NewOptometrist.ca puts the spotlight on Zero to Five Pathfinders

PathFinder Spotlight:

Jocelyn Leung

Optometry:
University of Waterloo, 2019 Graduating Class

By Jaclyn Chang, OD

Jaclyn:  Tell us about your education and internship experiences.

Jocelyn:  I graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2019, and I currently live and practice in Toronto, which is also where I grew up. I was fortunate enough to have a quite diverse experience during my internships, and that gave me a different perspective on optometry. These included a single doctor private clinic, a multi-doctor private clinic, and a clinic that specialized in dry eye therapy, glaucoma co-management, and myopia control.

Jaclyn:  Is there an area of optometry that you’re particularly interested in right now?

Jocelyn:  I really like dry eye therapy. It’s a growing field in research and new treatment options, which changes the way that we manage our patients. Dry eye is very, very common nowadays with device usage and screen time, and the treatment is personalized for each patient. This gives us the opportunity to talk to our patients and help them figure out the status of their eye health and best treatment. I am also interested in aesthetic optometry, such as IPL and RF therapy, which pairs up nicely with dry eye.

Myopia control is another area of interest of mine as myopia becomes more prevalent globally. The treatment options are soft contact lenses, ortho-K, atropine, and specialty spectacle lenses. This area of optometry, like dry eye, also involves a personalized plan for the patient and is one of the reasons I’m drawn to it as a specialty.

Jaclyn:  How was your start in optometry – can we talk about your first day of work?

Jocelyn:  My first day of work was in September in 2019, and the first day is definitely nerve wracking because it’s your first day seeing real patients on your own. You have a responsibility to give them the best vision you can, and it’s also a new setting.

To mitigate that stress in the beginning, I would recommend going into the office ahead of time before you see patients, whether it’s a few hours or a day before. Learn the EMR, equipment, fees, the staff’s names and roles they play in the office. If the office is dispensing, learn the type of frame lines that you carry and the lenses you offer so you can have that conversation with your patients. For referrals, ask the other associates and the owner of the practice who they typically refer to for cataract surgery, or even other specialties like vision therapy within optometry. Familiarizing yourself with the names of other healthcare professionals in the area, such as pharmacists and family doctors, is very helpful.

There’s also no need to jam-pack your schedule the first day. Take your time with the patients and make sure that everything in terms of procedure is seamless, because you don’t want show that it’s your first day at work to the patient.

Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself – you’ve been trained for this. Do your best and enjoy that you’ve picked a great profession and are just at the start of an amazing career.

Jaclyn:  I can definitely relate to that first day feeling! Of course, a lot has changed since then. How have or will things change with COVID?

Jocelyn:  With COVID, people are more conservative about traveling and going to do things in person. Since people are staying at home more, convenience is a big thing for everybody. We have one day Amazon shipping, and everything is at our fingertips through apps and the internet.

Utilizing technology is so important post-COVID. Having an online store for contact lenses, drops, even sunglasses is becoming an essential. Communicating via email or text also helps with patient convenience and ensures patients aren’t feeling that they’re forgotten after COVID.

Tele-health was big during the first lockdown. Tele-health can be a great platform to discuss care – to discuss testing or visual field results instead of having the patient come in. However, there are also times you would want to see the physical eye to make a diagnosis.

Jaclyn:  Let’s switch a little bit from optometry and talk more about you! What do you do in your spare time? What are your hobbies?

Jocelyn:  Pre-COVID, I loved working out in the gym. I love weight training and powerlifting. Now I have a makeshift garage gym with some weights, but it’s not the same feeling. I do look forward to going back to the gym because it did help to de-stress and help me feel a bit more accomplished throughout the day.

I love travel – I already have a list as to where I want to go next. I want to go to Japan again. And I’m a big Disney fan, so I definitely want to go to Disney World.

Jaclyn:  What’s your favorite food?

Jocelyn:  Sushi! Good sushi with good quality fish is something that I really love and associate with good memories. Back in university, I used to go for sushi with my friends, and it was always a good time.

Jaclyn:  What’s your favorite TV show?

