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Enhancing diagnostic imaging and patient care
By Lauren Ward. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.
The School of Optometry and Vision Science is celebrating a commitment of $1 million from IRIS, Canada’s most established network of optometrists, opticians and ophthalmologists.
IRIS made their pledge to enhance diagnostic imaging and improve technology for future optometrists as part of the School’s Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign. This fundraising campaign will create the Waterloo Eye Institute (WEI) – a national resource that will enrich student experiences, deliver care to remote communities and support patient health across the Waterloo region.
“I’m grateful for this commitment to the School of Optometry and Vision Science from IRIS,” says Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “Providing advanced imaging technology will not only enhance our students’ education, but also improve patient care across our region.”
L-r: Dr. Stan Woo (Director, School of Optometry and Vision Science), Dr. Barbara Pelletier (Optometric Coordinator, IRIS), Dr. Daryan Angle (Vice President, Business Development, IRIS) and Dr. Carol Cressman, at the announcement of the IRIS pledge to School of Optometry and Vision Science Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign.
Digital imaging is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that provides a wider and more accurate way to view the eyes of patients for earlier detection of ocular disease. It is a painless way for optometrists to look inside the eye and track changes for ocular health and vision.
“We are always looking at how technology can play a role in eye care and enhance the level of service we provide for patients,” says Dr. Daryan Angle, vice president of business development and optometrist at IRIS. “Contributing specifically to the imaging lab will help bring quality care to future generations and prepare optometrists for the highest level of practice.”
This investment will equip the WEI with diagnostic imaging resources, providing opportunities for students to learn about ground-breaking technology and allowing patients to better understand their own eyes. Additional resources will include a lab with a library of images that will give students detailed knowledge of eye diseases.
“Digital imaging is an essential part of daily clinical practice now. This contribution from IRIS will allow us to ensure that we are at the forefront of innovative ophthalmic technology, enabling us to optimize and improve health outcomes for our patients,” says Dr. Nadine Furtado, professor and head of Ocular Disease and Imaging Services in the School of Optometry. “It will also give our students the opportunity to have experiential training with the latest technology and prepare the next generation of optometrists for the future of eye care.”
With improved access to care and expertise, patients in Waterloo region will have a greater ability to protect their vision and their overall health.
“On behalf of the School’s patients, clinicians and students, I’d like to thank IRIS for their extraordinary partnership,” says Dr. Stanley Woo, director of the School of Optometry & Vision Science. “With this support, the Waterloo Eye Institute will enhance clinical education and improve outcomes of patients in our local and global communities. This is a remarkable investment, and a testament to IRIS’s commitment to innovation in eye care.”
Learn more about the future of vision care
L-r: Dr. Stan Woo and Dr. Daryan Angle.
WatSPEED hosts technology leaders to discuss the workforce of the future
A message from WatSPEED.
WatSPEED is encouraging industry leaders to better prepare for the ever-expanding technological landscape impacting today’s modern workforce.
As part of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers’ (OSPE) Engineering Conference in November, WatSPEED convened an executive dinner and roundtable discussion on the importance of ongoing technological training for Canadian businesses.
Guests included senior representatives from Canada’s engineering and technology sectors, and subject matter experts from the University of Waterloo. During the discussion, WatSPEED’s managing director, client partnerships, Aaron Pereira, remarked on the importance of strong partnerships between industry and academia as we collectively navigate our ever-changing marketplace.
“In today’s labour market, rapid technological advances are widening our existing skills gaps and we’re responding to a new economic reality – one that leaves us looking more closely at how we approach education, skills training, and industry partnerships.” said Pereira. “The University of Waterloo and WatSPEED play an important role in educating the workforce in a way that will shape our local and global recovery.”
The event also featured presentations from Waterloo faculty members Peter Carr and George Shaker, both from the Faculty of Engineering, who highlighted the challenges that organizations face as our workforce becomes significantly more digital. Together, they spoke to the confluence of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things and how they not only create greater divides for businesses, but also opportunities for an evolution in technology innovation.
