VA Illiana Health Care System

All VA's nationwide are requiring the COVID-19 Vaccination. This mandate has been established by the national VHA Office of Academic Affiliations in conjunction with the CDC, as it has been added to the CDC guidelines web site: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html 

This does not include boosters, just the initial two dose. However, if you received the single dose of J&J, we are requiring at least one booster. Exemptions must be approved through the VA well in advance before the students rotation. 

Much like the Influenza vaccine, all Health Professions Trainees (HPT) training in a VA facility must be fully vaccinated or have an exemption filed (medical or religious) with the Office of the Designated Education Officer at the VA using the following VA Form 10-263.

Please contact Dr. Aimee Beluch 6 weeks prior to the beginning of your rotation to verify dates, times, directions, parking, and any other information.   Please check with the site for specific health testing requirements.

Contact Person:

Aimee Beluch, OD, FAAO

Email: [email protected] 

Clinical Teaching Faculty:

• Aimee Beluch, OD, FAAO
• Guadalupe Mejia, OD, FAAO
• Jane Lakayil-Armstrong, OD
• William Dillon, OD/DO
• Chad Hawkins, OD

Support Staff:

• 3 Optometric technicians
• 2 Opticianas
• 2 Office Staff Personnel
• many Medical records personnel

Monday - Friday   7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Number of pateints seen by extern  per day: 5-9

The goal of our program is to prepare all students to be the best clinicians in this wonderful field of optometry and deliver high quality eye care to Veterans of diverse communities including adults and elderly, whom may be in-patient, homeless, and/or have drug or alcohol abuse. We expect every provider and student clinician to treat all patients with respect and professionalism. Our objective is to teach students how to have proper doctor-patient communication and develop and make ethical/social/economic decisions in and often complex ocular and systemic disease. We use state-of-the art imaging technology and ophthalmology to aid in clinical decision making and prepare students to be become successful optomtrists in practice. Special emphasis is placed on interpretation of clinical testing and formulation of evidence-based plans. Students have access to an expansive medical record, allowing better understandingof interdisciplinary care and whole health. Our providers will assist students through all ancillary testing, technical skills, and flow of an exam. Students are expected to share their comfort level, goals, and expectations at the start of the rotation.

Housing is provided for free to the extern by the facility

Danville, IL

pop: 33,000

About a 1 hour drive to Indianapolis, In and 2.5 hour drive to Chicago, IL.

• Zeiss Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer
• OCT GDX
• Macro Bat 200D
• i-care
• tonopen
• Retinomax K-plus 5 and KR-8800 autorefractor
• Keeler BIO
• 90D, 78D, 90D Fundus lenses
• Topcon Aladdin Lens Biometer
• DGH Scanmate Flex B-Scan/UBM

• Psychology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Rehabilitative Medicine
• Dentistry
• Neurology
• Radiology
• Labratory
• Mental Health
• Podiatry, ER-Urgent Care
• Diabetes
• Dispensing Pharmacy
• Clinical Pharmacy

• Internet Access Available
• Cases are discussed at the end of the day
• Students have the opportunity to observe and assist the resident with low vision and specialty contact lens cases per the student's desire. Students will also observe ophthalmology on laser and surgeries. If students want to observe ophthalmology further, we have strong connections with a glaucoma specialist at the Indianapolis VA that allows students to observe if time allows.