Christina Chen, OD
Dr. Chen completed her Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Waterloo and was the recipient of the VSP/AAOF Practice Excellence Award and the Alcon Award for Excellence in Contact Lenses. She went on to pursue a Cornea and Contact Lens Residency at the University of Waterloo, where she served as a clinical supervisor and lecturer. Dr. Chen has extensive experience utilizing specialty contact lenses and medical therapy in the management of progressive myopia in children. She is passionate about fitting therapeutic contact lenses for various ocular conditions.
Ashley Margeson, ND, BSN | Cornerstone Naturopathic Inc
Dr. Margeson is a Naturopathic Doctor who is obsessed with hormones and the role they play in our lives. She and her partner own and operate Cornerstone Naturopathic Inc - a Halifax, NS clinic focused on Burnout Recovery and Prevention. She is the co-founder of Burnout Blueprint, an online course to help busy people recover and prevent burnout. Dr. Ashley is the host of The Superwoman Code; a weekly podcast educating busy women about how to make their health work for them, not against them. She has been featured on Thrive Global, The Strategist, The Globe and Mail, and Cosmopolitan Magazine, and is a regular contributor to Global and CTV Morning Live. In her non-clinic time, she is dog mum to Loki, full-time step-mum to Caleb and Elise, and freelance consultant to companies and organizations looking to build Burnout Prevent Strategies into their workplaces. Connect online with Dr. Ashley at www.ashleymargeson.com or via her Social Channels (Instagram| Facebook)
Jonathan Niavis, OD
Dr. Niavis completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo and shortly returned for his Doctorate of Optometry. Dr. Niavis completed an accredited residency in Pediatrics and Vision Therapy Rehabilitation as well at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Niavis continues to supervise in the Pediatrics, and Binocular Vision clinics at the School of Optometry, while also seeing patients of his own in a vision therapy private practice.
Deborah Jones BSc FCOptom FAAO
Dr. Jones is a Clinical Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science and a Clinical Scientist at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Her main area of clinical focus is in pediatric optometry and her main area of research activity is in the area of myopia control. Debbie has a keen interest in the eyecare needs of indigenous peoples and has provided eyecare to a remote community in Northern Ontario on a number of occasions. Trained in the UK, Debbie has been a faculty member at the School of Optometry and Vision Science for 24 years. She is formally a partner in an award winning private practice in the UK and has published articles in optometric journals and regularly presents at optometric conferences worldwide. She is a Fellow of the British College of Optometrists, The British Contact Lens Association and also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.
Sheila Morrison, OD
Dr. Morrison received her Doctorate of Optometry, Masters Degree in Vision Science, and contact lens residency training at Pacific University College of Optometry. She has past served on faculty at the University of Houston College of Optometry and is a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society. Currently she practices at Mission Eye Care Center for Dry Eye and Corneal Disease, where she co-founded the Myopia Academy. She has been published in numerous academic journals including Eye and Contact Lens, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Review of Optometry, Contact Lens Spectrum, Review of Myopia Management, and the Journal of Contact Lens Research and Science. Clinical research and lecturing on topics related to specialty contact lenses and myopia management are an ongoing passion for Dr. Morrison while serving in private practice.
Mauricio Aldrete, MD
Dr. Aldrete is New Brunswick's pediatric ophthalmologist, based at the Dr. Georges L Dumont University Hospital. Dr. Aldrete completed his medical degree at the Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, then completed ophthalmology residency training at the Monterrey Institute of Technology. After rotating at the Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia), he completed a two-year fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at the IWK Health Centre/Dalhousie University, in Halifax. Dr. Aldrete has a keen interest in global healthcare, and has provided his surgical skills to patients/underserviced areas in Saint Lucia, Mexico and Central America. Dr. Aldrete has been practicing is in the Greater Moncton Area and Bathurst for the last 2 years, providing ophthalmological care for kids and adults with strabismus in English, French and Spanish.
