Midwestern University opens new Chicago College of Optometry

Midwestern University announced the establishment of the Chicago College of Optometry as a part of its Downers Grove Campus, according to an announcement on its website.

The university received approval to begin offering the new Doctor of Optometry professional degree program from both the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.

According to the announcement, the university plans to launch an extensive public awareness and recruitment campaign over the next 18 months. It also plans to construct a new state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory facility on the academic campus.

The inaugural class will consist of 60 students and begin in the fall of 2017. The optometry school will offer a low student-to-faculty ratio, and students will have opportunities to work with faculty members and provide services at the Midwestern University Eye Institute, the university said.

Additionally, the university announced the appointment of Sunny M. Sanders, OD, FAAO, as the dean of the new college. Sanders previously served the university as an associate dean and was an associate professor of the Arizona College of Optometry on the Glendale campus.

“Dr. Sanders has extensive academic and clinical experiences, and we are very pleased that she has accepted this new position as we continue to develop the Downers Grove optometry program,” Kathleen H. Goeppinger, PhD, president and CEO of Midwestern University, said in the posted announcement.