Throughout the evening, participants commented on how their organizations have been adapting to global disruption, emphasizing the need for highly skilled tech talent to ensure they remain competitive and agile as Canada’s economic recovery remain ambiguous. They highlighted the long-term challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies and emphasized the need for a culture that supports lifelong learning within organizations. For those who thrive in the age of digital transformation, the ability to stay future-focused, quickly acquire new skills, and apply those skills to the adoption of new technologies has been critical for advancement.
While new technologies represent unprecedented opportunity, without investment in human capital alongside infrastructure, successful digital transformation is not possible. No matter the scale of automation, humans must work alongside new technologies for them to be successful—and ensuring humans have the skills they need to navigate ongoing technological disruption needs to be a major priority for modern organizations.
WatSPEED continues to support industry leaders to keep pace with major technological, societal, and environmental disruption through custom training and executive education opportunities. By strengthening industry relationships, Waterloo gains insight into the critical skills challenges facing organizations today and empowers learners to be better prepared and more resilient for an uncertain future.
Exercise as health care: a public lecture
A message from the Faculty of Health.
Exercise is a key component of health care, particularly for people at risk for, or living with, chronic conditions. In a public Hallman Lecture taking place next week, Dr. Paul Oh, cardiologist and medical director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention Program at the UHN-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, will discuss the past, present and future of this idea.
The presentation will examine the collaborative role of clinical care and community services, as well as opportunities for collaborations across medical disciplines.
The lecture will be hosted on Tuesday, November 15, starting at 6:30 p.m., both in person at the University of Waterloo and streamed online, followed by a panel discussion. In-person attendees are invited to stay for a cocktail reception following the talk.
For details and to register, see the event website. The Exercise as Health Care lecture is in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the UW WELL-FIT program. The event is hosted by the Centre for Community, Clinical and Applied Research Excellence (CCCARE) and the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo.
Velocity $5K semifinals kick off today
Twenty-three student teams will contend for four $5,000 prizes today and tomorrow, but first they must present the perfect pitch at the Velocity $5K competition.
The competition will see early-stage student ventures battle it out onstage for a chance at one of four $5,000 awards and will run on November 9 and 10, featuring 23 aspiring student teams. These 23 semi-finalist teams were selected by an experienced panel of entrepreneurs, following a difficult adjudication process that saw 72 applications from 160 students.
Each semi-finalist will have just three minutes to present their idea and convince a new panel of judges that it has potential and viability to succeed. Only then will they move on to the final round.
The top eight teams from the two rounds will return to the stage for the finals on November 23. After the pitching magic happens, four teams and their innovative business ideas will take home $5,000 in grant funding to help grow their ambitions.
Check out the full story on the Velocity website.
Wednesday's notes
This week's Conrad Grebel University College Noon Hour Concert will take place today at 12:30 p.m.
By Request features performers Laurel Swinden (flute) and Stephanie Mara (piano) performing a selection of favourite flute music requested by Laurel and Stephanie’s friends, colleagues, and social media followers.
The free concert will start at 12:30 p.m. today. This concert will be in-person in the Grebel Chapel.
The Water Institute's webinar series, The Value of Water in Canada, continues with Learning about water values through behaviour, presented by Patrick Lloyd-Smith. The webinar takes place today, Wednesday, November 9, at 12 noon. Patrick Lloyd-Smith is Professor, College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan.
Waterloo International will be hosting an information-sharing session regarding the University of Waterloo's engagement with Singapore on Thursday, November 22. There will be a presentation from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and a breakout session from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
All faculty and staff with interests in and about Singapore are invited to attend this event. Please contact waterloo.international@uwaterloo.ca for further details and the meeting link.
Join the Centre for Society, Technology and Values for a free movie screening (including free popcorn) of Rossum’s Universal Robots in E5-6006 on Thursday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. Attendees will watch and discuss a performance of Karel Čapek's (1920) play "Rossum's Universal Robots," the work that introduced the word and concept of "robot" to the world. This performance is a presentation of Battle Damage Theater.
Employers hosting Virtual Employer Information Sessions (VEIS) this week include Elby and EY. Make sure to register through WaterlooWorks and check the calendar for any updates.