On January 15, eye care providers, faculty, and staff from UW Health and the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (UW DOVS) celebrated the opening of a newly renovated clinic at 1 South Park Street in Madison, WI. The event marked a major milestone in expanding access to high-quality vision care for patients across the region.
“Vision care transforms lives,” said Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, FACS, dean of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. “Yet in so many major health systems, it’s treated as an afterthought. Here, though, the commitment is unmistakable—from the new optical shop to the thoughtfully designed clinic spaces.”
The renovation brings more than 13,000 square feet of upgraded clinical space to the fourth floor. The redesigned layout features six care “pods,” each with four exam rooms, dedicated testing and imaging rooms, and a team meeting area. The expansion also includes a laser room, two procedure rooms, and a modern optical shop—creating a seamless, patient-centered environment.
According to Terri Young, MD, MBA, Chair of the UW DOVS, the design reflects a belief that exceptional care depends not only on advanced technology, but also on the physical workspace, culture, and relationships that shape the patient and staff experience.
“Your workspace helps you focus and function,” said Dr. Young. “Your workplace helps you feel connected and valued. Many companies invest in one and ignore the other. They may design fancy office spaces but ignore employee feedback. Or they focus on good management but don’t provide quiet areas for focused work. The truth is: people need both. And we have that in spades at UW Health.”
The expansion comes at a pivotal moment for the department. In 2018, providers performed 5,553 surgeries and recorded 113,860 patient visits. By 2025, those numbers had grown to 7,982 surgeries and 135,875 patient visits—a reflection of both rising demand and the department’s growing reputation for excellence.
“The demand for UW Health ophthalmology continues to grow,” said Paul Zellmer, MHA, director of UW Health ambulatory operations. “This clinic expansion, including our beautiful optical shop, is designed with one purpose—increasing access for our patients to the remarkable care that our entire ophthalmology team provides every day.”
According to Zellmer, the recent expansion will eventually support 30,000 additional patient visits per year.
But the momentum isn’t stopping here. The next phase is underway at East Clinic, where an additional 10 exam rooms are planned. That expansion is anticipated to be completed later this year.
Dr. Young credits collaboration between UW Health and the UW DOVS with making the expansion possible.
“It takes a village to build a village,” she said.