Our
Doctors
Dr. Marvin
"Mel" H. Heimlich is our senior doctor. He attended the University
of Illinois UC and graduated Cum Laude from the Illinois College of Optometry
in 1981. He has held memberships in Beta Sigma Kappa and Tomb & Key
Honor Fraternities in Optometry. Dr. Heimlich also holds memberships
in the the American Optometric Association (AOA), the Illinois Optometric
Association (IOA), National Eye Research Foundation (NERF), National Academy
of Sports Vision (NASV), Contact Lens and Cornea Section of the AOA and
the Sports Vision Section of the AOA.
Dr. Heimlich has served as a consultant to Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Illinois, a consultant and expert witness in Optometry for a Chicago based law firm, Chief of Optometry for the Michael Reese Hospital Health Plan and later the Humana Health Plans and was the team optometrist for the Chicago Bears Football Club from 1984-1999 (during the great superbowl season of 1985)
Dr. Heimlich specializes in complex contact lens design, prescribing and fitting of keratoconus, corneal grafts and corneal refractive therapy ("Paragon CRT"), "LASIK" and cataract surgery co-management, sports vision and in general family optometric practice with an emphasis in pediatrics and functional vision.
Dr. Heimlich and his wife Susan have two children, Matthew and Sarah and their Yellow Labrador Retriever "Oakley". In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, golf, skiing, football, and spending time with his family.
Dr
Jeri Prybell joined our staff in 2005. She earned her B.A. in Biology
from Lake Forest College in 1986 and her Doctor of Optometry degree in
1991 from the Illinois College of Optometry. She earned high honors in
Primary Care Optometry as well as in Pediatric and Binocular Vision while
at ICO. Dr. Prybell specializes in primary care optometry, contact lenses,
pediatric vision, LASIK co-management and in the treatment and management
of ocular disease. She holds memberships in both the AOA and IOA.
Originally from Gurnee, IL, Dr Prybell has also lived in Madison, WI and
Billings, MT. She and her husband Joe have four children between them
- Beki, Alex, Vicki and Ethan. Dr. Prybell enjoys working with stained
glass, hiking, playing the cello, travel and spending time with her family.
Dr.
Kathleen T. Charo joined our staff in 2007 after graduating Suma Cum Laude
from the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO). She has been awarded memberships
in the Tomb and Key and Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Societies for academic
excellence. She is also a member of the American Optometric Association
and the Illinois Optometric Association. Dr. Charo received her Bachelor's
degree in Chemical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1997 and was a computer programmer prior to going to ICO.
Dr. Charo is from the Chicagoland area, and is married to her high school
sweetheart, Satish, who is a pediatrician in Arlington Heights. They are
the proud parents of twin boys, Ethan and Justin. Dr. Charo enjoys traveling,
running, skiing, and spending time with her family.
Dr. Blake Dowell joined our practice in September 2009, following his graduation from Indiana University School of Optometry. He is originally from the sunflower state, where he earned his Bachelor of General Studies in Human Biology from the University of Kansas. Dr. Dowell performed his externship training at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, Indiana University Eye Care Center in Indianapolis, Indiana University Atwater Eye Care Center in Bloomington, and The University of Nebraska Medical Center of Ophthalmology in Omaha. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), the contact lens and cornea section of the AOA, and the Illinois Optometric Association (IOA).
Dr. Dowell enjoys helping patients and is committed to providing the highest quality of full scope vision and health care for you and your family. He enjoys running, attending music concerts, spending time with his girlfriend, friends and family, and rooting for his almamater, “Jayhawks” during basketball season!