2023 Early Career Alumni Award
In 2016, Dr. Shaina Nensi graduated from the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Waterloo. During her optometric education Shaina was heavily involved, serving as class president for all 4 years. Following graduation, Dr. Nensi completed a residency in Pediatrics and Vision Therapy where she received additional training in the areas of pediatrics, neuro-rehabilitation, vision therapy and eyecare for special-needs populations. Upon completion, she received The Canadian Association of Optometrists’ Award of Merit and the COVD Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy. Dr. Nensi is also a board-certified Fellow in developmental vision and vision therapy by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD).
Shortly after graduation Dr. Nensi was elected to the board of directors of the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO), holding multiple positions on committees, including the governance, finance and audit and continuing education and OAO industry trends working groups. Currently, Dr. Nensi serves as the Vice-President of the board as well and the CAO representative for Ontario and was an integral part of the OHIP negotiating team, advocating to increase access to care for patients.
Dr. Nensi is passionate about giving back to both her local and global communities. As a Global Impact Fellow with Unite for Sight, she partnered with local eye clinics in Ghana to teach patients about eye health and screen for a variety of ocular pathology. Dr. Nensi also operates a clinic in Kasabonika Lake, a fly-in First Nation community located 600 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, where she provides eyecare to the indigenous families and residents of the island.
2023 Alumni of Honour Award
Dr. Johnathan Lam graduated in 1999 from the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. During his time at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Lam completed an ocular disease internship at Omni Eye Services in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Lam then returned to British Columbia and began practicing in 100 Mile House at the practice of Dr. Morgan Hughes and Dr. Deborah Jennings (UW '92) and in Williams Lake with Dr. Dan Derksen (UW '91). In 2001, Dr. Lam moved back to his home town of Nanaimo to join Dr. David Myrfield (UW '74) and Dr. Michael Kellam (UW '86).
Dr. Lam became involved with the BC Doctors of Optometry (BCDO) in 2017, served as President of BCDO from 2018–2020, Past President from 2020–2022, and after a one year hiatus, he has returned to the board to serve another three year term. He is currently the chair of the Government and Professional Affairs Committee, a member of the Executive Committee, the MSP Negotiations Committee, the Patterns of Practice Committee, the Governance Committee, and the CAO Teleoptometry and AI Task Force.
Dr. Lam is an accomplished optometrist and has played a significant role in the field of tele-optometry. He has visited many remote and rural communities in BC to provide eye care, and has developed BCDO’s Rural Access Program, organizing and orchestrating in-person care for 58 rural communities in BC, and initiating teleoptometric care in several of these communities. Dr. Lam has been a key partner participating in discussions and research, in partnership with the University of Waterloo, to support the evidence base for extending care to rural communities in BC (and ultimately support expansion across Canada).
Dr. Lam also has a keen interest in volunteer eyecare missions, having participated in nine trips to various parts of Mexico, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Philippines and India.
2023 Distinguished Alumni Award
Dr. Dennis Ruskin graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 1976. Upon graduation, he established his practice in Toronto. Dr. Ruskin became a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 1989.
Throughout his career, Dr. Ruskin participated on numerous committees of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, was active with the Vision Institute of Canada and served as an examiner for the Canadian Examiners in Optometry (now the Optometry Examining Board of Canada).
Most notably, since 1989, Dr. Ruskin gave generously of his time and talents to the College of Optometrists of Ontario, having served on several committees, including the Optometry Review Committee, the Ethics Committee, and as Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee and the Discipline Committee. Dr. Ruskin served 10 years on Council; four years, from 2009-2013 as the College’s Vice-President and two years, 2013-2014, as its President. During his presidency, the Ontario government proclaimed amendments to the Professional Misconduct and Conflict of Interest Regulations, which modernized the practice of optometry as we now know it in Ontario. As College President, Dr. Ruskin was an active participant in the Eye Health Council of Ontario, which developed collaborative clinical guidelines for optometrists and ophthalmologists in Ontario. The public of Ontario and the profession of optometry have benefitted from Dr. Ruskin’s contribution to the College.
2023 Vision Champion Award
Dr. Paula Garshowitz graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 1980. Following graduation, Dr. Garshowitz went into private practice for 20+ years. In 2003, Dr. Garshowitz joined the College of Optometrists of Ontario as Assistant Registrar, and ultimately served as Registrar, from May 2011 to June 2019. During her time as Registrar, the College enjoyed a sustained period of stability and growth, and earned respect among Ontario health regulatory colleges, other optometric regulatory authorities, and key stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science.
