Speakers - Specsavers Clinical Conference 2024 2024

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2024 incredible line-up of industry leaders

Acyel Al-Alosi

Acyel Al-Alosi

Acyel Al-Alosi has worked for Specsavers since 2016. She graduated in 2018 from University of New South Wales with a Masters of Clinical Optometry. Since 2018, she has practiced on the South Coast of NSW where she took an interest in paediatrics and Indigenous outreach. She has mentored multiple young optometrist and has a keen interest in the development of early-career optometrists. Currently, she is the Clinical Performance Consultant for NSW/ACT where she supports and coaches optometrists and partners to obtain improved patient outcomes.

Dr Tani Brown

Ophthalmologist, Gold Coast Eye and Oculoplastic Surgeons

Dr Tani Brown

Ophthalmologist, Gold Coast Eye and Oculoplastic Surgeons

Dr Tani Brown is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and eye surgeon based on the Gold Coast. She has a sub-specialist interest in medical retina, uveitis and ocular inflammatory conditions of the eye. She completed her medical degree with honours at the University of Sydney. She then underwent her ophthalmology specialist training at the Sydney Eye Hospital and completed her final year as a fellow in East Timor as part of the East Timor EyeProgram. In 2017 she was the Professorial fellow at Sydney Eye Hospital specialising in uveitis and medical retina and gaining valuable experience in the management of complex medical and surgical conditions of the eye.

Dr Brown holds a Masters of Public Health in Tropical Medicine from James Cook University as well as Postgraduate studies in Ophthalmology from the University of Sydney.

She currently holds the positions of an Honorary Adjunct Assistant Professor at BondUniversity and Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney.

Dr Brown is an anatomy examiner for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologist (RANZCO).

Dr Brown is in private practice with the Gold Coast Eye and Oculoplastic Surgeons and is a consultant ophthalmologist at the Gold Coast University Hospital where she enjoys managing complex ocular conditions and supervising and training ophthalmology registrars.

She is also a consultant Ophthalmologist with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health in Woolloongabba in Brisbane, QLD.

Dr Brendan Cronin

Ophthalmologist, Queensland Eye Institute

Dr Brendan Cronin

Ophthalmologist, Queensland Eye Institute

Dr Brendan Cronin a Corneal and Anterior Segment Surgeon and the Director of Education at the Queensland Eye Institute.

He performs all types of corneal transplant surgery, pterygium surgery, micro-incision cataract surgery and MIGS surgery for glaucoma. He is a specialist in complex cataract surgical procedures.

Dr Cronin has a special interest in keratoconus, providing opography guided collagen cross-linking, advanced micro transplantation techniques and excimer laser regularization procedures.

Dr Rushmia Karim

Ophthalmologist, Vision Eye Institute

Dr Rushmia Karim

Ophthalmologist, Vision Eye Institute

BSC MBBS MMED (CLIN EPI)(HONS) MMED (OPHTH SCI) GENOMICS (PGCERT) FRCOPHTH FRANZCO

Dr. Karim completed her medical degree at the University of New South Wales, dual masters at the University of Sydney and postgraduate ophthalmology training in London, including at the Moorfields Eye Hospital.

She specialises in cataract surgery and ocular motility/alignment in both adults and children.

Dr Karim trained in the highly regarded London ophthalmology vocational program including the prestigious Moorfields Eye Hospital and Western Eye Hospital. She also completed an additional Moorfields Eye Hospital fellowship in Strabismus/ Paediatric ophthalmology and has additional sub-speciality training in Neuro-ophthalmology.

Prior to her return to Sydney, Dr Karim was the Head of the Paediatric Eye Service at the distinguished Prince Charles Eye Unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital Trust, Reading, UK. Dr Karim has been extensively involved in research including Cochrane reviews and randomised controlled trials and has published many papers. She is an expert panel member for Ophthalmology at the National Institute for Health and Care excellence (NICE).

