John Baker

John Baker is an Associate Professor of Optometry and Associate Dean for Education at the Illinois College of Optometry, with over 30 years of continuous faculty service (1985-2011, 2012-present) dedicated to advancing optometric clinical education and primary care training.

His academic credentials include:

• BS from Binghamton University (1979)
• OD from Pennsylvania College of Optometry (1984)
• Primary Care Residency at The Eye Institute, Philadelphia (1985)
• MSEd from Northern Illinois University (1999)

Dr. Baker specializes in primary care optometry and educational methodology, having held pivotal roles including Chief of Primary Care Module, Residency Coordinator, and Director of Residency Programs. His work emphasizes early clinical exposure and competency-based training for optometry students.

His accolades include multiple 2017 honors:

• Cribb Leadership & Service Award
• Faculty Scholarship
• Polly Flink Eastland Memorial Award
• Richard J. O’Brien II Memorial Award
• Summa Cum Laude Honors
• Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society (2017–present)
• Wildermuth Foundation Scholarship (2016)
• Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society (2014–2017)
• Tomb & Key Honor Society (2014–2017)

In his current deanship, he integrates didactic and clinical education to prepare students for real-world optometric practice through structured patient care experiences.