Live In-person Event - April 2, 2026 - 5 PM @ Federation Hall, UW

Live Event - April 2, 2026 - 5 PM @ Federation Hall, U of W

Save the Date   - Reserve Your  Place 

Agenda

Your Student Ambassador Co-Hosts

Elisa Haley 

(OD Candidate 2028)

Shreya Jain 

(OD Candidate 2027)

  Guest Presentation -  Dr. Martina Sawatzky 

Defining Meaning through Service:

An new(ish) grads perspective on building a personally fulfilling career by giving back to your local and global community.

Dr. Martina Sawatzky graduated in 2019 from the University of Waterloo. She practices optometry in the heart of her hometown, Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is passionate about building meaningful connection with her patients to better understand their needs as individuals, and to offer them effective, specific solutions to their vision concerns.  

In 2017, she participated in two student optometric service trips, in Honduras with I Care International, and Peru with sVOSH UWaterloo. In 2016, she and two classmates organized a “Dining in the Dark” fundraiser in support of Optometry Giving Sight for World Sight Day Challenge. Their team was recognized as one of the top three student fundraising groups that year. She also enjoys boulder-style rock climbing, curling with her team, The Rock Destroyers, and spending quality time with her cat Emilia.

Panel Moderators

           Maryam Safdar 

       (OD Candidate 2026)

Natasha Reyes

(OD Candidate 2026)

Industry Panelists 

Dr. Robin Apfelbeck, 

Eye Recommend, Waterloo, ON 

 Dr. Apfelbeck graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 1999, and founded Grand River Eye Care. In 2018, she expanded her vision by launching her Eye Spa, where she provides advanced treatment for Dry Eye Disease using IPL and Radio Frequency. She is especially passionate about myopia control for children and fitting specialty contact lenses. Dr. Apfelbeck believes that optometric specialties can truly change lives through innovative, technology-driven care. Dedicated to staying at the forefront of her field, she continually invests in the latest advancements to help her patients look and see their very best.

Dr. Laurie Lesser,   

Head of Optometry Attraction. Specsavers Canada 

Dr. Laurie Lesser joined Specsavers Canada in 2024 as the Head of Optometry Attraction, bringing more than 10 years of experience in clinical and recruitment leadership roles in both Canada and the United States. 

As a proud Canadian, graduate from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and practicing optometrist, Dr. Lesser is passionate about helping expand and support the fastest growing network of optometrists in Canada.

Dr. Katherine French,

FYi doctors, Toronto, ON

Dr. French is a University of Waterloo–trained optometrist committed to providing high-quality patient care and ongoing professional development, with particular interests in myopia control and specialty contact lenses. 

Since joining FYidoctors Toronto-Bloor Islington in 2020, Dr. French has built up the myopia control specialty clinic and uses the newest technology to treat and monitor myopia in children. She also sees patients of all ages in primary care and co-manages ocular diseases and refractive surgery with local ophthalmology.

Dr. Michael Yee, 

OSI Group, Guelph. ON

Dr. Michael Yee is proud to be practicing in Guelph. He holds an Hons. B.Sc. in Pre-Optometry and an Optometry degree from UW. He completed a clinical externship at the VA Medical Center in Detroit, MI. 

After working for six years as an associate optometrist in Kitchener and Guelph, Dr. Yee opened his own practice. He is passionate about supporting the next generation of optometry students. He values the opportunity to give back to his community while embracing both the challenges and rewards of practice ownership. 

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