Dr Karim is a dual Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists as well as a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, United Kingdom. She is a RANZCO board examiner for physiology. She sits on the RANZCO public health committee. In addition to this she is a member of the British & Irish Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Association (BIPOSA), The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), The International Strabismological Association (ISA) and The World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS).

Joe Paul

Head of Professional Services, Specsavers ANZ

Joe Paul

Head of Professional Services, Specsavers ANZ

Dr Joe Paul graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Optometry in 2011 before completing his PhD in visual neuroscience in 2016. In addition to pursuing postdoctoral studies at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Joe has practiced widely across the optometry sector, in public, private and corporate settings.

In 2019 Joe joined the Specsavers Optometry Team, leading the creation of a local CPD event program followed by the Specsavers Clinical Conference Online Series during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joe is currently Head of Professional Services, leading Specsavers’ optometry data, professional risk and kids’ vision strategies.

Joe Tanner

Professional Services Manager, CooperVision

Dr Brian Ang

Ophthalmologist, Melbourne Eye Specialists

Dr Brian Ang

Ophthalmologist, Melbourne Eye Specialists

Dr Brian Ang is an internationally-trained glaucoma specialist and cataract surgeon based at Melbourne Eye Specialists and Vision Eye Institute Footscray, with a public appointment and teaching role at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital. He has over 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications, with research interests in novel surgical treatments and neuroprotection with nutraceutical supplements. Brian is the co-founder of Nutravision, the webmaster for www.vision-and-eye-health.com, and a keen advocate of ‘proactive glaucoma care’ – the proactive management of glaucoma risk through holistic and natural lifestyle measures.

Virginia Carlton

Virginia Carlton

Virginia Carlton graduated in 2015 from Deakin University with a Master’s in Optometry. From August 2015 to January 2022, she worked in a regional Specsavers store. She became a senior optometrist in the practice and took up the role of graduate mentor for all new graduates in that practice. During this time Virginia presented to incoming graduates during support office inductions to help mentor and support them. In February 2022 till now, Virginia currently works as Clinical Performance Consultant for Vic/Tas. This role involves supporting optometrists through coaching and developing them in different aspects of the clinical journey, through face-to-face visits, developing and delivering workshops.

A/Prof Elaine Chong

Ophthalmologist, Head of Ophthalmology at Royal Melbourne Hospital

A/Prof Elaine Chong

Ophthalmologist, Head of Ophthalmology at Royal Melbourne Hospital

Associate Professor Elaine Chong MBBS MEpi PhD Melb, FAMS, FRANZCO is a cataract, corneal & refractive surgeon and medical retinal specialist. A/Prof Chong is the Head of Ophthalmology at Royal Melbourne Hospital and also works at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital in both the corneal and medical retinal units. Prior to these positions, A/Prof Chong underwent double subspecialty fellowship training, first in medical retina and later in corneal and refractive surgery. A/Prof Chong was awarded the Gold Medal for Excellence (K. G. Howsam Medal) for her performance in the Royal Australia New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) advanced clinical examination. This single medal is awarded to the top candidate in the final exit examinations across Australia & New Zealand.

A/Prof Chong sits on the Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology journal editorial board, is the deputy chair of RANZCO Women In Ophthalmology, Chair of the Victorian Ophthalmology Registrar Selection committee, in the executive committee of the Australian & New Zealand Cornea Society and in various RANZCO college committees. She has been the scientific program chair for the RANZCO Victorian Branch Annual Scientific Meeting since 2019.

A/Prof Chong holds a PhD in ophthalmic epidemiology and a Masters of Epidemiology from the University of Melbourne. She has received various international awards for her work in corneal & retinal research, with her peer- reviewed work featured and published internationally. Research work from her PhD was selected out of over 6000 submitted papers as one of the 40 newest and most innovative research conducted at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) conference in USA. She was also awarded the Young Investigator’s Merit Award (Clinical Sciences) at the ASIA-ARVO Scientific Meeting for her work in Retinal research. Results from her PhD (including a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses) were conveyed to medical practitioners and the public through interviews, medical newsletters and newspapers internationally. She has over 60 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Her work on Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) was awarded the Best Surgical Video at the RANZCO conference and her award-winning technique of pterygium surgery was featured internationally in the AAO One Network platform. She has also contributed to the development of a New Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) Endoglide injector with Network Medical Products, United Kingdom, 2018. A/Prof Chong is the principal investigator in several investigator-initiated trials and industry-sponsored trials as part of CERA and RMH. A/Prof Chong has presented at numerous international conferences and is a reviewer for international journals such as the BMJ, Surveys of Ophthalmology and she is a PhD Thesis examiner. She supervises MPhil, University of Melbourne, and MD Research students, Medical Doctorate Program from the University of Melbourne.

