Presenters
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Clara Chan, MD, FRCSC, FACS, DABO
Dr. Clara Chan is a specialist in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Toronto and the President of the Canadian Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Society. She teaches fellows as part of the Cornea fellowship program at the Toronto Western Hospital and is the Medical Director of the Eye Bank of Canada, Ontario Division. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, and has taught courses and lectured at international meetings. She received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award in 2015, serves on the Cornea Clinical Committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and is a Cornea Section Editor for the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology and the Cornea Editor for Eyeworld magazine. Most recently, Dr. Chan was included in The 2021 Ophthalmologist Power List(link is external), recognizing the top 100 most influential female figures in ophthalmology, internationally.
Manju Varma, Ph.D, CEO Engaging Matters Diversity Consultants Inc.
Dr. Manju Varma, has extensive experience working in the area of inclusion and anti-racism in Atlantic Canada. She has contributed to various textbooks as well as published both national and internationally on the topics of multiculturalism, diversity in the classroom and anti-racist education. She also shared her vast knowledge as a inclusion specialist, conflict mediator, university professor and mental health advocate. She is a sought after speaker in the areas of diversity and inclusion, gender issues, mediation and change management.
Virginia Donati, OD, FCOVD
Dr. Donati graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2006 with a citation for Clinical Excellence and the Student Award in Clinical Ethics from the American Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). She first learned about vision therapy by becoming a patient herself. Upon returning to Canada, she had the desire to bring her passion for vision therapy to her own patients.
Since that time, Dr. Donati has been involved in the ongoing process of expanding Vision Therapy in Canada. She was the founding Vice President (2014-2017) of Vision Therapy Canada (formerly COVT&R) and was President until August 2021. The mission of Vision Therapy Canada is to “Improve Lives Through Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation”.
Dr. Donati lectures Internationally on the subject of binocular vision and Vision Therapy and is involved extensively in training of Vision Therapists. She is the lead instructor for Vision Therapy Canada’s Practical Vision Therapist Accreditation Program (PVTAP) and is an instructor for the Optometric Extension Program (OEP).
Dr. Donati serves on the College of Optometrists of Ontario’s Quality Assurance Committee as an assessor of clinical records, is a clinical associate of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF), and is board certified in Vision Therapy as a Fellow in the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD).
Dr. Donati is a mother of three young children, including one reformed amblyope and one reformed intermittent strabismic.
Shaun MacInnis, OD
Dr. MacInnis was born in Sydney and grew up in Prime Brook. He completed a 3 year Bachelor of Science degree at the University College of Cape Breton before finishing optometry, with honours, at the University of Waterloo in 2007. In 2006, Dr. MacInnis completed a 4-month externship at an eye clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he dealt with multiple ocular diseases with a concentration on glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. He was a partner in one of Halifax/Dartmouth’s most well-known clinics before returning home and taking over Island EyeCare in 2015. Dr. MacInnis is interested in all areas of general optometry including dry eye disease, ocular health and contact lenses. He enjoys educating peers and is well known for his committee work and volunteering. Recognizing the need in his patients, he started his Dry Eye Clinic several years ago and added iLux® in early 2019. Dr MacInnis enjoys sharing his experiences with colleagues.
Sheila N. Lanctôt Partner | Stewart McKelvey – Fredericton
Sheila has been practising law with the firm Stewart McKelvey in Fredericton since 2013, in both official languages. Her areas of practice consist of administrative, labour and employment law and litigation.
Some of the ways in which she has assisted clients at Stewart McKelvey include:
Administrative bodies:
• Developing strategies and assisting groups of professionals who are seeking the right to self regulate
• Assisting a variety of professional associations, colleges and societies with:
- issues relating to governance, including drafting legislation and bylaws;
- issues relating to discipline, including compliance with legislation and procedural fairness in the processing of complaints;
- ensuring procedural fairness in the conduct of hearings; and,
- issues relating to human rights and official languages.
Labour and employment: Assisting clients with a variety of issues ranging from discipline and termination, to human rights and official languages
Dr. Tina Goodhew, OD
Dr. Tina graduated with the highest standing in her class with a B.Sc. Honours degree from Queen’s University, which she attended on a full scholarship. After receiving several offers and awards including an Ontario Graduate Scholarship and NSERC, Dr. Tina chose to attend the University of Waterloo to pursue Optometry.
Dr. Tina is active in service to the profession of Optometry. She served on the Board of Directors for the BC College of Optometrists in the early 2000’s and, from 2010 through 2016, was a director for Eye Recommend; a group responsible for helping chart the course of optometry in Canada. She has given numerous talks to community groups and is a past recipient of the Ontario Association of Optometrists’ Public Education Award.
Dr. Tina Goodhew delights in helping patients see their best. She is especially passionate about children’s vision and won the Eye See Eye Learn award in 2012. She also has special interests in advanced contact lens fitting, dry eye disease, and laser vision correction. Currently, Dr. Tina serves as a key opinion leader for Alcon, a consultant for Allergan, and a co-editor for the Canadian Eye Care Business Review. After hours, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing volleyball, tennis, and softball.