In addition to her formal role as Registrar, Dr. Garshowitz has contributed to the profession through a multitude of volunteer positions in Ontario, Canada and internationally. These roles included involvement with the Optometry Examining Board of Canada, the Federation of Health Regulatory Colleges of Ontario, the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry, the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada, the Council on Licensure Enforcement and Regulation, and the Eye Health Council of Ontario.
In her spare time Dr. Garshowitz also serves her community through board level and volunteer positions at Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Hamilton Jewish Family Services, and the Dundas Concert Band.
These days Dr. Garshowitz enjoys time spent with family, especially her three granddaughters.
2023 Vision Champion Award
Dr. Gordon Hensel was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. After completing a BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Alberta, he went on to graduate from the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry & Vision Science in 1980. After graduation, he practiced for one year in Calgary with a group of ophthalmologists and then returned to Edmonton to start his own private practice, Millcreek Optometry Centre.
Dr. Hensel immediately became involved in the profession by being elected to the Council of the Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) at his first Annual General Meeting. Dr. Hensel went on to serve as the youngest President of the AAO from 1985-1986 and achieved his Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry that same year. In 2002, Dr. Hensel became the Registrar of the Alberta College of Optometrists, a position that he held until retirement in 2022. Dr. Hensel’s passion for optometry and advancement of scope of practice has assisted Alberta optometry become a leader in the country.
Dr. Hensel is one of the original founding members of Canada’s Doctors of Optometry, a purchasing and marketing group that eventually became EYE RECOMMEND. He is also a co-founding member of the Canadian Vision Care charity, an organization that has been operating eye care missions to developing countries since 1981.
Currently, Dr. Hensel is spending his time with the Canadian College of Specialties in Optometry (CCSO-CCSO.CA) as he believes our profession’s skill set, knowledge base and list of competencies will now allow practitioners to subspecialize in specific areas of practice.
2023 Vision Champion Award
Dr. Leland Kolbenson graduated from the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Waterloo in 1976. Upon graduation, Dr. Kolbenson opened a practice in Tisdale SK. He is currently practicing in Golden BC with his daughter Rebecca (OD 2013) Over the following decades, Dr. Kolbenson contributed greatly to the profession through various committee, council and association positions. Dr. Kolbenson served in Saskatchewan for more than two decades in positions including President and
Registrar for the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists. During this time Dr. Kolbenson dedicated countless hours to the profession and patient care for not only the province, but also the entire country. Dr. Kolbenson played an active and significant role in the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authority in Canada. He was part of the team, some of whom are being honored today, that was instrumental in the formation of FORAC. Dr. Kolbenson also served as President of FORAC for many years. He also spent several years on the board of OEBC. Dr. Kolbenson, along with the colleagues being recognized today, were instrumental in Scope of Practice expansions in their respective jurisdictions and the Optometry Examining Board of Canada, ensuring that all optometrists entering the profession in Canada meet the utmost level of competence and care. The entire profession has benefited greatly from Dr. Kolbenson’s ability to collaborate and build relationships focused on improving care. In recognition for Dr. Kolbenson’s achievements and contributions, he has received the Saskatchewan Association of Optometrists Optometrist of the Year Award in 2011 and the Canadian Association of Optometrists President’s Award in 2021.
2023 Vision Champion Award
After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree (1981) and a Master of Sciences degree (1984), Dr. Lorne Ryall graduated from the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Waterloo in 1988. Dr. Ryall joined the Manitoba Association of Optometrists Council in 1993 and served as Assistant Registrar, before taking on the role of Registrar in 1994, a position that he held until April 2021.
During his time as Registrar, Dr. Ryall served as the Manitoba representative on the Canadian Council on Optometric Education and Regulatory Authorities starting in 1994, paving the way for the development of the organization that would create and administer the national entry to practice optometry examination in Canada, the Canadian Examiners in Optometry (CEO). Dr. Ryall served as director in this organization from 1995 through 2016, holding Executive positions as Treasurer, Secretary and President, as well as sitting on a variety of committees, including the Syllabus Committee, CSAO Committee, Review Committee and Appeals Committee. Dr. Ryall was also elected by his peers to be the Chair of Board of Directors of the Optometry Examining Board of Canada, from its inception in 2018, through to 2022.
Dr. Ryall served as MAO’s representative on the Canadian Optometric Regulatory Authorities (CORA) which later became FORAC, the Federation of Optometric Regulatory Authorities of Canada, from its inaugural year in 1998, until 2021.
Besides the regulation of optometry, Dr. Ryall’s other passions include supporting local, participating in golf, and curling. Dr. Ryall has been particularly involved in volunteering his time with a variety of curling organizations, including serving on the Officials Committee of for provincial and national playdowns as well as the 2013 Olympic Curling Trials. Dr. Ryall has previously served as the Draw Master and member of the Beausejour Curling Club Board of Directors for several years.