Roshni Echharam, OD
Dr. Echharam, originally from Durban, South Africa, completed her Undergraduate degree in Optometry at the University of Durban-Westville in 1996. After graduation, she had the opportunity to work in rural Africa, where her interest in ocular disease was peaked. Due to economic instability in South Africa, Dr. Echharam immigrated to the United States in 1999. She was accepted in the international graduates’ program at the New England College of Optometry in June 2000 and graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree with honors in 2002. Upon graduating from NECO, Dr. Echharam has worked in various retail and medical optometry settings in the US and Toronto. She still maintains a strong interest in the prevention and management of ocular disease and in August 2017 she opened her medical optometry practice, that has a dedicated Dry Eye Clinic and Specialty contact lens Centre.Fun Fact: Dr. Echharam loves adventure, travel and cooking. Since leaving South Africa in 1997, she has lived in 3 continents and 5 cities. So, when she’s not working, she often visiting a new country learning about their culture and cuisine
Alejandro Lichtinger, MD FACS
Dr. Lichtinger finished his medical degree at Mexico’s Anáhuac University, before completing an ophthalmology residency at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, during which time he was named chief resident and graduated with highest distinction. He went on to complete fellowships in cornea, external diseases, and refractive surgery at both the University of Toronto and the University of California San Diego as well as a cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery fellowship at the CODET Vision Institute in Tijuana, Mexico. Dr. Lichtinger is an experienced ophthalmologist who specialises in LASIK, All-Laser LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), Laser PresbyVision™, Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), Corneal Cross-Linking (CXL), Phakic IOL Implantation, and treating cataracts as well as corneal conditions. Dr. Lichtinger is currently on staff at Miramichi Regional Hospital’s Department of Surgery. He previously worked as a physician at the Hospital Angeles de las Lomas in México and was the chief ophthalmologist at La Paz Medical Center in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Dr. Lichtinger is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Dalhousie University. He’s also an assistant professor at the Instituto de Oftalmologia Conde de Valenciana in Mexico City. Dr. Lichtinger is a talented researcher who has been published on numerous occasions, including in journals such as Ophthalmology, the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Cornea.
France Corriveau, OD
Dr. Corriveau received her Doctorate of Optometry from the Université de Montréal in 2008. She has always had a strong passion for binocular vision and developmental optometry and started providing vision therapy very early on in her career. She became a Fellow of the College of Optometrist in Vision Development (COVD) in 2017 and is pursuing a fellowship with the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA). Dr. Corriveau has also been pursuing specialized training with a number of different organizations, including: the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, Vision Therapy Canada (formerly Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation), the Sanet Vision Seminars and the Padula Institute of Vision. Dr. Corriveau serves as a quality assessor for the Ontario College of Optometrists as well as an examiner for the Optometry examining board of Canada. She has lectured for diverse organisations including the Centre de Perfectionnement et de reference en Optométrie (CPRO). She is a board member of Vision Therapy Canada. She practices in Ottawa where she focuses on vision rehabilitation and development.
Dan Samaha, OD
Dr. Samaha obtained his doctorate in optometry from the University of Montreal in 2011. He then completed a master's degree in Vision Sciences, the main subject of which was a new screening method for glaucoma. He has been working since 2011 in collaboration with ophthalmologists, allowing him to acquire in-depth notions on the management of various eye diseases. He now owns and operates the largest ocular disease optometry clinic in Quebec. He also holds a teaching position at the Montreal University School of Optometry, where he teaches courses on pharmacology, ocular physiology and ocular pathologies. He also directs the glaucoma clinic.
Joyce VanRooyen, CCOA
Joyce is currently the Senior Learning & Development Trainer for Eye Recommend, one of Canada’s leading Optometric Buying Groups. In this role, Joyce creates, develops and facilitates trainings programs for all aspects of the Optometric Practice from Optical Basics, Front Desk Etiquette and Advanced Dispensing to Practice Management Topics including Frame Inventory Management, Leadership skills and Teamwork. She also mentors the team of 5 Trainers at Eye Recommend. Joyce began her career in the optical industry over 30 years ago, while working in her father’s edging lab. She has spent time working as a lab technician for 4 high end optical stores, a dispensary manager for a busy 4 doctor practice and the professional Education Coordinator for Hoya. She has developed and implemented workshops on various topics throughout the optical industry as well as an optometry assistant course for Conestoga College. She also worked as a workshop coach and lecturer for CAO’s Optometric Assistant program for 10 years. Joyce loves sharing her passion for the optical industry and believes that we should never stop learning.
Aaron Winter, MD
Dr. Winter is a fellowship-trained ophthalmologist who treats a wide spectrum of eye conditions and specializes in paediatric and neuro-ophthalmology. His surgical expertise includes pediatric and adult cataract and strabismus. He acquired his Honours BSc (biology) from the University of Toronto, MSc (nutrition), and medical degree from McGill University. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Dalhousie University, followed by a fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School, and two pediatric ophthalmology fellowships at the University of British Columbia and University of California, San Diego. Dr. Winter is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Megan Kean, NP
Megan pronouns she/her/they, is a Nurse Practitioner in primary care in NS with 15 years of experience in nursing and a special interest in gender-affirming care. She graduated the Dalhousie Nurse Practitioner program this past May and is passionate improving access to gender-affirming care in Nova Scotia having completed a placement in the IWK Transhealth Clinic with Dr. Arati Mokashi. In her home life, Megan lives in Bedford, NS with her partner Ben and beautiful 10-year-old twins, Marshall and Brianna. Just before the pandemic hit in 2020, Megan's daughter Bri, came out as transgender and socially transitioned at school in grade 1. Today, Megan shares with us how gaps in gender-affirming care impact trans individuals and some ways that we can create gender-affirming spaces that promote and respect gender diversity through her unique lens as a mother of a transgender child and frontline healthcare worker.
Anne Marie Picone
Anne Marie has been a practicing pharmacist for over 40 years. She is currently the Interim Executive Director of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association and Interim Executive Director of the Association of Compounding Pharmacists of Canada.
In addition to providing relief pharmacist services in the Moncton area, Anne Marie is also an instructor at the New Brunswick Community College in Moncton, where she teaches Pharmacology, Law and Ethics, Community Pharmacy Theory and other courses in the Pharmacy Technician and Pharmacy Assistant Programs. Anne Marie has a wealth of experience, having served as President of the New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society, a precursor to the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists, and Chair of the Canadian Pharmacists Association’s Professional Affairs Committee. She has served on many other boards and committees across the profession in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. In addition to being awarded the Bowl of Hygeia from the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association in 2004, Anne Marie also received the Meritorious Service Award from the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists last year. And in 2007, the Canadian Pharmacists Association named Anne Marie one of the top 100 pharmacists in Canada who have made significant contributions to the profession of pharmacy in the past 100 years.
Josette LeBlanc, Territory Manager, Thea Pharma
Josette has been with Thea Pharma for 5 years as a Territory Manager, and has had a successful career in the Pharmaceutical industry specializing in Eye Care for over 20 years. Passionate about fitness, she is also a fitness and yoga instructor.
Dalyce Harquail, RN
Dalyce is a 1977 graduate of the BSc Nursing program at St Francis Xavier University. Most of her 42 years of nursing was spent as office manager and dermatology nurse, in the practice of Keeling, Hayes and Hunt Dermatology. She believes that success of a well run office is from mutual respect and team work. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and grand puppy, Kelly. She enjoys travelling, hiking and reading