Please also join us in welcoming Katherine (Kate) Simko, O.D. as our 2024-25 Optometric Fellow! Dr. Simko is from Sioux Falls, SD. She graduated from the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) in May 2024. She previously earned a Bachelor of Health Science with Magna Cum Laude honors from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she emphasized pre-optometry.
Dr. Simko’s clinical training at ICO has equipped her with diverse skills across multiple disciplines, including advanced care glaucoma, urgent care, cornea/specialty contact lens, neuro-ophthalmic, pediatrics/binocular vision, and primary care. She has also gained hands-on experience managing complex anterior segment diseases and providing comprehensive eye care through internships at Vance Thompson Vision, MyEyeDr, and the William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center.
In addition to her clinical experience, Dr. Simko has served as a teaching assistant and tutor at ICO, demonstrating her commitment to education and mentorship. She has been involved in research projects, including case reports and studies on visual acuity tests in myopic and non-myopic children, with her work being presented at notable conferences.
Dr. Simko’s professional involvement extends to leadership roles, such as serving as President of the ICO Cornea and Contact Lens Society, where she organized board meetings and coordinated symposia. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
In her spare time, Dr. Simko enjoys traveling, wake surfing in the summer and skiing in the winter, and spending time with friends and family.
Minnesota Eye Consultants is proud to offer patients convenient access to eye care across the Twin Cities. We have 5 locations, each with an onsite ambulatory surgery center (ASC).
