Kashifa Ansari, OD, always knew she wanted to pursue a career in health care. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, she was fascinated by the idea of helping others. But it wasn’t until middle school that she seriously considered optometry. A pivotal moment came when she stumbled upon a student blog from the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) during a casual Google search. The students’ experiences at ICO resonated deeply with her—she could see herself following in their footsteps.
A DEFINING MOMENT
The final decision to pursue optometry came during Dr. Ansari’s senior class trip to Colorado. “I took a train ride to the top of a mountain in Colorado Springs,” she recalls. “We had the opportunity to climb, and when I got to the top, all I could see for miles were trees and snow-capped mountain peaks.” For a girl from the flatlands of Illinois, the view was breathtaking. It was in that moment, surrounded by the raw beauty of nature, that Dr. Ansari realized her true calling: “I wanted to help others see the beauty that I can see.”
STARTING THE JOURNEY
Dr. Ansari began her journey by earning a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in accounting from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. She was actively involved in the pre-optometry club, where a hands-on experience with eye dissection solidified her interest. “I was in awe of all the structures inside the eye,” she says. When class was dismissed, she called her mom with the news. “I told her that I had found my dream job. Optometry was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
In addition to her studies, Dr. Ansari worked as a technician at LensCrafters and interned at a local arboretum in education and research. While she enjoyed her time at the arboretum, her enthusiasm for patient interaction and eye care pulled her focus toward a career in optometry.
It wasn’t until she took on roles as a teaching assistant and tutor during her time at ICO that she discovered a newfound passion for academia. She was also interested in ocular disease and low vision, eventually completing her residency in both. “Residency training is key to not only expanding your knowledge exponentially in a short amount of time, but it also opens doors for a wide range of practice modalities,” she says.
RETURNING TO ICO
Returning to ICO as a clinical instructor felt like coming full circle for Dr. Ansari. “ICO has always been my home, and the people here have a special place in my heart,” she says. The timing was perfect—ICO was looking for new, full-time faculty members, and Dr. Ansari was eager to begin her career in academia. After a series of interviews, including one with the associate dean for faculty, she was offered the position and officially started on August 1, just one year after graduating from ICO in 2023.
Today, Dr. Ansari is a clinical instructor for second- through fourth-year students. “I find my job extremely rewarding and look forward to coming to the clinic every day,” she says. She currently precepts students in urgent care clinic, contact lens clinic and primary care clinic. Her love for the field is constantly fueled by her interactions with students. “I love the excitement that students get from learning new things or catching a difficult find on a patient. That ‘aha!’ moment is what drives me to do more.”
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF EYE CARE
As a relatively recent graduate, Dr. Ansari vividly remembers how her instructors at ICO shaped her professional journey. “My attendings often reassured me to help me gain confidence but also gave me tough love when needed,” she reflects. Now, she strives to be the same kind of mentor to her students. She emphasizes the importance of adapting her teaching style to each student’s unique personality, helping them grow without being too hard on themselves. “I had a great support system of faculty members and mentors at ICO who saw the spark in me and encouraged me,” she says.
Dr. Ansari works with students at ICO.
Currently, Dr. Ansari works with three to four students per clinic session, across seven sessions per week. Her role in urgent care also allows her to collaborate with an ICO resident and fourth-year students, further enriching her teaching experience.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Ansari enjoys spending time with her family, taking walks, practicing yoga and exploring new restaurants. She’s also active on Instagram @dr.k.ansari, where she shares her journey as a Muslim female optometrist. Recently, she participated in the Chicago Vision Walk with the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Read Dr. Ansari’s first story with WO here—What Fasting Means for One OD Student.