Jocelyn:  I love reality TV dating shows, but I also like intense storylines such as Game of Thrones, or any sort of action lines. I love Food Network shows that include traveling and eating different foods or cooking challenges.

Jaclyn:  Great to learn more about you! Thanks so much for taking the time to have this discussion with me.


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NewOptometrist.ca puts the spotlight on Zero to Five Pathfinders

PathFinder Spotlight:

Brian Yeung

Optometry:  Illinois College of Optometry (2013 – 2017) 

Undergraduate: Ryerson University: B. Sc.  – Biology (2008 – 2012)

Dr. Yeung is currently practicing in Ontario.

By Jaclyn Chang, OD

Before I completed my optometry degree at the University of Waterloo, I spent one year at the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) in Chicago. My next-door neighbor at the ICO residence was Brian Yeung. We’ve managed to keep in touch over the years and recently we had the chance to catch up. The following is the conversation we had:

Jaclyn:  Tell our audience about your background. Where did you go to undergrad? How did you get into optometry?

Brian:  I went to Ryerson for Biology, and I went through undergrad not knowing what I wanted to do.

I knew being in science, I would have to either go into some sort of medical profession or research. I realized very late in my last semester of fourth year that I didn’t like the research side of things – laboratories, testing, etc., so I decided to go the medical route. I then volunteered in various medical settings to help me figure out what I wanted to do.

I worked at my aunt’s pharmacy and volunteered with an optometrist. That’s when I realized that optometry could be a lifestyle for me. I liked that it was a nine to five occupation and I really enjoyed seeing how personable the optometrist was when dealing with patients.

Over the next year while I was doing the prerequisite courses for optometry school, I had paid work at the office where I had volunteered, dispensing and doing front desk work. I worked with the staff and met patients, and everyone was always so happy to be there.

Jaclyn:  How do you think that year that you had off translates to how you practice today?

Brian:  I’m an introvert but working at the front desk during that year pushed me to be more social and get out of my comfort zone. On the fly, I learned how to socially interact with people and make them feel comfortable because they’re there to get help from us. In a medical profession, interactions and the comfort levels of the doctor-patient relationship are so important.

I was also able to get a look at how the other side of the practice works as well, the admin stuff. I did OHIP remittance, sent error reports back, booked appointments, and answered phones. That taught me to appreciate what the front desk staff has to go through every day. I understand how frustrating it can be sometimes. Being a doctor now, I don’t feel that disconnect; I don’t want the staff to feel like there’s that disconnect.

Jaclyn:  What’s your favorite specialty within optometry?

Brian:  I’m the doctor that likes the social aspect of practicing. There’s maybe not a particular specialty that I’m really invested in at the moment, but if the situation calls for it, I’ll do what the patient needs.

When I first came out of school, I really enjoyed glaucoma, but there were some limitations with where I was working not having the technology available. Now, where I work in Oshawa, we do have a Humphrey field, OCT, and Optomap.

In Oshawa, we also have meibography and recently got a TempSure machine. It’s nice to be part of an office that has the ability to treat these things. Even if I’m not the one to do the treatments, I like being part of a network that allows me to refer to my colleagues.

I have a very personal relationship with dry eyes. At ICO, they did the full workup on me and found out I had pretty bad dry eyes. I even had Demodex at one point. They treated me for it; eventually they put me on Restasis and then Xiidra, when it came out. I did have the taste side effect from Xiidra so I ended up staying on Restasis for a year and realized I wasn’t needing artificial tears as much.  I went from six times a day to two.

Dry eye is a great specialty to be involved in within optometry because it affects a majority of people and it’s something we can treat. It’s definitely an area I can get more into in the future.

Jaclyn:  Do you have any advice from your work experience over these past couple of years that you can share with new optometrists?

Brian:  I’ve heard this and it’s the same thing I would tell others: Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t have all the answers. Patients come to you looking for advice and solutions, but at the same time, if you don’t know the solutions, don’t lie to them. Don’t hesitate to bring the patient back for a follow up, because it shows the patient that you care and you’re doing what you can to figure out the problem with them. Patients appreciate you more for your honesty.

