diff --git a/monai/transforms/utils.py b/monai/transforms/utils.py
index 4bfb8e3edd..6c40fed3fe 100644
--- a/monai/transforms/utils.py
+++ b/monai/transforms/utils.py
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@
 cp, has_cp = optional_import("cupy")
 cp_ndarray, _ = optional_import("cupy", name="ndarray")
 exposure, has_skimage = optional_import("skimage.exposure")
+# NOTE: cucim is deliberately NOT imported at module level.
+# Module-level cucim imports caused very slow import times and other buggy behaviour.
+# Keep cucim imports inside the functions that need them.
 
 __all__ = [
     "allow_missing_keys_mode",
diff --git a/monai/utils/module.py b/monai/utils/module.py
index a64f73cd6b..c8851714ce 100644
--- a/monai/utils/module.py
+++ b/monai/utils/module.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import pdb
 import re
 import sys
+import traceback as traceback_mod
 import warnings
 from collections.abc import Callable, Collection, Hashable, Iterable, Mapping
 from functools import partial, wraps
@@ -368,8 +369,9 @@ def optional_import(
         OptionalImportError: from torch.nn.functional import conv1d (requires version '42' by 'min_version').
     """
 
-    tb = None
+    had_exception = False
     exception_str = ""
+    tb_str = ""
     if name:
         actual_cmd = f"from {module} import {name}"
     else:
@@ -384,8 +386,12 @@ def optional_import(
         if name:  # user specified to load class/function/... from the module
             the_module = getattr(the_module, name)
     except Exception as import_exception:  # any exceptions during import
-        tb = import_exception.__traceback__
+        tb_str = "".join(
+            traceback_mod.format_exception(type(import_exception), import_exception, import_exception.__traceback__)
+        )
+        import_exception.__traceback__ = None
         exception_str = f"{import_exception}"
+        had_exception = True
     else:  # found the module
         if version_args and version_checker(pkg, f"{version}", version_args):
             return the_module, True
@@ -394,7 +400,7 @@ def optional_import(
 
     # preparing lazy error message
     msg = descriptor.format(actual_cmd)
-    if version and tb is None:  # a pure version issue
+    if version and not had_exception:  # a pure version issue
         msg += f" (requires '{module} {version}' by '{version_checker.__name__}')"
     if exception_str:
         msg += f" ({exception_str})"
@@ -407,10 +413,9 @@ def __init__(self, *_args, **_kwargs):
                 + "\n\nFor details about installing the optional dependencies, please visit:"
                 + "\n    https://monai.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation.html#installing-the-recommended-dependencies"
             )
-            if tb is None:
-                self._exception = OptionalImportError(_default_msg)
-            else:
-                self._exception = OptionalImportError(_default_msg).with_traceback(tb)
+            if tb_str:
+                _default_msg += f"\n\nOriginal traceback:\n{tb_str}"
+            self._exception = OptionalImportError(_default_msg)
 
         def __getattr__(self, name):
             """
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_optional_import.py b/tests/utils/test_optional_import.py
index 2f640f88d0..b5bc914c92 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_optional_import.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_optional_import.py
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import gc
 import unittest
+import weakref
 
 from parameterized import parameterized
 
@@ -75,6 +77,34 @@ def versioning(module, ver, a):
         nn, flag = optional_import("torch", "1.1", version_checker=versioning, name="nn", version_args=test_args)
         self.assertTrue(flag)
 
+    def test_no_traceback_leak(self):
+        """Verify optional_import does not retain references to stack frames (issue #7480)."""
+
+        class _Marker:
+            pass
+
+        def _do_import():
+            marker = _Marker()
+            ref = weakref.ref(marker)
+            # Call optional_import for a module that does not exist.
+            # If the traceback is leaked, `marker` stays alive via frame references.
+            _mod, flag = optional_import("nonexistent_module_for_leak_test")
+            self.assertFalse(flag)
+            return ref
+
+        ref = _do_import()
+        gc.collect()
+        self.assertIsNone(ref(), "optional_import is leaking frame references via traceback")
+
+    def test_failed_import_shows_traceback_string(self):
+        """Verify the error message includes the original traceback as a string."""
+        mod, flag = optional_import("nonexistent_module_for_tb_test")
+        self.assertFalse(flag)
+        with self.assertRaises(OptionalImportError) as ctx:
+            _ = mod.something
+        self.assertIn("Original traceback", str(ctx.exception))
+        self.assertIn("ModuleNotFoundError", str(ctx.exception))
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()