Kim Kochendorfer, Registered Optician
Kim is a Myopia Management Specialist for HOYA Vision Canada. Kim grew up surrounded by innovative eye care professionals. While she took the Optician’s course at NAIT, she worked in her mom’s specialty contact lens clinic where she learned to fit patients with complicated prescriptions. But the one case that sparked her passion for eye care was very simple. This patient was -4.00 and in their early twenties. This was their first pair of glasses! Imagine what it was like for them to live with 20/400 vision! As they wept with joy at seeing clearly for the first time, Kim realized working in eye care is so much more than selling glasses or contact lenses, what we do is life changing. When Kim became a territory manager for HOYA 7 years ago, she discovered she also had a passion for teaching. Kim's passion for vision and education drove her to become an award-winning Territory Manager, and Field Technical Expert, often speaking on HOYA’s behalf. Now Kim is the Myopia Management Specialist for HOYA Canada. As a high myope herself, she understands the daily challenges that those who are near-sighted face. Kim is excited to be spreading the word about how we can change children’s lives by treating their myopia today!
Mitchell Feero, Licensed Optician Manager
Mitchell graduated from St. Thomas University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued on to University of Maine at Presque Isle for an Associate’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science. From there he joined Downtown Optometry Clinic in 2015 as a pretesting technician. With a keen interest in education and growth, he studied and became a Canadian Certified Optometric Assistant in 2016. Discovering his passion in the dispensary, Mitchell trained to become a licensed optician and in 2018 graduated from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology as the top student in New Brunswick. In 2019 he completed the Myopia Management course from the Brien Holden Vision Institute and most recently completed the Management Development Program from University of New Brunswick. Mitchell is currently the managing Optician at Downtown Optometry Clinic. A busy five doctor Optometry practice in Fredericton, New Brunswick that specializes in unique eyewear to fit every budget. Frame selection, adjustments and repairs are his passion, and specifically working with children. He loves to fit kids with their first pair of glasses. Seeing their eyes light up when they put them on is his favorite part of the job. When not in the optical, he enjoys camping with his husband and their two dogs—Finn and Blue. He has a love for indoor plants, spin classes, and spending time outdoors.
Allison Scott, OD
Dr. Scott graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2006. She has been practicing in the Halifax area since graduation and enjoys working in a family practice, sometimes seeing multiple family generations. She has also recently started a specialty contact lens practice. Dr. Scott has been on the NSAO council since 2011 and has served many roles, including president. Dr Scott has served on their public education and continuing education committees. She is also an official with Skate Canada and enjoys volunteering at local events in the capacity of figure skating judge.
Dr. Devan Trischuk, OD
Dr. Trischuk was born and raised in Yorkton, SK. He completed his Bachelor of Science – Honours Physiology degree at the University of Alberta in 2007 and his Doctor of Optometry – Dean’s Honour List at the University of Waterloo in 2011. He received the Michael Gutwein Memorial Award for his graduating class at Waterloo. He was honored to have been selected in 2018 as one of the top “40 Under 40” optometrists in Canada by Johnson and Johnson Vision. Dr. Trischuk’s interest in optometry started from a young age with yearly visits to his optometrist for stronger glasses due to his rapidly progressing myopia. Myopia Management has become one of his main areas of interest and he enjoys working with children and families in an attempt to control and slow it’s progression to ensure years of health vision for his youngest patients! Dr. Trischuk has taken his interest in Myopia Management a step further and has begun lecturing across Canada to other optometrists and health care professionals on this topic. Other optometric interests include specialty contact lenses, ocular disease management and co-managing refractive surgery options for his patients. He is a proud father of three children, Emma, Desmond and Willa, and husband to wife Jen, and enjoys getting outdoors and being active with his family in his free time!
Chrisy Rodgerson, Training & Development Consultant, Essilor Canada
Chrisy is a professional trainer & recognized leader specializing in developing and implementing effective national training and development programs that will assist our core business partners to achieve success in Canada’s demanding and ever changing optometric business sector. With over 10 years’ experience with Essilor Canada, her passion for helping improve lives by improving sight is at the core of every interaction.