In health care, there’s a mantra about the right care at the right place and right time. As I reflect upon the past eight years as director of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, it seems like a fitting summary as my term comes to an end. The talent and commitment have always been here. I was just fortunate to be able to bring my Canadian upbringing and U.S. experience to help our incredible faculty, staff and students fulfil their potential together with the profession. Didn’t hurt to have a dad as a prof here to help me connect with the alumni either!
I remember my first Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) Congress in June 2017, just before I started my new role. Everyone was incredibly warm and welcoming, and many were eager to share stories about me as a kid and Dad as a prof. Definitely some entertaining walks down memory lane – and also a signal that I was home. As I got to know the passionate, knowledgeable optometrists and vision researchers from across the country, I was struck by how much they do to help their communities and how open they are to working together. Everything we’ve accomplished has been driven by that spirit of openness and collaboration with a view towards helping patients and students.
In travelling across the country, I’ve been privileged to witness the leadership of the profession share a compelling vision of optometry in a future that includes scope modernisation, children’s vision initiatives and better access to eye care for Indigenous communities, to name a few. The granting of royal assent to Bill C-284 for a national strategy for eye care was a watershed moment. Kudos to the CAO for working closely with the Hon. Judy Sgro to realize a longstanding goal and public health priority. Together, we have an opportunity to shape a strategy that recognizes optometry’s integral role in health care and research.
Relationships require a spark to generate that “aha” moment where you can clearly see one another and imagine a truly aspirational future. The Seeing Beyond 2020 campaign steering committee, along with the longstanding dedication of Andrea Carthew and then Kelsey Gagnon, were instrumental in making our collective dreams a reality. Drs. Marta Witer, Carol Cressman, Al Ulsifer and Victor Spear have been incredibly generous in sharing their time, talent and treasure. Momentum started with the donation of the FYidoctors Simulation Lab, which opened in 2018, bringing the latest technology to Canada to support clinical education and training. The movement gained more momentum as alumni and non-alumni alike began to see the School as a resource to support the profession and our patients.
Our “moonshot” project to build the Waterloo Eye Institute as Canada’s premier centre for optometric care, research and education is well underway. We have raised more than $29 million of our $35 million goal and the once-in-a-generation renovation, expansion and reorganization is proceeding well. We successfully moved the Waterloo clinic to an interim location in October 2024 and patient satisfaction scores have been as good or better than ever. For all of this, I thank every donor, staff and faculty member – so many people have come together to make our moonshot a success.
I’ve been repeatedly awestruck by the talent and dedication of our students and alumni. They’re bright, curious, personable, creative and passionate about what they do. Each individual goes on to make an impact in their community and field. Thanks to the faculty and staff who ensure the outstanding educational experience at UWaterloo. Thanks also to each student and grad for their perseverance in realizing their dreams.
Optometrists across the country have come a long way in the push to modernize and optimize our scope to benefit patients. The advocacy efforts of associations in many provinces have gained significant traction – there’s an air of “when,” not “if” it will happen. We’ve acted as a national resource by supporting advocacy efforts and providing information and education. We’ve certified nearly 180 working optometrists in office-based laser and minor surgical procedures. We’ve been training students in injections since 2011 and laser procedures since 2020. The profession is ready to do more to care for our patients and alleviate the burden on the health-care system. Thanks to everyone for their advocacy efforts, from the grassroots to the legislatures. Thanks also to our faculty, students, continuing professional development (CPD) team and every CPD participant.
Another project that’s starting to come together is the effort to build a national eye data repository. Working with data scientists, AI researchers, associations across the country and other parties such as the Southern Chiefs’ Organization in Manitoba, we’re co-developing data governance policies and figuring out the structure and use cases of the Can-View Eye Data Repository. With the University of Waterloo’s amazing talent and know-how, we anticipate Can-View’s high-quality, de-identified eye data will advance AI-driven research, policy and innovation in vision and eye health nationwide. Why can’t we be the Stanford or MIT of the north?
We have also begun to work with partners across the country to develop a national framework and guidance on extending eyecare services to remote Indigenous communities. Currently, we are conducting research and exploring best practices. Thanks to everyone who has been involved so far – and thanks in advance to the additional people we hope will get involved in the future.
Part of the strategy will involve teleoptometry as a complement to in-person care. This will help patients in rural, remote and Indigenous communities obtain the continuous eye care they need to ensure they’re seeing well and to monitor chronic diseases and conditions. Teleoptometry could also help bring specialty services such as low vision rehabilitation and vision therapy to these communities. Thanks to the researchers who have been investigating patient and clinician experiences and best practices, as well as the associations and community organizations that have participated in pilot projects to increase access to care.
In striving to be a national resource for the profession and public, our team has continued to tackle major initiatives with welcome help from many, many partners. We’re exploring the opportunity to help start two new schools of optometry in Canada, we’ve developed outreach projects to bring vision care to underserved populations and we've continuously updated the curriculum. Our strategic plan has focused our School’s vision, guided numerous research projects from cell to society, and aligned commercialization and entrepreneurship opportunities too.
I’ve shared a small handful of names in this message but there are countless other individuals and organizations to thank. I’m immensely grateful to the whole eye and vision community nationwide – faculty, staff, students, researchers, optometrists, associations, regulatory bodies, industry partners, alumni, donors, policymakers, community organizations and other friends. It’s been an amazing time and an honour to be director of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science. I have every confidence in our transition plan, with the incredible Dr. Ben Thompson coming in as the next director. I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for us all. Thanks again to everyone for all that you do.
With gratitude,
Stanley Woo, OD, MS, MBA, FAAO