Amy Kenefeck

Specsavers

A/Prof Chameen Samarawickrama

Head Of Cornea, Westmead Hospital, Sydney University

A/Prof Chameen Samarawickrama

Head Of Cornea, Westmead Hospital, Sydney University

A/Prof Samarawickrama is a clinician-scientist and named one of the Top 5 Young Scientists of 2019 by the ABC. Within research, he is an early-career researcher holding an NHMRC Investigator fellowship, h-index of 22, 64 peer-reviewed publications and over 1500 citations.

He is the head of the Translational Ophthalmic Research and Immunology Consortium (TORIC), which has a focus on both the clinical and basic sciences behind corneal diseases.

A/Prof Samarawickrama has many national, international and multinational collaborations and obtained over $1.8M in collaborative grant funding, $1M of which as Principal Investigator. A/Prof Samarawickrama is a science communicator with strong links to media. Clinically, he is a cornea sub-specialist with a public appointment at Westmead Hospital.

He is heavily involved within the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, chairing the Younger Fellows Committee, and is a Director of Australian Vision Research, the leading not-for-profit supporting ocular research.

Dr Warren Apel

Ophthalmologist, Sunshine Coast Eye and Retina

Dr Warren Apel

Ophthalmologist, Sunshine Coast Eye and Retina

Dr Warren Apel specialises in cataract, macular disease and vitreoretinal surgery. A graduate of the University of Queensland Medical School, Dr Apel completed his Ophthalmology training at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney and is a fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. He gained invaluable clinical experience through a Medical Retina fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and furthered his knowledge and surgical skills through Vitreoretinal fellowships at the Oxford Eye Hospital and Cheltenham Hospital in the United Kingdom and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Dr Apel established and leads the public Vitreoretinal service at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. He also consults in the Inherited Retinal Disease clinic at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Dr Apel is committed to supporting training Ophthalmologists and is involved in the Ophthalmology Registrar selection and teaching program.

Dr Apel has a caring professional manner and prioritises communication with his patients and referring clinicians. He enjoys managing both routine and complex eye conditions and strives to achieve the best outcome for his patients. Having grown up in south-east Queensland, Dr Apel takes pride in providing a comprehensive cataract, macula and retinal service for the local community.

Prof Celia Chen

Neuro-Ophthalmology, VisionSA Flinders Medical Center and Flinders University

Prof Celia Chen

Neuro-Ophthalmology, VisionSA Flinders Medical Center and Flinders University

MBBS, MPHC, PhD, FRANZCO

Professor Celia Chen is a consultant neuro- ophthalmologist/ clinician-scientist at Flinders University. She completed a prestigious neuro-opthalmology fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital. Celia is the current president of the Neuro Ophthalmic Society of Australia.

Celia’s achievements include : - Over 90 peer reviewed papers in leading journals. - Raised more than $800,000 in funding, including prestigious Australia National Health and Medical Research Council grants and fellowships - Contributions to the field include committee roles at national and international conferences.

She has an excellent research record and is the recipient of both national and international scholarships and awards including the American Australian Education Fellowship, South Australian Science Excellence award, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement awards.

Dr. Chen is dedicated to providing mentorship and learning opportunities for young ophthalmologists in the Asia-Pacific region. She has been doing field work in Cambodia for over 10 years and providing fellowship opportunity, through APAO Women in Ophthalmology International Fellowship Program, Kim Frumar Schlarship and Eye Surgeon’s Foundation fellowship program. This has helped young ophthalmologist from a developing country to receive fellowship training in a subspecialty area of ophthalmology, at an international training centre of excellence.

