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.
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 Kansas - 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 friends and family, and rooting for his alma mater, “Jayhawks” during basketball season!
Dr. Magdalena Stec joined our practice in November 2010. She received her bachelor of science degree in biology from Loyola University of Chicago in 2003 and her doctorate of optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 2007.
Dr. Stec completed her clinical training at the Illinois Eye Institute, Boston Veteran Hospital and the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine at the University of Chicago.
She is an attending Optometrist at Children Memorial Hospital Division of Ophthalmology in Chicago and is working toward her fellowship within the American Academy of Optometry.
Dr. Stec specializes in pediatrics, low vision examination and treatment of patients with hereditary disorders, retinal dystrophies and visual neurorehabilitation of patients with acquired and traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Stec prescribes specialty contact lenses such as bifocal lenses, gas permeable lenses, hybrid lenses and lenses for keratoconus.
Dr. Stec is a recipient of multiple awards including a travel grant for a case presentation on Optometric Neurorehabilitation from the American Academy of Optometry, Student and Resident Research Award on Decision Making in Contact Lens Practice from the American Optometric Association and the Illinois College of Optometry Clinical Deans list.
Dr. Stec is a member of the American Optometric Association, Illinois Optometric Association, College of Optometrists in Vision Development, InfantSEE Program, and Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness.
She is active in the community by volunteering at the Community Health Clinic in Chicago.
Dr. Stec is fluent in Polish. She and her husband are proud parents of their son Andrew. In their free time, they enjoy travel, hiking and rock climbing.
Dr
Jeri Prybell has left our office and we know you join us in wishing her well.