I also wouldn’t necessarily worry about cost to the patient – if they have to come back and pay for a partial or a test, you’re doing what’s best for them. You’ve worked hard to earn your title as a doctor and patients come to you for a reason.

Also, make sure you always keep a good network of people around you to help you out. Don’t think that you’re the hero and know everything, as I said. If you have a good network of friends, optometrists, and online resources, make use of them.

Another piece of advice is to just be personable with your patients. Take the extra two minutes to talk to your patients. It’s not just, ‘Here’s the problem. Here’s the answer. Goodbye.’ Taking that one extra minute to even tell a joke and relax makes all the difference.

Jaclyn:  Can you tell our audience a little bit more about yourself? What’s your favorite food?

Brian:  Steak and potatoes, mostly steak, fried chicken too. It’s pretty much just any meat.

Jaclyn:  What are your hobbies? What do you do outside of optometry?

Brian:  I love cooking; you can see that on my Instagram. I love anything to do with food. You have to eat anyways, why not put some good stuff in you? I love the creative aspect of cooking. It’s very therapeutic. That’s my version of therapy. Cooking and eating brings me to my happy place.

I also play a lot of sports, and I’ve been working out a lot more when I’m at home, since I can’t go anywhere. I bought a kettlebell and that’s the best investment I’ve made.

Jaclyn:  What’s your favorite sport to watch?

Brian:  These days, the Leafs hockey because we’re doing well. A couple of years ago it was the Raptors because we won. All my life, first things first is baseball. I play baseball too.

Jaclyn:  What’s your favorite movie or a TV show, or both?

Brian:  I’d say Inception, but there’s too many others as well. I don’t have a favorite TV show, but I would say the Sherlock series is one of the better ones.

Jaclyn:  What’s your favorite place that you’ve traveled to? Or where would you want to travel to, when we can again?

Brian:  Southeast Asia – I definitely want to go. I’ve never been, but I want to go there because I know your money goes really far and there’s so much good food. I’m not allergic to anything. I love spicy foods, so I’m down to eat anything and everything there.

Jaclyn:  Thanks so much Brian! It was really to catch up and I really appreciate your time. I’m glad that after one year of school together we’re still friends, especially because we have so many similarities in the way we like to practice.


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NewOptometrist.ca puts the spotlight on Zero to Five Pathfinders

PathFinder Spotlight:

Dr. Dharani Devathasan

Dr. Devathasan received her B.Sc. (Biochemistry) and Doctor of Optometry degree from UW. She further trained at the Eye Foundation of Utah, where she focused on retinal diseases and glaucoma. In 2015, she served on the  Volunteer Optometric Services for Humanity (VOSH) mission team.

Dr. Devathasan has a special interest in contact lens fitting, myopia control and ocular disease.

When she is not busy working at the clinic  doing yoga,baking, working out or enjoying her time with her close friends and family. She loves the fast-paced environment that downtown Toronto embodies.

Why did you choose your field?

I chose optometry because I’ve always had a passion for healthcare and helping people. I enjoy working with others, so I would consider myself a people person.  I can’t imagine myself working a nine to five desk job. With optometry, I am able to help people better their day to day lives by improving their vision and give recommendations suited to their lifestyle. Furthermore, optometry is much more than vision; there have been numerous times I’ve diagnosed serious underlying systemic conditions in a routine eye exam. I believe in preventative healthcare and this field allows me to educate patients on measures they can take to lead a healthy lifestyle for their eyes as well as for their overall health.

What advice would you give a new grad today?

I was born and raised in Toronto and I couldn’t see myself working or living anywhere else. I knew deciding to practice in Toronto after graduating meant I would be working in a highly competitive region with some of the best optometrists in the province. I believe you should strive to practice the way you want and where you want. If you are driven and passionate, you can be successful anywhere. I am currently working at multiple practices which isn’t unheard of for a new grad working in Toronto. However, my long-term goal is to work at 1-2 practices and establish my patient base in predominantly one office. Patients will want to come back to see you if they had a memorable experience and received superior care. Figuring out where you want to work and in what setting can be tough, but being patient with the process while building your brand for the long term is key. It’s all about mindset and working towards your goal and not giving up!

