2025 OAO Symposium Speakers
Dr. Kriti Bhagat, OD
Dr. Kriti Bhagat is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University.
Dr. Kriti Bhagat is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University and completed a Cornea and Contact Lens residency at Salus University. She is the owner and founder of Eyediology Vision, a cold-start private practice concentrating on cornea and specialty contact lenses. She is an adjunct professor at Salus University, a continuing education speaker, and in her spare time, she is a book editor for publishing houses.
Dr. Richard E. Castillo, OD
Dr. Rich Castillo, OD, DO, FASOS is the founding dean of the University of North Carolina College of Optometric Medicine (2024).
Dr. Rich Castillo, OD, DO, FASOS is the founding dean of the University of North Carolina College of Optometric Medicine (2024). He a recipient of the Arkansas Optometric Association’s "Outstanding Service Award," the Oklahoma Association’s Distinguished Service Award, named "Distinguished Friend" of the Illinois College of Optometry, acknowledged by the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners for outstanding contributions to the advancement of optometric care, and is the recipient of a Special Citation from the Oklahoma House of Representatives for Contributions to the Advancement of Surgical Eyecare in the State of Oklahoma.
Dr. Teddy Chow, OD
Following his master's degree in Neuroscience, Teddy received his Doctor of Optometry from Indiana University.
Following his master's degree in Neuroscience, Teddy received his Doctor of Optometry from Indiana University. After graduation, he joined his family practice in Markham, focusing primarily on orthokeratology and myopia management, where he continues part-time today. Currently, Teddy is pursuing a doctoral degree in Vision Science under the supervision of Dr. Lyndon Jones and Dr. Paul Gifford. His research centers on the dynamics of tear layer profiles and corneal molding using custom-designed orthokeratology lenses. An international lecturer on ortho-k and myopia management, Teddy also enjoys spending time with his two children, meditation, and playing video games.
Deborah Jones, BSc
Debbie Jones is a Clinical Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Waterloo.
Debbie Jones, BSc, FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA is a Clinical Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science and a Lead Clinical Scientist at the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE), at the University of Waterloo.
Her main area of clinical focus is pediatric optometry and her main research activity is in myopia control.
Debbie has been a faculty member at the School of Optometry and Vision Science since 1998. A former partner in an award-winning private practice in the UK, she is a Fellow of the British College of Optometrists, the British Contact Lens Association and the American Academy of Optometry.
Dr. Sophia Leung, OD
Dr. Sophia Leung is the Principal Optometrist at Seema Eye Care Center, a tertiary surgical center in Calgary, Alberta.
Dr. Sophia Leung is the Principal Optometrist at Seema Eye Care Center, a tertiary surgical center in Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Leung has a clinical emphasis in medical cornea and advanced glaucoma. Dr. Leung is a University of Waterloo alumni, completed an Ocular Disease and Refractive Surgery Residency, and an Advanced Glaucoma and Cornea Fellowship with Oklahoma Medical Eye Group. Dr. Leung is the current President of the Alberta Association of Optometrists, a Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry in the Anterior Segment Section, and a Fellow of the Canadian College of Specialties in Optometry. She is also Adjunct Faculty for NSUOCO and University of Waterloo.
Dr. Carolyn Majcher, OD
Carolyn Majcher is a Doctor of Optometry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Optometric Retina Society.
Carolyn Majcher is a Doctor of Optometry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and Optometric Retina Society. She received her Doctorate of Optometry from Salus University and completed an ocular disease residency at the Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Following completion of her residency, Dr. Majcher served as Chief of the Retinal Disease Clinic and an Assistant Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry for 8 years. In 2019 she joined Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry where she serves as Director of Residency Programs and Professor.
Dr. Amit Mathur, OD
Dr. Amit Mathur is Adjunct Faculty at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo Eye Institute and Senior Advisor, Innovation and Partnerships to LV Prasad Eye Institute.
Dr. Amit Mathur is Adjunct Faculty at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo Eye Institute and Senior Advisor, Innovation and Partnerships to LV Prasad Eye Institute. The LV Prasad eye care network consists of over 250 eye care centres which have cared for over 35 million patients since inception, an innovation lab, and teaching facilities. He is a founding board member of the international committee of Latin American Ophthalmic Society of Imaging and AI. He was the cofounder of one of Canada’s first private Canadian telehealth companies called Livecare Health and the founding President and Director of CloudMD Software & Services Inc. (TSXV:DOC). He is a member of the Stakeholder and Lower-Middle Income Country (LMIC) committees at Collaborative Community in Ophthalmic Innovation (CCOI).
Dr. Langis Michaud, OD
Dr Langis Michaud is graduated from École d’optométrie de l’Université de Montréal where he also obtained his Master’s Degree in physiological optics.
Dr Langis Michaud is graduated from École d’optométrie de l’Université de Montréal in 1986 where he also obtained his Master’s Degree in physiological optics (1998). He received also a diploma in Public Administration from École Nationale d’Administration Publique (ENAP) in 2006. He is a full professor and practices at Université de Montréal since 2001, as the chief of the contact lens department and served as a Dean of the School (2020-22).
He is Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (Diplomate), the British Contact Lens Association, the Scleral Lens Education Society and of the European Academy of Optometry.
