Dani Cadieux, MD
Dr. Dani Cadieux is a hospital-based Cornea & External Eye Disease specialist in the Department of Ophthalmology in Visual Sciences. Originally from Ontario, she completed her university degree in Humans Kinetics at The University of Guelph followed by a Medical Degree at Western University. Following her residency training in Ophthalmology at Dalhousie University, she completed a fellowship in Cornea & External Eye Disease in Melbourne, Australia. During her residency, she also completed a Masters in Health Professions Education through the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands and is now Program Director for the Dalhousie University ophthalmology residency training program.
Michelle Stewart
Michelle is one of Canada’s premier innovators, Michelle Stewart is a veteran of conferences, classrooms, and symposiums. Michelle works in various pharmacy settings throughout the province, actively utilizing the entirety of her scope in providing much needed services. Her volunteer work includes contributions in both advocacy and regulation as prior Board Director for the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia and her currently held position as Councilor, Nova Scotia’s College of Pharmacists. She has also shared her expertise on endeavors by CPHA, Neighborhood Pharmacy Association, OPA & NAPRA and has created her own pharmacy podcast series, Canadian Pharmer. Michelle strives to implement services that are most needed within communities, which has prompted her to acquire specialized training. Chronic Disease Management Certification, Certified Diabetes Educator, Anticoagulation Management Certification and Lab Test Certification have enabled her to demonstrate the value of pharmacists in primary care.
Mostafa Hanout, MD
Dr. Hanout is currently practicing as a vitreoretinal surgeon at Apex Eye Instiute and Western Memorial Regional Hospital. He joined the Department of Ophthalmology at Western Health, Newfoundland as a vitreoretinal surgeon in June 2019 , moving from Toronto. His journey through ophthalmology training has been diverse with important stops at world-renowned institutions. He completed his Ophthalmology Residency in Egypt (2005-2010) and then practiced as attending ophthalmic surgeon for two years. In 2012 he moved to the USA to start a one-year clinical/research fellowship in the Diseases of the retina and Uveitis at the Wilmer Eye Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Following which, he moved to the Stanley Truhlsen Eye Institute of the University of Nebraska Medical Center for two years as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Clinical Trials Manager where he was overseeing large interventional clinic trials and working with major medical regulatory bodies in the USA including the FDA. In 2015, Dr Hanout moved to Canada and started a two-year Vitreoretinal Surgery fellowship at the University of Toronto - St. Michael's Hospital, during which, he had intensive high-volume surgical training in the management of vitreoretinal disorders ranging from straightforward to the most complex cases in one of the largest centers in Canada. Finally, he concluded his sub-specialty training in ophthalmology with a two-year surgical fellowship in Ocular Oncology at the University of Toronto - Princess Margaret Hospital. Dr. Hanout authored and co-authored over 30 publications between original investigations, case reports, novel surgical techniques and book chapters. He received multiple awards in acknowledgement of his achievements including "Silver-U" award from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and two Rhett Buckler awards from the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Dena Weitzman, OD FAAO
Dr. Weitzman graduated from the Indiana University School of Optometry in 2010, followed by a residency at the Illinois College of Optometry. She began her career as the Vice President of Optometry at the Infant Welfare Society in Chicago. Transitioning to academia, she joined Midwestern University, Downers Grove, in 2015 as faculty, eventually rising to the role of Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs. Presently, she serves as the Director of Scientific Affairs at Digital Diagnostics, the first company to receive FDA clearance for an AI diagnostic platform. With an unwavering commitment to educating healthcare providers on the optimal utilization of AI, she actively engages diverse healthcare disciplines through speaking engagements and publications, advocating for its safe, ethical and effective integration.
Jodi Posavad, Founder, Lead Consultant
As a consultant, I have been around enough to know that your HR requirements are as unique as your business, so all my solutions are tailored to fit your specific needs. My consulting services range from as little as an hour a month to more frequent in-house, hands-on support.
As the Founder and Lead Consultant at Grassroots HR, Jodi Posavad knows first hand the challenges that many organizations face when it comes to human resources. From downsizing and succession planning to start-ups with rapid growth and everything in between, Jodi offers people-focused solutions that work.