Dr Aanchal Gupta

Ophthalmologist, IVISION Laser

Dr Aanchal Gupta

Ophthalmologist, IVISION Laser

Dr Aanchal Gupta is a Cataract, Refractive, and Corneal Surgeon in Adelaide. She has been in practice for over 10 years and established her own refractive practice, IVISION LASER, in 2022. She performs all forms of vision correction including SMILE, LASIK, PRK, phakic Implantable Lens Surgery and Refractive lens-based surgery.

She is fellowship trained with a highly prestigious fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery fellowship from the University of British Columbia, Canada under Dr. Simon Holland, Dr. David Lin and Dr. Martin McCarthy. She was also recently awarded the fellowship to the World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences in recognition of her excellence in surgical skills and having mastered the practice of Refractive Surgery.

She was the first surgeon in South Australia to perform several new procedures including some new presbyopia correcting IOL implants, CAIRS, DMEK, DSO, and Keraring combined with Topography-guided PRK with cross-linking.

Dr. Gupta is a RANZCO College Councillor, a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, and is the Australian and New Zealand Ambassador for the World Refractive Surgery Alliance (RSA). She is also part of the committee of management for Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (AUSCRS).

Dr. Gupta is passionate about refractive surgery and continues to be involved inongoing research and trials in the field.

Nadia Michaels

Nadia Michaels

Nadia Michaels graduated from Optometry from QUT with first class honours in 2007 and completed her Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics in 2014. She completed a post- graduate course in Advanced Ocular disease via the Centre for Eye Health in 2017 and is currently completing a Masters of Business Administration part time through UNSW. Nadia has worked as a clinical optometrist nationwide in both private practice and commercial settings.

Nadia is passionate about optometry, patient care and customer service and is enthusiastic about sharing best practices with optometrists and health care practitioners. She is the Head of Professional Education and Development at Alcon Vision Care for Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Kate Reid

Neuro-ophthalmologist, Optic Nerve Canberra, Senior Lecturer ANU Medical School

Dr Kate Reid

Neuro-ophthalmologist, Optic Nerve Canberra, Senior Lecturer ANU Medical School

Dr Reid is a neuro-ophthalmologist, with a particular interest in ophthalmic complications of sleep apnea, and stenting for medically refractory IIH. As the Director of Ophthalmology at Canberra Hospital, she initiated co-management with both public and private Optometry, including the first pilot of Oculo in an Australian public hospital.

Now in private practice, she sits on the Board of Vision 2020 Australia. Dr Reid is an experienced educator, inaugurating then leading the ANU Medical Student Ophthalmology Program for a decade, and participating in the clinical training of over a hundred Ophthalmology Registrars. She continues as a lecturer for ANU and University of Canberra, and as an invited speaker for Ophthalmology and Optometry conferences.

Dr Riyaz Bhikoo

Ophthalmologist, Auckland Eye

Dr Riyaz Bhikoo

Ophthalmologist, Auckland Eye

Dr Bhikoo is a highly trained ophthalmic surgeon with sub-specialist training in ocular oncology, medical and surgical retina.

He completed his ophthalmology training in the North Island and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Australian and New Zealand Ophthalmologists (RANZCO). A recipient of several postgraduate travel scholarships, he received advanced surgical training at some of the world’s leading hospitals and institutions, including the University of British Columbia (Canada), Houston Methodist Hospital (USA), Royal Perth Hospital and the Lions Eye Institute (Australia). During that time, he completed the Area of Focused Competence (AFC-Diploma) program in Retina, and is the first vitreoretinal surgeon in New Zealand to have his surgical training recognised by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada (DRCPSC Retina).

He is also strongly interested in clinical research, with many of his findings featured in local and international publications. In 2014 he focused his efforts on improving surgical outcomes for cataract patients at the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji, through the Fred Hollows Foundation. He remains affiliated as an honorary fellow at the University of Auckland.

