He returned to his Michiana roots and began practice in South Bend in 1982. 

Although his clinical practice was busy, Dr. Hauch missed academia and returned to school.  He received an MBA from IUSB in 1993.  He began matriculating at Notre Dame Law School, eventually receiving a J.D. from Newport University, Newport, California in 2000.   Dr. Hauch has completed a doctorate in education at California Coast University.  His dissertation is entitled,  “Regressed ROP Stage I:  Is There a Relationship with Cognitive Learning Difficulties?” 

In addition to being one of the first ophthalmologists to treat Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), he was also involved in The Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) as well as being among the first to do retina and vitreous surgery in an outpatient setting, a practice which is now standard. 

Dr. Hauch is a clinical instructor of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University, a medical staff officer at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the    Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the American College of Physician Executives.   

Dr. Hauch was awarded national registration in “ Who’s Who in America” in 1999, the Consumer’s Research Council of America designation of “America’s Top Ophthalmologists” 2005, 2006, and 2007 Editions, medical honoree of the March of Dimes in 2005 for his work in ROP, and recently nominated “International Health Professional of the Year, 2006” by The International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England.