What is something you have done in your practice to set you apart?

I try to take a few extra minutes to educate my patients. The most common feedback from my patients is that I am very thorough and I explain things well. I try to explain things in a way that is simple and easy to remember. I try to explain the significance of certain tests to help patients understand what I’m doing and for improved compliance of their treatment plan and management of their health conditions. For more complex cases, I write it down or email them a summary. This does take more time on my part but if it means the patient will remember and listen to the recommendations I’ve provided, it’s worth the extra effort.  I try to make the eye exam a memorable and positive experience for the patient, especially for those that are more anxious and worried about their eyes!

What’s your Favorite food? Favorite past-time/hobby?

It’s hard to pick one favourite food when I love food in general. I look forward to eating and I have a lot of guilty indulgences because of my sweet tooth. One of the perks of living in Toronto is accessibility to so much great food and its diversity. I love trying new restaurants and brunch spots. I have so many favourite restaurants in Toronto. Some of my favourite cuisines are Italian, Indian, Thai and Japanese. One silver lining of this pandemic for me was that I have discovered a new passion of mine, which is baking. I love baking sweets and sharing them with my family and friends. During the first lockdown when I was unable to work due to the shortage of PPE, I started baking one thing after another. I found it therapeutic and challenging to master complicated pastries and recipes. When I am not working, I am in the kitchen baking up a storm!

What would you do if you won 10 million dollars? What would you do with your practice?

If I won 10 million dollars, it would be truly life changing. The first thing I would do would be to help my family; I’m a first generation Canadian which comes with its challenges. My parents have sacrificed so much for my siblings and I so that we could have better opportunities. As a result, they spent most of their lives working tirelessly. I would want to give them the financial freedom they deserve. Furthermore, I would want to take it a step further and help some of my extended family in Sri Lanka and civilians who are less fortunate who were impacted by the civil war.

I would obviously reward myself as well by purchasing my dream house in Toronto with space for a home gym and huge kitchen to facilitate my passions outside of work, fitness and baking. I would start up a practice in the heart of Toronto where it’s deemed the riskiest and most saturated. I would work because I want to rather than because I need too. This practice would have the latest equipment and the most beautiful dispensary ranging from high end designer glasses to modestly priced glasses so that everyone is accounted for. My dream practice is one that is inclusive and offers the best service and care possible.

What is the best possible future discovery or invention in any field?

One of the greatest discoveries of all time would be the cure to cancer. Working in the healthcare field, I’ve had one too many patients that have been diagnosed with cancer or know of someone who has passed away from it. Being in good health is such a blessing and it is something we often take for granted. Sometimes I remind myself how lucky I am to be alive and healthy, which allows me to do the things I love and to be around the people I love. It’s easy to stress about the little things in life and focus on the negative aspects, but practicing gratitude on a regular basis is truly an art.


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NewOptometrist.ca puts the spotlight on Zero to Five Pathfinders

PathFinder Spotlight:

Cindy Shan

Optometry:
University of Waterloo 4th year-Class of 2021

Cindy Shan is a student at the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science.

She is the Class President for the Class of 2021.

She has a special interest in practice management, specialty contact lenses, and myopia control.

When not engrossed in building a career in optometry, Cindy loves to travel and explore other parts of the world, test her skills at DIY projects, and hike the beautiful mountains in British Columbia.

 

Why did you choose Optometry?

There are many reasons that an individual chooses their profession. Optometry, to me, was always a perfect combination of being academically challenging, patient-focused, and entrepreneurial.

After reaching out to doctors in my hometown of Vancouver, I had the opportunity to shadow them and work alongside them. I fell in love with the work and was ecstatic when I got an acceptance email to the University of Waterloo.

Four years later, I am finishing up my last year of optometry school and getting ready for graduation in a couple of months.

During my time in Waterloo, I was the Class President for the Class of 2021 and helped out with many organizations within the school. The highlight was definitely planning the many social gatherings for my class, whether it was holiday parties, laser tag, or pub crawls.