Dr Michaud’s main research interests are myopia control, scleral contact lenses, keratoneuralgia and anterior segment irregularities like keratoconus. He is also interested in ocular manifestations of Fabry disease. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and publications or professional reviews. He is an author of many book chapters and more recently co-author of the only book pertaining to myopia management. Because of his expertise he is a regular speaker at major optometric and ophthalmology meetings around the world.
Dr. Komal Patel, OD
Komal Patel, O.D. earned her Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry.
Komal Patel, O.D. earned her Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry. She completed a Primary Care residency at the Oklahoma College of Optometry (NSUOCO) specializing in ocular disease and advanced procedures. Dr. Patel currently serves as an Assistant Professor at NSUOCO. She has lectured at conferences across the United States and Canada on the subspecialties of laser procedures, minor surgical procedures, and ocular disease. Dr. Patel is a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the first female Fellow of the American Academy of Optometric Medicine and Surgery. She is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, American Optometric Association, Canadian Association of Optometrists, and College of Optometrists of Ontario.
Dr. Paul Rollett, OD
Since graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2011, Dr. Rollett has dedicated his career to vision therapy, which has become his professional passion.
Since graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2011, Dr. Rollett has dedicated his career to vision therapy, which has become his professional passion. Based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Dr. Rollett leads Okanagan Vision Therapy, a network of centres focused on vision therapy and neuro-visual rehabilitation for patients of all ages. In addition to his clinical work, he regularly consults with new and growing practices across North America, helping them establish a foundation for success.
Dr Patrick Sauvageau, OD
Dr Sauvageau is an optometrist and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience spanning clinical practice, research, teaching, and leadership.
Dr Patrick Sauvageau, OD, MSc, is an optometrist and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience spanning clinical practice, research, teaching, and leadership. He is the founder of Zilia, a medical device company revolutionizing eye disease prevention through AI-driven technology. Owner of the Optiboutiq clinic in Quebec City since 2012, Dr. Sauvageau has received numerous awards for his entrepreneurial achievements. As vice president of the Quebec Optometric Association, he also serves on the Canadian Association of Optometrists' Teleoptometry and AI Committee. Recently named one of Quebec's most influential technology leaders by The Peak, he is dedicated to advancing eye care innovation.
Mike Schaekermann
Mike Schaekermann is a senior research scientist at Google Health AI in Toronto. His research is located at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence (AI) and medicine.
Mike Schaekermann is a senior research scientist at Google Health AI in Toronto. His research is located at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence (AI) and medicine. Mike has led human-centered research for medical AI in various contexts including large language models, multimodal models, and health equity. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo, Canada, after completing his BScE degree in Salzburg, Austria and preclinical examinations in Medicine in Marburg, Germany. Mike's research has been recognized by multiple awards including the Google PhD Fellowship and the Canadian Computer Science Distinguished Dissertation Award.
Dr. Vishakha Thakrar, OD
Dr. Vishakha Thakrar is founder and director of Vaughan Vision Centre, an advanced specialty contact lens clinic that focusses on complex scleral lens fitting, myopia management, and advanced dry eye treatment.
Dr. Vishakha Thakrar is founder and director of Vaughan Vision Centre, an advanced specialty contact lens clinic that focusses on complex scleral lens fitting, myopia management, and advanced dry eye treatment. After receiving her cornea and contact lens residency, she started her career as the Director of the Contact Lens Service at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic. She later helped establish the Scleral Lens Clinic at the Kensington Eye Institute in Toronto. She speaks internationally and has written extensively on contact lenses, corneal disease and myopia management. She is co-founder of the Canadian Contact Lens Association, and is currently co-investigator of the Myopia in Practice Study. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the Scleral Lens Society.
Dr. Denise A. Valenti, OD
Dr. Denise A. Valenti is the founder of IMMAD, LLC - Impairment Measurement and Marijuana, which provides services, consulting and development of technology for the responsible use of cannabis.
Dr. Denise A. Valenti is the founder of IMMAD, LLC - Impairment Measurement and Marijuana. The company provides services, consulting and development of technology for the responsible use of cannabis. Dr. Valenti has over three decades of experience in working with patients with sensory impairment, cognitive dysfunction, vision and age-related changes as well as the driving experience.
Dr. Valenti has received US National Institutes of Health funding to develop technology specific to the detection of impairment functions specific to driving. More currently IMMAD has active IRB approved protocols to investigate retina function as it relates to real-car, closed-road driving.
Dr. Stanley Woo, OD
Dr. Woo is the Director of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science. Previously, he served as Dean of the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
Dr. Woo is the Director of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science. Previously, he served as Dean of the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University for 4 years supporting a transformation into an interprofessional health sciences university.
He received his Doctorate of Optometry from the University of California at Berkeley. At the University of Houston College of Optometry, he completed a Master’s in Vision Science and a residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation. He joined UHCO as a faculty member and held the positions of Chief of the Vision Rehabilitation Service, Founding Director of the UEI Center for Sight Enhancement, and Director of the Residency in Low Vision Rehabilitation.
Dr. Woo also practiced part-time in the Texas Medical Center with the Retina Consultants of Houston for 18 years. In 2013, he completed an MBA with a concentration in medical and health care management at Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business.
He is a Diplomate in low vision rehabilitation with the American Academy of Optometry, and a member of the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute and Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Woo is an active volunteer with the KW4 Ontario Health Team. His research interests include AI, ophthalmic imaging, public health policy, vision rehabilitation, and systems for optimizing patient care outcomes.
