When he locks up Friday, July 26, 2013, Dr. David C. Jennings closes the door on his optometrist career of 38 years. His wife, Julie, is retiring after 27 years. Of his eight staff, all but Julie will continue in the practice of Dr. Bradley R. Yaklich at a new location.
Yaklich and his wife Elizabeth are renovating office spaces at 626 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL. Vision Source Morrison is expected to open Tuesday, August 6.
To celebrate their life change, the Jenningses will be “RV’ing and 4-Wheeling in Colorado and Arizona for the next couple weeks.” Daughters Angela McKinnon and Jill Jennings-Golich live in Westminster, CO.
He looks forward to “do[ing] some traveling” and not having a definite schedule.
David Jennings moved to Morrison at the age of two, when his father began work with General Electric Company. He chose his successful profession by accident.
“I was always going to be a dentist,” he stated. However, while in college, a friend said he was “going to optometry school” and that Jennings “ought to come, too.” Jennings added, “I haven’t regretted [that decision. Optometry has] been very good to me.”
What was the most arduous aspect of his medical career? “Fighting with insurance companies. I won’t miss that a bit!”
He will miss his patients. He described a grade school boy who told him, “I’m going to miss you, Dr. Jennings.” He was quiet for a moment.
“I really liked the medical aspect of optometry–diagnosing and treating glaucoma, following up retinal problems like macular degeneration, treatment of dry eyes, and allergies. Unfortunately, it’s getting to be a big problem for everybody as we get older.”
He treated patients from newborn to 100 years old. “I do more in the 60-and-over [group], which also is the age group that has more eye problems.”
A new instrument improved his diagnoses of eye disease in the retina. The Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph takes a picture of the inside of the eye and does a CT scan of the tissue at the same time. If caught early, improved treatment can prolong the patient’s vision. That is the essence of being a doctor.
In 2005, he and Julie celebrated the 30-year anniversary of the business. He stated then, “Thank you for continuing to allow me to care for you.” On Thursday, July 25, his parting words were similar.
“I’m very appreciative of the support of the community for 38 years. I think I’ve found a good replacement.”
Area vision patients have been in good hands for nearly four decades and remain so. Drs. Jennings and Yaklich are shown below.
