Academic

Tahira Bedgood loves Chicago and left the city to pursue her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at Stanford University. While an undergrad, she performed research on monoclonal antibodies to characterize age-related changes in the crystallins of the ocular lens. After graduation, she returned to her hometown to work with her mother who was an Optometrist at Vision Discovery. Eventually, Mrs. Bedgood started teaching in the Ophthalmic Technician program at Triton College. There, she taught Ocular Pharmacology, Ophthalmic Optics, Fields Testing, and Ophthalmic Dispensing.  In 2004, she joined the faculty of ICO as the Educational Coordinator in Optical Services.  Subsequently, being Ophthalmic Optics Laboratory Coordinator was added to her responsibilities and in 2011, she was promoted to Director of Education in Optical Services. Mrs. Bedgood completed her Master of Science in Health Professions Education at Rosalind Franklin University to more effectively educate patients and their families while focusing on staff/faculty training. She can be found advocating for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and embedding Health Equity into the curriculum, policies, and procedures of the Illinois Eye Institute.