Dr. Wong grew up in Montreal and moved to Edmonton when she was twelve. Recalling the difference she experienced after her first eye exam and first pair of glasses, Dr. Wong became devoted to providing people with the same experience. Dr. Wong obtained her Doctor of Optometry in 1993 from University of Waterloo. Dr. Wong believes in the importance of building a relationship with her patients, and finds it important to treat her patients with the same level of care she would provide to a family member. She consistently makes effort to remain up to date on advancements and technology in optometry.

Dr. Wong marvels over the fact that some of her patients she started seeing as young children are now attending optometry school. “It makes me realize how quickly the years have gone by; I only hope that I was a good role model for them.”

Dr. Ens was born in Edmonton and grew up in Grande Prairie. At a young age, he developed a fascination with sight, one of our most diverse and complex senses. After shadowing his optometrist, Dr. Ens knew optometry was his ideal career. He returned to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta and in 2009, was awarded Bachelor of Science degree with distinction. In 2014, Dr. Ens obtained his Doctor of Optometry at the University of Waterloo and was on the Dean’s List. Dr. Ens enjoys getting to know his patients, address their specific concerns, and help them see the world more clearly.

Dr. Ens has been able to combine his love of travel with optometry. He has provided eye exams on four different continents, and hopes to make it to all of them (well, maybe not Antarctica). Some notable experiences so far are Peru, the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Malawi.

Dr. Shih grew up in the small town of Fort McMurray. After graduating from the University of Alberta in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in microbiology, Dr. Shih completed her Doctor of Optometry in 2007 at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Shih joined the practice following an internship with Capital Vision Care. She is a member of Canadian Vision Care, for whom she traveled to Costa Rica twice, providing hundreds of eye exams and glasses to those in need.

Dr. Shih believes in finding solutions for her patients and loves the analytical side of optometry. She also co-owns a clothing boutique located in downtown Edmonton called Shades of Grey with her two sisters.

Dr. Newman was born and raised in Ottawa. After experiencing her first eye exam when she was 17, she decided to enter the profession to help others experience the same transformation she did. Dr. Newman graduated in 1990 with her Doctor of Optometry from University of Waterloo. She takes great pride in being part of the Capital Vision Care organization and was the founder of the Morinville location. Dr. Newman enjoys seeing all her patients on a yearly basis, and takes pride in remembering her patients by name, becoming well acquainted with them over the years.

Dr. Newman is an active member in the Alberta and Canadian Association of Optometrists, along with the Edmonton Society of Optometrists. She is currently assisting the Alberta College of Optometrists on the Competency Committee, in addition to donating her services to the Boyle McCauley Health Center.

Dr. Laansoo moved to St. Albert from Toronto, Ontario. He was raised in Toronto’s Estonian Community. In the process of figuring out for himself what was preventing him from wearing contacts as a teenager, Dr. Laansoo became interested in optometry. Dr. Laansoo received his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo in 1997, received two scholarships, and met his future spouse, Dr. Kim Bugera. Dr. Laansoo joined Dr. Dalton Eagle at Southgate Vision Care after graduating, becoming business partners shortly after, keeping the practice growing, and being at the forefront of patient care, striving to treat each patient as unique.

Drs. Laansoo and Bugera also frequently volunteer for third world eye care missions and support local organizations such as the Boyle McCauley health center in Edmonton.

Dr. Kurian was born in Edmonton and was raised in Fort McMurray. At the age of 8, she received her first pair of glasses. Neither Dr. Kurian’s parents nor she knew that she had a vision problem. Her glasses helped improve her vision, which especially helped her at school, so she decided that she wanted to help others see as well as possible. As a student of the University of Alberta, she had the opportunity to volunteer as a healthcare researcher for two months in Tanzania, East Africa, where she was able to see first-hand the impact eye care providers had on the people there. This inspired her to complete her Doctor of Optometry degree, making the Dean’s List at the University of Waterloo in 2003. Dr. Kurian enjoys interacting with her patients, understanding their unique visual needs, and optimizing their vision and eye health needs.