Where do you see your practice / eye care in 10 years?

The answer to this question has changed drastically in the last couple of years. If you had asked me this question at the beginning of optometry, I may have said “return to Vancouver and work in an office there.”

I have learned a lot in optometry school, but one of the most important lessons was the amount of potential that this profession holds and the various regions in Canada that are underserved.

Having had the chance to complete a clerkship rotation in a rural setting, I appreciated the challenge and satisfaction of providing our services to these communities.

In the next 10 years, I hope to work on completing a residency in contact lenses and opening a practice in a rural city. I hope to share what optometrists are capable of beyond a simple glasses prescription.

What is currently the most exciting thing in your field to help patients?

I am most excited about the advancements in dry eye disease treatment and management. At the Global Specialty Lens Symposium in 2020, the last conference I was able to attend pre-lockdown, I witnessed the many advancements in technology and treatment options available.

Optometry is a profession that is ever changing and developing new ways to best help our patients. Having seen many patients that suffer from discomfort due to dry eyes, I am excited to see the new pharmaceutical and technological advancements that will soon become another treatment option.

It was exciting to see certain devices that were advertised at conferences early in my first year of school come into the market and be implemented into private practice during my fourth year.

Which ECP speakers/leaders do you admire?

Dr. Andrea Lasby has been an amazing speaker and leader that I have had the pleasure of interacting with multiple times. As an optometrist with a residency under her belt, multiple leadership positions within the optometry community, and a mother, I strive to be as accomplished as her.

I had the chance to shadow Dr. Lasby for one day at her practice, Mission Eye Care, and loved the way she interacted with her patients. The connection that she makes with her patients builds a trusting patient-doctor bond.

Her accomplishments in the world of specialty contact lenses is also very admirable, as I hope to become a fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society and the American Academy of Optometry.

Favorite past-time/hobby?

I am a big fan of crafting and have always had a knack for completing hands-on projects. Recently, I took up crocheting and have been creating many gifts for friends and family. A night in with some movies and my yarn sounds like a perfect evening.

Eventually, I hope to be able to work up to bigger projects, maybe dipping my toes into woodworking and creating my own furniture.

My favourite social aspect of optometry?
Going to conferences! I went to my first conference in my first year of optometry school and absolutely fell in love with the community. I will always remember seeing the doctors greet each other and reconnect, even though they practice in distant clinics.

My friends and I always discuss our future plans of meeting up at conferences, attending lectures together, and taking advantage of the many sponsored events.

I love the ability to build a network of colleagues that I feel comfortable going to for advice and assistance if I have a difficult case. Attending the University of Waterloo was amazing for this reason, as I am surrounded by intellectual and lifelong friends.


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NewOptometrist.ca puts the spotlight on Zero to Five Pathfinders

PathFinder Spotlight:

Alexa Hecht

Undergraduate Studies:
University of Manitoba in Psychology/Biology

Optometry:
University of Waterloo 4th year-Class of 2021

Why did you choose Optometry?

Optometry offers various aspects that I was looking for when I was choosing my career path. Every optometrist I had ever spoken to loved what they did and always stressed the work-life balance optometry provided. I wanted to have a career where I would look forward to going to work, and every day seemed somewhat different. Optometry provided me with the opportunity to own my own business one day, which always intrigued me. I know the profession will constantly evolve, and I am excited to see which path my career takes me on. Also, vision is one of the most important senses we have; helping people see every day is incredibly gratifying.

Where do you see yourself/eyecare in 10 years?

I think it’s hard to predict where I will be in 10 years, but at this point, I see myself opening up a private practice. I have always wanted to create a very unique, relaxed environment for my patients to come. I want my future practice to provide excellent patient care and showcase the hippest frames. I have always said I would love to live near a beach, so who knows, maybe I will be opening up a practice in a beach town. For now, I take one day at a time and try to focus on my present goals.

What advice would you give a first-year optometry student today?

The first year of optometry school was a very overwhelming experience. You are trying to juggle school and growing friendships while still taking care of yourself. I would tell students not to stress the small things, and their mental health should always come first. Everything will eventually fall into place, and you will find your groove. I would also tell first-year students to get involved in some way or another. I was very involved with the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) and got to attend numerous conferences and meet so many leaders in optometry!

