COPE CE Speakers
Debbie Jones, BSc(hons), FCOptom, FAAO, FBCLA
Debbie Jones 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 in pediatric optometry and her main area of research activity is in myopia control.
Trained in the UK, Debbie has been a faculty member at the School of Optometry and Vision Science since 1998. She is formerly a partner in an award winning private practice in the UK and has published articles in optometric journals and regularly presents at optometric conferences worldwide.
She is a Fellow of the British College of Optometrists, the British Contact Lens Association and the American Academy of Optometry.
Wesley McCann, OD, MBA
Dr. McCann attended Western University and Nova Southeastern University where he earned three Honours Bachelor of Science degrees, an accelerated MBA, and Doctorate of Optometry. Dr. McCann owns sixteen practices in Ontario, Canada. He has been on the faculty at the Canadian Dry Eye Summit, The Myopia Meeting, and Myopia Summit to name a few. He has also lectured at hundreds of other events/conferences and across various platforms on contact lenses, ocular disease, dry eye disease, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.
He has previously enjoyed teaching clinical externs from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry, has served on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Optometrists, and is currently on the Board of Directors for Eye Recommend as well as a Director on the College of Optometrists of Ontario. He has been published in numerous journals including Review of Optometry and Review of Myopia Management.
In 2017, he was a recipient of the Top 20 Under 40 Award that is awarded to 20 individuals under the age of 40 recognized for their business achievements and community involvement in London, Ontario.
Langis Michaud, OD, MSc, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, FEAOO
Le Dr Langis Michaud est diplômé de l'École d'optométrie de l'Université de Montréal depuis 1986, où il a également obtenu une maîtrise en optique physiologique (1998). Il a également obtenu un diplôme en administration publique de l'École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP) en 2006. Il est professeur titulaire et exerce à l'Université de Montréal depuis 2001, en tant que chef du département de contactologie. Il a assumé les fonction de doyen de l'école de 2020 à 2022.
Il est Fellow de l'Académie Américaine d'Optométrie (Diplomate), de la British Contact Lens Association, de la Scleral Lens Education Society, de l'Académie européenne d'optométrie et de l'Académie internationale d'orthokératologie et de gestion de la myopie.
Les principaux domaines de recherche du Dr Michaud sont le contrôle de la myopie, les lentilles sclérales, la névralgie cornéenne et les irrégularités du segment antérieur telles que le kératocône. Il s'intéresse également aux manifestations oculaires de la maladie de Fabry. Il a publié de nombreux articles dans des revues pairées de même que dans des publications professionnelles. Il est l'auteur de nombreux chapitres de livres et, plus récemment, co-auteur du seul ouvrage consacré à la gestion de la myopie. Grâce à son expertise, il intervient régulièrement lors de grandes conférences d'optométrie et d'ophtalmologie à travers le monde.
Le Dr Michaud a reçu le prix GPLI Educator of the Year en 2023, le prix Academy of Optometric Education en 2022 et le prix Donald Korb pour la recherche de la section Lentilles cornéennes de l'AOA en 2023.
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Dr. Langis Michaud graduated from the School of Optometry at the University of Montreal in 1986, where he also earned a master’s degree in physiological optics in 1998. He also earned a degree in public administration from the École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP) in 2006. He has been a full professor and has been practicing at the University of Montreal since 2001, serving as head of the Contact Lens Department. He served as dean of the school from 2020 to 2022.
He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (Diplomate), the British Contact Lens Association, the Scleral Lens Education Society, the European Academy of Optometry, and the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Management.
Dr. Michaud’s primary areas of research are myopia control, scleral contact lenses, keratoneuralgia, and anterior segment irregularities such as keratoconus. He is also interested in the ocular manifestations of Fabry disease. He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and publications as well as in professional journals. He is the author of numerous book chapters and, most recently, co-author of the only book dedicated to the management of myopia. Thanks to his expertise, he is a regular speaker at major optometry and ophthalmology conferences around the world.
Presenters
Anabelle Leclerc, OD
Dre Anabelle Leclerc, optométriste, a gradué de l’École d’Optométrie de l’Université de Montréal en 2015. Elle est propriétaire d’une clinique d’optométrie indépendante à Montréal depuis 2017.
Dre Leclerc a une pratique optométrique générale et diversifiée. Depuis quelques années, elle se spécialise en sécheresse oculaire. Elle est aussi conférencière pour diverses compagnies d’optique.
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Dr. Anabelle Leclerc graduated from the Université de Montréal School of Optometry in 2015. She has owned an independent optometry clinic in Montreal since 2017.
Dr. Leclerc maintains a diverse general optometry practice. In recent years, she has developed a particular focus on dry eye. She is also a speaker for various companies in the optical industry.