With over 25 years experience on both the corporate side and as a consultant, Jodi brings a high-level of professionalism, integrity and authenticity to all her work. Known by many of her clients as a trusted partner for all things HR, Jodi offers everything from ad hoc advice and project-based initiatives to more rigorous on-site support. She focuses on helping to identify your key challenges and customizing solutions to fit your capacity and budget.
Outside of business hours, Jodi extends her passion for people and development as an active volunteer in her local community of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She currently serves as a Board Member for both Junior Achievement of NS and Nourish Nova Scotia.
Wes McCann, OD
Dr. McCann earned his two Bachelor of Science degrees (both with honours) at Western University in London, Ontario, before going on to earn his Bachelor of Vision Science, accelerated MBA, and Doctor of Optometry degrees at the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During his time at NSU, Dr. McCann was president of the student government and was awarded the Student of the Year award. He also maintained full honour roll status and earned the Dan & Hoffman Award for clinical excellence, as well as an award recognizing his skill in contact lens management.
While in Florida, Dr. McCann completed several clinical internships at Eyes Centers of South Florida in Miami and Aker Kasten Eye Center in Boca Raton. He also completed clinical rotations that focused on contact lenses, primary care, and pediatric optometry at NSU. Dr. McCann owns eight practices in the London and surrounding area and is a professional consultant for Johnson & Johnson Visioncare. He has been on the faculty at the Canadian Dry Eye Summit numerous times and lectured at hundreds of events/conferences and across various platforms on contact lenses, ocular disease, dry eye disease, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. He is a KOL, consultant and/or speaks for companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Bausch & Lomb pharmaceutical division, Labtician, Thea, Oculus, Clarion, Zeiss, and Sun Pharma. He has enjoyed teaching clinical externs from the Waterloo School of Optometry in the past, has served on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Optometrists in 2016-2018, and is currently on the Board of Directors for Eye Recommend. He has been published in numerous journals including Review of Optometry and Review of Myopia Management. For the 2016/2017 year, Dr. McCann also served on the board of directors for the Ontario Association of Optometrists, and is currently serving on the board of directors for Eye Recommend. Dr. McCann is practicing in his hometown of London, Ontario.
Mairin Hogan, Orthoptist
Mairin is an Orthoptist and Low Vision Specialist with Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada. Originally from Dartmouth, she completed her university degree in Medical Sciences at Dalhousie University, followed by her Orthoptic clinical training at the IWK Health Care Centre within the Clinical Vision Sciences Program. She is currently completing her Master of Science at Dalhousie University, studying novel therapeutics for amblyopia. Her paper, entitled “Investigation of the Efficacy and Safety of Retinal Inactivation as a Treatment for Amblyopia in Cats” was published in June 2023. Additionally, Mairin is a member of the Canadian National Institute of the Blind’s Strategic Leadership Council in Nova Scotia.
Ange MacCabe, CEO Intuity Performance
As the CEO of Intuity Performance, Ange MacCabe is passionate about elevating leaders, business owners, and teams through 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 coaching, training and facilitation. Throughout her past 10-plus years of senior-level HR experience, Ange had seen firsthand the negative impacts on engagement, productivity and turnover when individual human needs go unmet in the workplace. It became clear that a strategy focused on the WHOLE PERSON was needed to develop individuals and teams more effectively with a
human-centric approach. In 2019, Ange compiled her life and leadership lessons as the guiding principles when co-founding Intuity Performance. Since then, Ange has worked tirelessly to help individuals and teams in tech, biotech, health, government, and NGOs across North America achieve growth and success through understanding themselves, their needs, and how to put their best leadership foot forward. Ange is working on the next generation of emotionally intelligent leadership learning through an AI SAAS platform. Ange is a certified Performance Coach (ACC), Facilitator, Assessor (DISC and EI-Q), and Human Resources Practitioner and was awarded the Top 25 HR Professionals in Canada (2016 HR Reporter), Top 40 Under 40 Canada (Business Elite Awards 2023) RBC’s Women of Interest Nominee three years running (2022 & 2023 & 2024), and The Halifax Chamber Exporter of the Year Finalist (2023). Ange has a passion for people, knows people, and what it takes to help them thrive as a whole,
emotionally intelligent professional or leader.