How have you changed since high school?

I believe my mindset has shifted significantly since high school. I think one of the significant shifts I have noticed was I have stopped doing things for the sake of pleasing other people. I think this is something many young people struggle with, especially when you are still trying to figure out your place in the world. Whenever I make plans, I question whether it will bring meaning to my day; I ask myself will this cause me more happiness than stress? I’ve learned that it’s ok to say no to people, and I have learned to put myself first before committing to something.

Describe your perfect day?

My perfect day would start with a nice cup of coffee and a killer spin class. It would also involve exploring a new neighbourhood and maybe trying a new restaurant for brunch. I love to cook new gourmet recipes, so I would for sure finish off my day by trying something new in the kitchen. In a non-COVID era, my perfect day would end with grabbing a drink with a couple of friends.

What is your favourite food?

I love Thai food! There is nothing more comforting than a good pad Thai or a warming coconut curry. I’ve tried to make a few Thai dishes and they are good, but nothing beats authentic takeout!


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This is a sponsored post from BAILEY NELSON. 
At Bailey Nelson, it’s our mission to work with innovative and caring optometrists who ensure all patients enjoy a friendly, stress-free experience worth remembering.

We’re looking for passionate individuals who are highly invested in making a difference for their patients.
Is that you?

We make it easy to run your practice.
• A fully equipped exam room plus pretest equipment
• Online booking and recall systems
• EMR system
• Support staff for reception & pre-testing
• Onboarding, support and training
• Tools to optimize traffic and expand your clinic  

Eyecare the way it should be
Founded in Bondi Beach in 2012, Bailey Nelson has quickly grown into a global brand led by an incredible team with boutiques in Australia, London, Canada and New Zealand. Buying glasses should be one of life’s pleasures. And we’ve created a formula to make it one.

We start with a process that’s clever and honest. And we hire people who are passionate and genuine. It’s not rocket science. It’s just caring enough about what you’re doing to do it right.

Sound like a fit?
If this sounds like the perfect fit, we would love to hear from you!

Laurie Lesser, O.D.
Eyecare Director, Canada/UK
Phone: +1.236 412-9911, 954 401-2476
Email: laurie.lesser@baileynelson.com
Web: www.baileynelson.com

Click here to find more detailed information. 


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Bailey Nelson (BN), the Australia-based optical upstart (2012) has set their focus on expanding presence in the Canadian market, according to an interview with Nick Perry, co-founder and managing director of North American business.

The chain plans to grow to “50 stores over the next few years”, Perry disclosed in an interview with  Strategy C-Suite. In 2014 the company opened its first Canadian stores under a licensing agreement, but made the decision to close them three years later.

The company re-entered the market later that year (2017)  as fully corporate owned stores in 17 locations with plans for an additional 3 stores before end of June. Seven stores are in the lower mainland of BC, 5 in Alberta and 4 in Ontario.

Every Bailey Nelson store to have an OptometristThe new locations will be in Victoria, Toronto and London Ontario. The Canadian market presents some challenges compared to Bailey Nelson’s sun-blessed (or cursed) Australian home-base. The chain has strength in the sunwear market and benefits from the Australian government’ generous coverage of eye examinations, which serves to reduce the purchase cycle.

According to Perry the company will need to overcome these obstacles by working with North American eyewear designers and focus on consumer education. “One of the opportunities for us is to educate our consumers on how important regular eye health assessments are in terms of your overall well-being and that they should engage with us on a professional and more regular basis”, said Perry.

On the chain’s strategy, Perry indicated they will:

  1. Focus on Optometry – have an OD in every store
  2. Build engaged and staff that are passionate about vision
  3. Deliver quality differentiating product

Bailey Nelson is seeking Optometric leasehold partners in many cities across Canada.
Click here to find more detailed information. 

View full article on Perry’s discussion with Strategy C-Suite. 