When she is not helping patients, Dr. Kurian spends her time with her husband and 3 young boys, and volunteers for children’s programs in her community.

Dr. Quilley was raised in the small town of Taber in southern Alberta. After a summer working alongside a cataract surgeon and retinal specialist, she developed an interest in retinal diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Quilley graduated with honours from University of Waterloo in 1996 with a Doctor of Optometry degree. She then went on to complete an internship at the St. Luke’s Cataract and Laser Institute in Florida.

Dr. Quilley loves getting to know her patients, believes that every patient is unique and has unique needs, and strives to understand, identify and meet each of these to the best of her ability. She also enjoys working in a team. Everyone from frame stylists, to opticians, to reception, to lab geniuses, to brilliant business minds, plays a key role in providing the best eye care to patients.

On her free time, Dr. Quilley enjoys hiking, orienteering and trail running, especially with her labradoodle Gracie. Her two teens and husband make every day interesting!

Dr. Ranjan was born and raised in Edmonton. She developed an interest in optometry after working for an optometrist during her undergraduate days. It was the instant gratification the patients felt when their vision was corrected led that her to obtain her optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry after graduating from University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biological Sciences.

Dr. Ranjan enjoys meeting new people and helping them see the world better. In addition, she has volunteered on a student optometry mission in Nicaragua prior to practising for 8 years in Ontario.

Dr. Lau moved to Edmonton from Hong Kong at age 15, and is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Dr. Lau received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta. In 2009, she went on to obtain her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo. She achieved the Dean’s List for both degrees. Dr. Lau is a member of both the Alberta and Canadian Association of Optometrists, along with the Edmonton Society of Optometrists.

Optometry has allowed Dr. Lau to educate and serve her community by providing excellent health care through the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ocular and systemic conditions. She loves developing genuine, long-term relationships with her patients while improving and maintaining their vision and ocular health.

Dr. Lau enjoys volunteering in oversea optometry missions. She has traveled to Mexico with The Gift of Sight to provide eye care and glasses for many patients in need. She also supports local organizations, and has volunteered with Homeless Connect, Santa’s Anonymous, as well as Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Child Shoe Box. Outside of work, you will find her trying out new recipes in her kitchen, travelling, and practicing yoga to stay healthy.

Dr. Stout was born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Having a passionate interest in visual neuroscience, she graduated with honours from McGill University with a Bachelor of Science. Upon graduating, she worked as an optometric assistant and eventually a clinical team lead. She soon realized that the research world lacks human interaction. Thus, leading her to the realization that a career in optometry and the University of Waterloo Doctor of Optometry in 2017; graduating with honours in 2017.

Dr. Stout is an avid soccer player and an accomplished dancer having performed for several years with a semi-professional ballet/contemporary dance company.

Dr. Russo was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After developing an interest in science and a fascination with eyes, she decided to pursue a career in optometry. She received the Governor General’s Bronze Medal in 1997 and completed her Doctor of Optometry degree with honours in 2003 at the University of Waterloo and received the T.T. Beattie Award, the Prize for Academic Excellence in Ocular Pharmacology and the AMO General Proficency Award. She joined the Morinville clinic in 2003, enjoys working with children and senior citizens, and solving complex optical and medical problems.

Dr. Russo served on the College of Optometrists Continuing Competence Committee from 2005 to 2015 and has participated in an eyecare mission to Puerto Escondido, Mexico. She is married to an optometrist and they are enjoying the challenge of raising their three young sons. In her spare time, she volunteers at local schools giving presentations to children about their eyes and optics and volunteers as one of the leaders of music ministry at Santa Maria Goretti Parish. Additionally, Dr. Russo plays the piano, flute and has voice training!

Dr. Hirjee grew up in Edmonton where she was very involved in community activities such as Scouts and ball hockey. She developed her passion for healthcare in high school when she dissected a cow’s eye! Dr. Hirjee completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta and went on to graduate with her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in 2007. She likes to stay on top of the latest technologies in optometry to ensure her patients are receiving the best eyecare possible.