Todd Deforest, RO
Todd has been practicing for almost 20 years now. I have worked in almost every type of dispensary there is from box store to independent Opticals and multi OD offices, also I was on the Ontario Opticians Association board for a few years as well. I taught for several years at Georgian College in Ontario, teaching the Optician course before moving out to the East Coast. Currently, I am the Training and Development Manager for Hoya Vision Canada.
Kristine Dalton, OD
Dr. Dalton is an Associate Professor at the School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, where she founded the Sports Vision Clinic, co-founded the Brain Injury Clinic, and provides performance vision enhancement and vision rehabilitation services for athletes and individuals with traumatic brain injury (concussion). Kristine has also established the Vision & Motor Performance lab, and her research interests include sports performance, traumatic brain injury rehabilitation in able-bodied and Para sport, and Paralympic classification for athletes with vision impairment. Kristine is a member of the Concussion in Para Sport group, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and a Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association.
Michael Thorne, MD
Dr. Thorne is originally from Saint John, N.B. He graduated from Dalhousie with a BSc in Neuroscience in 2006, MSc Pharmacology in 2008, and did some pre-clinical neuroscience research until 2010. He then went on to enroll in Dalhousie School of Medicine and graduated in 2014, followed by post-graduate residency training in adult neurology at Dalhousie between 2014-2019. Additional training includes a multiple sclerosis research fellowship in 2020 and a clinical neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at UBC Vancouver in 2021. He has been an assistant professor in the department of medicine (neurology) since 2019, and the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences since 2021, and currently works as an academic neurologist at NSHA with subspecialty interest in multiple sclerosis and neuro-ophthalmology. He has research interests in MS pathology and immunology, MS clinical trials, neuro-oncology, and exploring genetic and endocrine factors associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
Christina Logee
Christina has been in the optical industry for more than 27 years as an optician. She has held multiple positions over the decades, as a store manager, a regional manager, and now a Practice Advisor with OSI. She has a love of professional development, she has been a Regional Trainer, a Director of Professional Development, a public speaker, an instructor with SAIT for the Optical Sciences program, and the President of the College of Opticians of Alberta.
Andre Stanberry, OD
Dr. Stanberry completed his optometry degree at the State University of New York College of Optometry, followed by a residency in Ocular Disease and Family Practice. With a strong commitment to managing chronic eye conditions, he joined the faculty at the University of Waterloo in 2016. As an Associate Clinical Professor and Clinic Director, he has integrated his interests in public health and clinical administration to enhance eye care services.
Dr. Stanberry's research, focusing on eye diseases and public health, has been featured in several peer-reviewed journals, and he is an active presenter at international conferences, advocating for better access to eye care. His professional contributions underscore a dedication to advancing eye health and patient care through education and research.
Sarah Bureau, RO
Sarah is a registered optician and a small business owner at sbspecs. Sarah specializes in frame repair and modification of all types of frames. Sarah has clients worldwide that send their eyewear to Sarah for modification. She combines the artistry with the craft of Opticianry.
Michael W. Naugle, OD
Dr. Naugle acquired his Bachelor of Science Degree with honours from the University of New Brunswick. He then attended the University of Waterloo where he received his Doctorate of Optometry with honours in 1992. Acquired a second-generation practice in 1996 in Moncton New Brunswick and built it to a four partner, 4 associate practice with 5 locations. Managing partner of Alliance Vision Clinic from 2003-2008 and FYi Moncton Lead OD until 2016. Presently serving as the Vice President of Optometric Partnerships for FYi Doctors with main responsibilities involving national overview of mergers and acquisitions of independent optometry practices, recruitment of new OD’s, as well as overview of Clinical Specialties and Eye Care Optimization.
He has served in the following positions and roles: Council of New Brunswick Association of Optometrists (1996-2003, President 2000-2002), Registrar of College 1996-1998; Vice Chairman of the FYi Board of Directors from inception in 2008 until 2016; Vice Chairman of FYi Advisory Committee (AC) from inception in 2010-2015 and Board of Directors and Chair of Canadian Coalition of EyeCare Professionals (2010-2013).