I am so pleased to introduce COVT&R to the OVP readers! We are a newly formed organization, called the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation (COVT&R) that supports all things related to vision therapy and vision rehabilitation. We are 120+ members strong across Canada, including many students from our Optometry schools at the University of Waterloo and the University of Montreal.
We started as a small group of optometrists who met outside Toronto during OEP’s Regional Clinical Seminars (RCS). As word got out, more and more optometrists providing vision therapy services wanted to attend. In January 2014, we invited Dr. Rob Lewis and Dr. Gregory Kitchener as key lecturers to our inaugural study group. This dynamic duo selflessly shared with the attendees clinical pearls, insights and personal experiences with VT. Not only did they inspire and spark our thinking during the two days they were there, they also gave us invaluable guidance and advice about how to set up future study groups on our own. Needless to say, we were filled with excitement and enthusiasm. We wanted to share our experiences and education with other interested colleagues with similar interests and passion. We wanted to cast a wider net so we can help more patients. In May 2014 at our second study group, COVT&R was born with a discussion to expand our mandate beyond education to include public awareness of vision therapy.
We have been busy the last eight months getting the word out and promoting VT. We launched our website, www.visiontherapycanada.com, in December. We’ve been active with Autism Canada’s annual meeting, had speakers at the Down Syndrome Society meeting, Brain Injury Association of Canada, and National Institute for Learning Development, as well as a booth at the Academy of Ophthalmic Education meeting. We have lectured at the University of Montreal Optometry School to over 60 interested students and have many more exciting events planned for 2015.
Our mission statement is:
As Canadian Optometrists, we are dedicated to enhancing optometric education and public awareness of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation to improves the lives of our patients.
VT is such an important area in optometry and it requires a strong national representation. Our goal is to have each and every VT optometrist across Canada listed on our website so that VT is more visible to the public and to other health care professionals.
“Optometry is the fresh, exciting development of science. It now has the courage to strike out.
Let none of us fear to venture into this admirable profession. The excitement of it is contagious;
the opportunities of it are challenging; and the rewards of it are unlimiting.” ~ AM Skeffington ~
Come join with us as we stand up for and change the landscape of vision therapy and vision rehabilitation in Canada!
If you know of any Canadian colleagues that may be interested, please pass on the word!
Executive Board:
President and Liaison for the upcoming COVD Canada Chapter: Angela Peddle, OD, FCOVD
Vice-President: Virginia Donati, OD
Education and OEP representative: Patricia Fink, OD, FCOVD
Marketing: Fabian Tai, OD
Membership: Jonathan Wareham, OD
Treasurer: Shirley Ha, OD, FCOVD
Secretary: Michelle McKenzie, OD
Sincerely,
The Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation
We started as a small group of optometrists who met outside Toronto during OEP’s Regional Clinical Seminars (RCS). As word got out, more and more optometrists providing vision therapy services wanted to attend. In January 2014, we invited Dr. Rob Lewis and Dr. Gregory Kitchener as key lecturers to our inaugural study group. This dynamic duo selflessly shared with the attendees clinical pearls, insights and personal experiences with VT. Not only did they inspire and spark our thinking during the two days they were there, they also gave us invaluable guidance and advice about how to set up future study groups on our own. Needless to say, we were filled with excitement and enthusiasm. We wanted to share our experiences and education with other interested colleagues with similar interests and passion. We wanted to cast a wider net so we can help more patients. In May 2014 at our second study group, COVT&R was born with a discussion to expand our mandate beyond education to include public awareness of vision therapy.
We have been busy the last eight months getting the word out and promoting VT. We launched our website, www.visiontherapycanada.com, in December. We’ve been active with Autism Canada’s annual meeting, had speakers at the Down Syndrome Society meeting, Brain Injury Association of Canada, and National Institute for Learning Development, as well as a booth at the Academy of Ophthalmic Education meeting. We have lectured at the University of Montreal Optometry School to over 60 interested students and have many more exciting events planned for 2015.
Our mission statement is:
As Canadian Optometrists, we are dedicated to enhancing optometric education and public awareness of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation to improves the lives of our patients.
VT is such an important area in optometry and it requires a strong national representation. Our goal is to have each and every VT optometrist across Canada listed on our website so that VT is more visible to the public and to other health care professionals.
“Optometry is the fresh, exciting development of science. It now has the courage to strike out.
Let none of us fear to venture into this admirable profession. The excitement of it is contagious;
the opportunities of it are challenging; and the rewards of it are unlimiting.” ~ AM Skeffington ~
Come join with us as we stand up for and change the landscape of vision therapy and vision rehabilitation in Canada!
If you know of any Canadian colleagues that may be interested, please pass on the word!
Executive Board:
President and Liaison for the upcoming COVD Canada Chapter: Angela Peddle, OD, FCOVD
Vice-President: Virginia Donati, OD
Education and OEP representative: Patricia Fink, OD, FCOVD
Marketing: Fabian Tai, OD
Membership: Jonathan Wareham, OD
Treasurer: Shirley Ha, OD, FCOVD
Secretary: Michelle McKenzie, OD
Sincerely,
The Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation
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