New faculty
who come here find it wonderful
to have these experienced, senior faculty whose goal is to help
others excel. Dr. Len Messner is a perfect example of someone who
helps the new people coming up. He’s one of many.”
56of faculty are alumni
Wyles concurs. “I co-teach Ocular Disease III, or, ‘Retina’ as we call
it, with Dr. Messner. He is a great mentor. When I came, he essentially
said, ‘Here are my resources.’ Working with him has been one
of the things I enjoy the most here.”
That and the clinic. “Our clinic is such a gold mine for education,”
she says. “When patients come in with unique conditions, you want
to teach, you want to call everyone in. Having been other places, I
realize how lucky we are here.”
Drs. Renee Reeder (r) and Shana Brafman, work with third-year student, Ryan Socwell, in clinic.
ICO MATTERS FALL 2008
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