Alla Muladzanov, BSc (Hons), MD, FRCSC
Dre Alla Muladzanov est ophtalmologiste généraliste et fondatrice d’Ophtalmo Décarie, une pratique médicale montréalaise qui offre des services en ophtalmologie, en rhumatologie, en hématologie, en médecine familiale ainsi qu’en soins visuels pédiatriques.
Originaire de Douchanbé, au Tadjikistan, Dre Muladzanov s’est établie au Canada en 1998. Après ses études au Collège Marianopolis, elle a obtenu un baccalauréat spécialisé en psychologie, puis son doctorat en médecine à l’Université de Montréal. Elle a ensuite complété sa résidence en ophtalmologie à l’Université McGill.
Sa formation en psychologie a très tôt nourri son intérêt pour la myopie chez l’enfant et pour l’influence du comportement et de l’environnement sur le développement visuel. En 2018, alors qu’elle était toujours en formation, elle s’est entretenue avec CBC au sujet de la prévalence croissante de la myopie chez les enfants montréalais. Cet intérêt a par la suite contribué au développement des services de vision pédiatrique offerts chez Ophtalmo Décarie, où des optométristes indépendants possédant une expertise en contrôle de la myopie, en vision binoculaire et en strabisme offrent des soins complémentaires tout en conservant leur pleine indépendance professionnelle et clinique.
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Dr. Alla Muladzanov is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and founder of Ophtalmo Décarie, a Montreal medical practice offering ophthalmology alongside rheumatology, hematology, family medicine and pediatric vision care. Originally from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Dr. Muladzanov moved to Canada in 1998. She attended Marianopolis College, completed an Honours BSc in Psychology, earned her medical degree from the Université de Montréal, and completed her ophthalmology residency at McGill University.
Her background in psychology sparked an early interest in childhood myopia and the influence of behaviour and environment on visual development. In 2018, while still in training, she spoke with CBC about the increasing prevalence of myopia among Montreal children. That interest would later help shape the pediatric vision services available at Ophtalmo Décarie, where independent optometrists with expertise in myopia control, binocular vision and strabismus provide complementary care while maintaining their professional and clinical independence.
Evelyn Lo, BSc, OD, eMBA
Dr. Evelyn Lo obtained her Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University in Portland, Oregon, in 2017, graduating with distinction and receiving the Outstanding Graduate Award. She has recently completed her Executive dual MBA at Cornell and Queen's University, graduating with distinction.
Dr. Lo is dedicated to ocular health, specializing in the treatment of dry eyes, myopia management, and ocular disease. Currently, she serves as the immediate past president of the BC Doctors of Optometry and was recognized as the 2020 Young Optometrist of the Year. In 2025, Dr. Lo was awarded the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award from British Columbia's Ministry of Health.
In her spare time, Dr. Lo also collaborated with Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center in Guangzhou, China, to provide continuing education in Optometry.
Fiona Soong, OD
Dr. Fiona Soong earned a Doctorate of Optometry from the University of Waterloo. She is the recipient of the Canadian Association of Optometrists Award of Merit for contributions to the profession.
She is also the recipient of the Central Optical Award for Excellence in Special Studies, which derived from her research at the Hospital for Sick Children. She was recognized for her work as the Community Lead on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association of Optometrists and is a Principal Scientist at Inflamax Research, a private Clinical Research Organization that specializes in developing new drugs.
Dr. Fiong is an advocate of children’s vision, certified to fit specialty lenses and administer atropine as a treatment for myopia.
Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg , BOpt, PhD
Padmaja Sankaridurg is a Professor at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales (UNSW). Prof Sankaridurg holds a BOpt degree from Elite School of Optometry, India, a PhD from UNSW as well as a MIP from University of Technology, Sydney. She consults as a Scientific Advisor to ZEISS Vision Care and until recently headed the Myopia Innovation Program at ZEISS Vision Care. Over the years, she held various positions at LVPrasad Eye Institute, Vision CRC and the Brien Holden Vision Institute.
She won multiple awards for her work, has published widely, is an inventor on many patents/applications, authored several book chapters, supervised many postgraduate students, serves on editorial boards and lectures extensively at national and international meetings. She has been instrumental in the development of myopia control products including ZEISS MyoActive, practice aids and guidelines including the BHVI Myopia Calculator and the axial length percentile charts. She appears in the top 50 researchers in the “Global Optometrist Top 200 Research ranking” on optomrankings.com and in the Stanford/Elsevier list of “World’s Top 2% Scientists“. In 2023, she and her co-authors were awarded the prestigious Bernard Gilmartin Award from Ophthalmic and Physiological optics for the most influential publication over the last 5 years.