To our Optometry community,
I hope that you, and the people you care about, are safe and well. I know that many of you are in the process of re-opening your practices. Others will be assessing if it’s safe or economically feasible to do so. Wherever you are, whatever situation you find yourself in, please know that we are thinking of you.
Here in Ontario, the OAO has launched an emergency action regarding the chronic funding challenges in eye care. The intent of the campaign is to encourage the provincial government to return to discussions with OAO to find actionable solutions.
The School is a strong supporter of the OAO. The funding challenge has been in evidence for decades, and we appreciate optometry’s frustration with OHIP and the rising cost of delivering quality eye care. At the same time, we have a responsibility to the University of Waterloo, regulators, and accrediting bodies—and most of all, to our students—to fulfill the learning objectives of the optometry curriculum. We appreciate the OAO’s understanding and recognition of our unique role in the province.
In the meantime, we continue to collaborate with the OAO and CAO to gather and analyze data that was submitted by optometrists across Canada to the urgent care tracker project. This information will be used to guide further discussions with government ministries about the vital role optometry played during the COVID-19 crisis and the need for both recognition and remuneration moving forward.
Looking toward Fall 2020
I’d like to give you an update on how the School is preparing for an academic year unlike any other, and request your help on behalf of our students.
Concern for our students is, of course, top-of-mind. The University recently released its plans for 2020, with the directive that large classes will continue online, but smaller groups including clinical courses may be allowed to learn in person. In this issue, Dr. Natalie Hutchings explains how we’ll continue to deliver high-quality optometric education this fall.
Across the University, in-person research operations are gradually resuming, with the hope that all labs will be able to open over the course of the summer. In the meantime, faculty and graduate students at the School continue to publish work that supports our profession, in areas ranging from patient care to public health education.
Our students continue to amaze me with their resiliency and positive attitude. Now that they’ve returned to their homes, many of them have put aside their personal concerns and are serving their communities in ways both big and small. I think you’ll agree with me that, with this level of commitment and compassion, their future patients are in good hands.
As we look toward Fall 2020, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize the people who are making it possible. Our faculty have spent countless hours transforming in-person lectures to online modules, ensuring that our students will continue to receive the highest standard of optometric education. Our clinicians and clerkship preceptors are prepared to deliver hands-on educational experiences in one of the most challenging environments we’ve ever seen. And our staff have adapted the processes that underpin our programs to keep the School’s educational, clinical and research activities running smoothly.
Now the request:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our graduating Class of 2020 was not able to challenge their Board exams, which were delayed from April 2020 to the end of September 2020. We have graduates across the country hoping to brush up their clinical skills before they take the exam, but with nowhere to practice. We are reaching out to practices across the country to see if any might be able to help. The commitment would be minimal and within your parameters (e.g. an hour in a lane here or there if that is what works for your practice). We would connect you with the interested student.
Students have expressed interest in the following locations: Toronto, GTA (Markham, North York, Stoufville, Scarborough, Vaughan) London, Waterloo, Cambridge, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Vancouver, Edmonton and Charlottetown. If you’re interested, please contact Dr. Shamrozé Khan for more information.
Apart but together
I’m incredibly grateful to you—our alumni, colleagues and friends—for your continuing support of our mission to “help people see.” COVID-19 may have caused a temporary delay in our plans for the Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign but, rest assured, things are now moving ahead. I look forward to sharing more details with you soon. In the meantime, we are beyond thankful to Dr. Carol Cressman, who has offered to match your donations up to $500,000.
It’s equally exciting to see the positive response to our virtual grand rounds. While we are disappointed to have postponed our June CE Weekend and our Advanced Procedures course, we are planning to provide you with new virtual CE opportunities with dynamic speakers and engaging content. Stay turned for more information on our new programming.
I hope you will show your Canadian Optometry Pride by submitting a picture to help us mark 2020. It was not the year we in the eyeball world were planning for in terms of celebration, but I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to bring the profession together (eye nerds, unite!) Your pictures will be used to create a “mosaic” of photos that we will prominently display within the School to celebrate our wonderful community.
I think one of the key takeaways from the pandemic is that despite geography and physical distancing, it’s still possible to learn and celebrate together. Here's to many more opportunities for all of us to do both.
Sincerely,
Stanley Woo, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO
Director
