Timothy T. McMahon, OD, FAAO will spearhead efforts by the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences to build a network of optometry and ophthalmology partnerships in his role as the first Vice Chair for Optometry and Optometric Network Development. Dr. McMahon has established a collaboration with the Illinois College of Optometry that has provided consultation opportunities and new surgical cases for Department physicians.
Dr. McMahon is well respected in both optometric and ophthalmic circles, in large part because of his significant research contributions over the years in the areas of medically necessary contact lenses, corneal topography and anterior segment diseases. He served as principal investigator or co-investigator for a number federally funded research projects, including the multi-center Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation in Keratoconus (CLEK) Study funded by the National Eye Institute. He served on the CLEK Study Executive Committee. He has lectured nationally and internationally on his research findings and has widely published. Presently, he serves on the editorial board for the journals Cornea and Eye & Contact Lens and is a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration in the Division of Ophthalmic Devices.
Dr. McMahon is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and a Diplomate in the Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies. Diplomate status is accorded to fewer than 10% of AAO members. The AAO is one of many professional organizations in which Dr. McMahon has held leadership positions over the years. Since 2009 he has served as a member of the AAO Board of Directors. In 2000 Dr. McMahon was named a Distinguished Clinical Fellow by the National Academies of Practice. He is the recipient of an Achievement Award from the American Optometric Association and in 2013 Dr. McMahon received Board Certification in Medical Optometry.
Dr. McMahon graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1980 and, after completing a residency at the Kansas City Veterans Administration Medical Center, he joined the Department as an Assistant Professor. In 2001 he attained tenure and was promoted to Professor of Ophthalmology. In 2010, Dr. McMahon left the Department to take on the position of Professor and Associate Director of Clinical Affairs at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in Ontario, Canada. He returned to UIC in late 2011.
Dr. McMahon joins Mahnaz Shahidi, PhD, vice chair for research, Joel Sugar, MD, vice chair for clinical operations, and William Mieler, MD, interim department head and vice chair for education.