 


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NewOptometrist.ca puts the spotlight on Zero to Five Pathfinders

PathFinder Spotlight:

 

Courtney Fan, OD

Undergraduate Studies
University of Waterloo Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy

Post Graduate
University of Waterloo Masters of Accounting

Optometry:
University of Waterloo – 2018 Graduating Class

Tell us about your education background. You have an interesting path to optometry.
I went to the University of Waterloo for my undergrad program in Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy, which is a split co-op program. I learned both science as well as accounting at the same time.

I knew I wanted to go into healthcare, but I also wanted to try out other new things. The UW accounting program looked great.

And graduating from my Biotechnology/Chartered Accountancy Program, I did an extra year of Masters of Accounting at UW, just to finish all the accounting courses.

This also gave me the time to make sure that I wanted to go into optometry for sure.

Why was optometry appealing to you?
After shadowing multiple doctors, optometrists and other health care providers, I really felt like optometry was a great profession for me.

I wanted to have a work-life balance. And I thought that optometry was a great fit.

Let’s go back to your 4th year rotations. Tell us about them.
One of my rotations was in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was there for four months as part of my ocular disease, therapeutics rotation under Dr. Robert P. Wooldridge.

His clinic was built on a lot of glaucoma patients, dry eye, as well as macular degeneration. He worked with ophthalmologists as well. It was a really great experience.

I also worked in Sarnia and Mississauga.  One of my last rotations was in Kingston, Jamaica, where we did exams and worked with Marilyn Smith, Optician from UW. Marilyn hosted the entire program, and we were able to provide services to Jamaicans. It was a really great experience and a little bit different than some of the practices that I worked at in Ontario!

What about after graduating? Bring us up to date.
After graduation i moved to the small town of Tillsonburg in SW Ontario (near London) as a full-time associate optometrist at “Optometrists On Broadway”.

It’s been great ever since; the clinic is super busy. We have an OCT, fundus photo, visual fields, just to name a few of the available equipment. I can practice to the full extent that my Ontario optometry license allows.

After almost three years of working full time, and working through the pandemic, things are still pretty good. We get a lot of seniors, a lot of people who still want to be seen because they have eye issues. We have been keeping busy throughout the pandemic.

Have you been able to draw upon your clinical disease rotation experience now that you are in practice in Ontario?
Definitely. The practice in Utah was mainly focused on glaucoma patients. We did a lot of OCTs, photos and visual fields.

I learned a lot about how to best manage and treat patients, even though a lot of times the drugs were not the same, the concepts were all the same.

I was able to witness surgeries for the glaucoma patients and do a lot of the follow ups that an ophthalmologist would usually do in Ontario. In Utah I was able to see them firsthand.

The surgeon would have had the patient come back to our office the day after surgery, and we would see a lot of inflammation, things in the eyes that we normally wouldn’t see in a one week or a six-week post op follow up.

I definitely learned a lot through all of my rotations.

In what ways do you now have the freedom to do your own thing compared to your clinical rotations? How is it different? 
Yeah, there is a funny story. In Utah we were able to remove concretions in patients, and we always try to gain as much experience as possible. All the interns were fighting to get these experiences, but not everybody had a concretion, but we all tried to at least remove one.

Coming back to Ontario, I did not realize that we were not allowed to remove concretions. There was just a little bit of pushback in terms of the things that I could practice as an intern versus now.

On the other hand, I do have a lot more freedom to do things the way that I would like them to be done.

For example, back in my other rotations, my supervisor might follow up in six months or every year. If I feel uncomfortable leaving certain diseases, I can follow up more frequently.

I do have the freedom to see patients as often as I want to make sure that things are going as smoothly as I would like or as I have planned.

What specifically were you looking for in a Job? And did you find it?
Yeah, for sure.  I was looking for something that was full scope practice and gave me the freedom and autonomy to practice the way that I wanted to.

While I was job searching, I was mostly only looking for full time positions, so that I can follow up on my own patients and build a patient base. It was important for to find a full scope practice with all the technology that I would like.

Also, it was important for me to find a really positive working environment and have everybody was working together as a team.

What about your longer-term plans? Do you have any ideas of what type of practice you want to ideally be in? 
I’ve definitely thought a lot about owning my own practice.

