Inspiration of all kinds can blossom in optometry school. For Jenny Lau, OD ’18, ICO provided direction for both her career and art. Personal experience with severe dry eye as well as a genuine interest in ocular disease drove Dr. Lau toward medical optometry. When the Chicago market was not a fit, she accepted a role at Mayo Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where she is establishing a dry eye clinic. Leading a practice where patients like her can be internally referred is something Dr. Lau “always wanted to do.”

Dr. Lau remembers Dr. T’s anatomy class being “really awesome,” an artistic catalyst that “kickstarted [her] creative side.” Dr. Lau’s first art piece since undergrad depicted the human brain. Eau Claire ended up being the perfect location for her, full of theatre, farmers’ markets, and art galleries.

Dr. Lau has completed several successful art collections. They have names grounded in optometry, such as ArtSEE and NerdOD. The profession is often at the front of what she creates. As her clinic and body of artistic work simultaneously expand, we followed Dr. Lau for a day in Eau Clair.