Presenters

Dr. Blondeau is a Clinical Microbiologist and Head of Clinical Microbiology at Royal University Hospital (Saskatoon Health Region) and the University of Saskatchewan. He holds a Masters of Sciences in Microbiology from Dalhousie University (1985) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Microbiology from the University of Manitoba (1989). Following completion of his PhD, he completed a 1½ year post-doctoral training in an infectious diseases research laboratory at Dalhousie University and following which he completed a 2-year postdoctoral residency training program in Clinical Microbiology, also at Dalhousie. He holds appointments as a Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology, Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology. He teaches to undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of microbiology, infectious diseases, antimicrobial agents and pharmacology. 

Dr. Lewis first obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, graduating with distinction. He then decided to enter the medical field and began a Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Ottawa. After obtaining that degree, Dr. Lewis then finished his ophthalmology residency at Dalhousie University, and went on to complete a fellowship in corneal and external diseases at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Dr. Capogna received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo in 1998. She is a member of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, the College of Optometrists of Ontario, and the Ocular Nutrition Society. She is the founder of Eye Wellness, a new concept centre that brings together eye care and nutrition. Dr. Capogna is the author of Eyefoods: The Complete Eye Health and Nutrition Guide. In addition to writing numerous articles on the topic of nutrition and eye health, Dr. Capogna speaks frequently about these topics to fellow doctors and the public. Her mission is to inspire and educate eye care professionals and the public about the power of ocular nutrition and prevention.

Dr. Eadie is currently the Glaucoma Clinical Fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Dalhousie University in Halifax Nova Scotia.  He earned his MSc, MD, and PhD degrees at the University of British Columbia with a research focus in neuroscience, and specifically neural plasticity.  He also completed his ophthalmology FRCSC residency training at the University of British Columbia.  He has published several articles in both neuroscience and ophthalmology, and won multiple speaking and funding awards.  During his residency, he was selected as chief resident by his co-residents and facilitated many positive changes to the UBC Ophthalmology Residency training program.  Dr. Eadie enjoys engaging and teaching residents and medical students whenever possible.  Dr. Eadie will continue to focus his research efforts on improved glaucoma diagnostic tools and his clinical efforts on providing patients the best medical and surgical management available. 

Dr. Kelly is Professor of Pharmacology, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Anesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management, Dalhousie University. Professor Kelly is also the Executive Director of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, a Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids Board Member and past Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Panag Pharma Inc. Halifax. Dr. Kelly’s primary research expertise is in translational pharmacology and drug discovery. Her research addresses the pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis and cannabinoids can modify disease. She has published and edited more than 150 publications and books in the area of pharmacology, cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system and holds several patents in the area of cannabinoid drugs for therapeutic management of disease. 

Dr. Sherman is a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry and currently holds the position of Distinguished Teaching Professor at the State University of New York and Schnurmacher Institute of Vision Research. He continues to practice in the private sector at Omni Eye Surgery in Manhattan and is actively researching in the area of clinical ocular disease and special testing. His publications include over 750 clinical articles, research manuscripts, book chapters, two CD’s and 4 books. His Retina Revealed website at www.retinarevealed.com has hundreds of cases and nearly 3,000 images. This website, through the Review of Optometry,  is free to all. Jerry is also a Founding Member of both the Optometric Retina Society and the International Foundation for Optic Nerve Disease.  

Marilyn has been a Registered Optician since 1981. After working in the retail opticianry she joined the University of Waterloo (UW), School of Optometry in 1988. She was promoted to Manager of Optical Services in 1991 & was invited to join the Faculty as a Clinical Lecturer at the UW, School of Optometry & Vision Science in 2004. In her time with UW, Marilyn has lectured, taught labs, supervised in the Optical Services clinic & been involved in a variety of research projects. Marilyn retired from UW in June 2016. Marilyn has been hired by the COA to be the lead instructor in their distance education program, Canadian Certified Optometric Assistants (CCOA). She also offers in-office training & is a regular speaker at Canadian optometry conferences.

Ryan, National Sales Manager,  joined Eschenbach in 2004 as the Central Canada Territory Manager, covering the provinces of Ontario & Saskatchewan. In 2010, he was promoted to National Sales Manager for Canada covering Quebec and Ontario while also managing two other Territory Managers who cover the rest of the country. 

Barbara, Customer Outreach Specialist, began her career with Eschenbach in 2000 as a customer service representative. Within 2 years she was promoted to supervisor of the customer service department and maintained this position for 10 years before transitioning to Eschenbach’s outreach department in 2012. She is responsible for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as multiple states in the U.S. 

Dr. Smith is the Lead Optometrist at FYi Doctors in Spryfield, NS. Dr. Smith graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science in 1997 and went on to graduate from the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry in 2001. She has been practicing in Spryfield since 2005. FYiDoctors Spryfield is a primary care office with a referral-based specialty clinic in vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehab. Dr. Smith opened the vision therapy clinic in 2016 and provides therapy to those with binocular vision issues such as eye teaming, focusing and tracking problems. She treats children and adults with vision related learning dysfunctions, convergence insufficiency, amblyopia and non-surgical strabismus. Dr. Smith provides neuro-optometric rehabilitation to those with post traumatic vision syndrome from traumatic brain injuries such as concussions, whip lash injuries and stroke.