My fiancé is also an optometrist, so it would be a dream for us to open our own practice and have that autonomy to do whatever we wanted and to practice the way that we think is best. We are thinking that it will be in the next five years.

Okay, that’s awesome. Let’s do some of the fun questions.
Honestly, I forget what I do for fun, because now that we’re just staying in all day. I’m thinking, “What did I do before with all my time?”

At the end of the day, I just want to relax and just give myself some alone time. After work I used to go to the gym every day, but now I just do a little light workout at home.

Recently, I started playing the guitar. My fiancé recently got me a guitar for my birthday, so I’ve been practicing.

I used to go skiing in the winter. In the summer I love to travel and spend a lot of time outdoors hiking.

It is important to make sure that we get enough vitamin D, because every working day we don’t get to see the sun too much in a dark room. I try to make sure that my lifestyle is healthy and active and balanced.

Is there any advice that you’d want to offer to new graduates? any insight you can offer into to help others?
I think one of the things that I want to tell new grads is  “Don’t lose your passion for what you love, and what you love to do.”

A lot of times we get caught up in our life just trying to make money, trying to pay back our student debt. But I think it is also important to remember what made you so excited to be an optometrist in the first place, what really excites you!

Okay, awesome. That’s really good advice. It was really nice to catch up in this way, because I didn’t know what you have been up to now that we are both busy working every day.


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NewOptometrist.ca puts the spotlight on Zero to Five Pathfinders

Joanne Han Qioa UW 2021

PathFinder Spotlight:

Joanne Han Qiao

Undergraduate Studies
McMaster University in Biochemistry.

Post Graduate
Master of Science, UW, Centre for Ocular Research and Education 

Optometry:
University of Waterloo 4th year  –  2021 Graduating Class

Why did you choose Optometry?
As a child, learning to read the clock was a very challenging task to me, until I was fit with glasses to correct my myopia at the age of five. The ability to tell time suddenly clicked, as I was able to see the increments on the clock hanging on my living room wall for the first time.

However, my myopia continued to progress and I knew something was not right. My advancing prescription became one of my worst fears, and I would always ‘rest’ my eyes or do ‘eye exercises’ before visiting the optometrist.

Unlike most kids, instead of the dentist, I was scared to visit my eye doctor. A few years later, I was recommended to be fit with Ortho-K lenses as a new management for myopia, which acted as a source of tremendous hope and comfort to me.

All these experiences increased my fascination with the field of optometry and I am excited to be able to pay forward all the care that I was provided by my optometrist.

What are your future plans?
I would love to be able to return to academia sometime in the future. It would allow me to fulfill my goals to be not only a clinician, but also a mentor and researcher.

What is currently the most exciting thing in your field to help patients?
Along with the changing lifestyle of the 21st century, there is a growing need for dry eye management. It’s an exciting field because there are so many treatment and management options we have available now.

As my supervisor used to tell his patients “You don’t have to suffer”, because there are things we can do about it.

What is your definition of success or what habits make you a successful person?
Growing up Asian, I thought grades were everything when it comes to going down the right path to a successful career. I was very wrong. If you find your passion and meet the right people, then success will follow naturally.

Something that I started doing is to say ‘Yes!’ to every opportunity I get. I’ll know if I truly enjoy doing something only after I give it a try.

So along these lines I have a motto:  Know the best. Recommend the Best.   We try to pass that on to our patients. We try to tell them what is new in treatments, eye wear, contacts…etc.

What is your favorite TV show / Netflix series?
Typically, my favorite TVs shows are in the genre of sci-fi (Marvel) and fantasy (Game of Thrones). However, recently, I fancied a change from my typical taste and found myself binge-watching Bridgerton.

If you had a time machine what year would you travel to and why?
It would definitely be 20 years into the future, when I will become presbyopic. I really want to know if we would have found a way to overcome presbyopia by then.

Tell me something few people know about you?
I have a talent for lucid dreaming and I can remember most of my dreams when I wake up. As a result, I have created a world that I often return when I fall asleep. So, when I tell people I love sleeping, I mean it.


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