It’s hard to believe that 2022 is coming to a close. The School of Optometry & Vision Science has experienced tumultuous times like many of you, but it is heartening to see how everyone is bouncing back. There is a renewed appreciation for opportunities to see each other in “3-D,” catching up on life and family, not just work, and a realization of how much we need each other to succeed.
In this alumni newsletter, you will be unsurprised to see that the Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign is going strong. We had huge success with a record-setting Giving Tuesday thanks to our many supporters eager to see us break ground on the Waterloo Eye Institute. We are grateful to the many volunteers and donors, with a special alumni spotlight on the Class of ’91 highlighted in this issue. We also have an exciting optometry match by Dr. Marta Witer and the Ihnatowycz Family Foundation to double your impact when you donate.
Research is the lifeblood of our profession and critical for us to continue to innovate, bringing new technologies and treatments into practice. Interdisciplinary collaboration is increasingly important in making advances and in this issue, we feature work on how brain stimulation using non-invasive electrical currents can improve reading in patients with macular degeneration.
We have had many firsts to celebrate in 2022 and there are more kudos to recognize than we have space. Suffice it to say that UWOVS is working hard to make you proud. We hope that you reach out to share your news with us and stay connected. Let us know what you would like to hear more about, and if you happen to be looking for that end-of-year tax break we know just the thing – donate to the WEI. We are grateful for the many ways in which you support the School, and we wish you all the best for a happy, healthy, holiday season.
Best wishes,
Stanley Woo, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO
Director, School of Optometry & Vision Science