Dr. Hirjee devotes much of her time to her family, especially her daughter, enjoys giving back to her community, and practices hot yoga outside of the clinic.

Born in Saskatoon, Dr. Giang moved to Edmonton at the age of 2 with her family. She got her first pair of glasses at the age of 8 and enjoyed seeing her optometrist every year.

In 2009, Dr. Giang traveled to a rural city in India on a mission trip, where she was part of a team that helped deliver eye care to underserved communities. This trip inspired her to become an optometrist, and Dr. Giang hopes to return in the near future.

Dr. Giang graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta in 2011, and then went on to graduate with honours from The Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Giang then completed a residency in Ocular Disease and Family Practice at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.

Dr. Giang enjoys building lifelong relationships with her patients and being the one who takes care of their eye health.

Dr. Weisbeck was born and raised in St. Albert. After a year at the University of Alberta, she relocated to Quebec where she graduated with her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Université de Montréal with a fellowship and many scholarships and awards. She did her practicum in Providence, Rhode Island, and is now practicing full-scope optometry at the Morinville clinic. She sees a very diverse group of patients, from routine eye exams to ocular emergencies such as foreign body removals.

Dr. Weisbeck is bilingual, speaking both official languages, allowing the French-speaking residents of Morinville to be treated in their native tongue, assisting in diagnosis and treatment options. She is a strong supporter of the community and believes in providing the best optical care to every patient she sees. Dr. Weisbeck volunteers at the Boyle McCauley Health Center where she provides eye care for less fortunate patients in Edmonton’s inner city.

Dr. Visnani and family arrived from Kampala, Uganda in 1973, and settled in St. Albert. While obtaining her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Alberta, she discovered her passion for optometry from her optometrist, Dr. Sharad Patel. She graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in 1996 and did an internship at the Harvard Community Health Clinic in Lahey, Massachusetts. After owning her own practice for ten years, she then moved onto a refractive center for six years where she performed pre- and post-op exams for PRK and LASIK patients.

She has held positions on the board of the Alberta Association of Optometrists and was the National Congress Co-Chair for the Canadian Association of Optometrists. In addition, Dr. Visnani and her family are active in charity work, both locally and abroad.

Dr. Bugera grew up on a farm near Elk Point, Alberta. When she was 14, she was having trouble seeing the berries on a mountain ash tree in her backyard. After getting her first pair of glasses, she quickly realized the importance of good vision. Thus, she became devoted to providing quality optometry to patients. Dr. Bugera attended the University of Waterloo and graduated with awards, scholarships and honours in 1996. She has served the public by having been active on the Alberta College of Optometry as a council member and President.

She is very proud to be an optometrist as vision is so critical to the enjoyment of life. Together with her husband, Dr. Laansoo, they have done vision care trips to over 10 developing countries, such as Kenya, Peru and the Philippines. Dr. Bugera also spearheaded the Boyle McCauley Health Centre Optometry Clinic to help those less fortunate in downtown Edmonton.

Dr. Turgeon grew up in Morinville and went on to graduate from the University of Alberta Campus Saint-Jean in 2011 with a Bilingual Bachelor of Science and then continued to obtain a Doctor of Optometry degree with Distinction in 2015 at Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon. He was awarded the William Ludlum Scholarship and the Tole Greenstein Award for Excellence in Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy.

At the age of 13, Dr. Turgeon received his first contact lenses and glasses prescription from Dr. Bugera at Capital Vision Care – Morinville. He was a goaltender in ice hockey, and having the clearest possible vision allowed him to succeed in the classroom and on the ice. His team won the Bantam AAA Western Canadian Championship! Dr. Turgeon got into optometry because being able to see so clearly had such an amazing impact on his life.

Dr. Turgeon is fluent in French and English, and can offer eye exams in both languages. His wife, Elianne, who is now a French elementary teacher in Edmonton helps him maintain his fluency in French. They both plan to volunteer for third-world mission trips in their respective professions in the near future.