Dr Jason Cheng

Ophthalmologist, Sydney Eye Hospital

Dr Jason Cheng

Ophthalmologist, Sydney Eye Hospital

Dr Jason Cheng is a cataract and glaucoma surgeon at the CBD Eye Clinic, Northern Beaches Cataract and is the managing partner at Vision Eye Institute in Hurstville, Sydney. He also has public appointments at Sydney Eye Hospital, St George and Liverpool Hospital as a glaucoma specialist. He is on the RANZCO Glaucoma Collaborative Care working group, Global Eye Health Committee, Scientific Program Committee and was the Examiner-in-Charge of the Ophthalmic Clinical Knowledge Exam in 2023. He is the Secretary of the Gateway Committee and a/member of the Congress committee at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and on the editorial board of the “Eye” Journal.

He trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, followed by a Glaucoma Fellowship in Canada. He then worked as a consultant in Singapore for 3 years before relocating to Sydney in 2016.

Simon Hanna

Professional Service Manager for Bausch and Lomb

Simon Hanna

Professional Service Manager for Bausch and Lomb

Simon Hanna, an optometrist with two decades of rich experience. Simon's journey spans from frontline public health practice to stewardship of a private optometry practice. His tenure includes esteemed roles such as tertiary educator at the University of Melbourne and nearly a decade dedicated to policy and education initiatives at Optometry Australia. Presently, Simon channels his expertise within the corporate pharmaceutical realm at Bausch & Lomb. Simon is renowned for his exceptional presentation skills and adeptness in captivating audiences of diverse sizes. His ability to deliver compelling content and facilitate workshops leaves attendees empowered and inspired to enact meaningful change.

In 2022, he was appointed the National Professional Services Manager with Bausch & Lomb. Simon was elected as a Board Director at Optometry Victoria/South Australia in 2022 and in 2023, was appointed as a panel member at the Department of Health’s Professional Services Review.

Dr Mali Okada

Ophthalmologist, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Dr Mali Okada

Ophthalmologist, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Dr Mali Okada is a sub-specialty trained Medical Retina and Vitreoretinal specialist. She is a consultant at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and is a senior researcher with The Centre for Eye Research Australia.

She has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers on retinal diseases. Her research interests includes novel retinal imaging techniques and therapeutics for both common and rare macular disorders and she is an active investigator in several clinical trials.

Dr Okada is the current co-chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists Clinical Standards Committee and collaborates on several international committees on age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

A/Prof Heather Russell

Ophthalmologist, Gold Coast and Tweed Eye Doctors

A/Prof Heather Russell

Ophthalmologist, Gold Coast and Tweed Eye Doctors

A/Professor Russell specialises in cataract surgery and general adult ophthalmology. She has expertise in all aspect of paediatric ophthalmology, and paediatric and adult strabismus (turned eye), and has extensive experience in the use of injectable muscle relaxants for treatment of blepharospasm, hemi-facial spasm and complex strabismus. In addition, Dr Russell has a special interest in the management of progressive myopia in children.

She was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and took up a position at Gold Coast University Hospital where she continues to practice as a Senior Staff Specialist in General and Paediatric Ophthalmology. In recognition of her commitment to teaching she has recently been awarded Associate Professor of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine at Bond University.

Dr Russell is a member of the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Australian and New Zealand Strabismus Society (ANZSS), the International Strabismological Association (ISA), the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS), and the Paediatric Special Interest Group of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles in international medical journals, coauthored a book chapter on ocular findings in inflicted trauma in infants, presented at many local and international meetings, and lectured on paediatric ophthalmology, injectable muscle relaxants in the management of strabismus, progressive myopia in children, retinopathy of prematurity, and infantile nystagmus.

On-Demand Speakers

Dr Katie Chen

Ophthalmologist, Queensland Eye and Retina Specialists

Dr Katie Chen

Ophthalmologist, Queensland Eye and Retina Specialists

Dr Katie Chen is an Australian and internationally trained ophthalmologist, and a cataract and oculoplastics surgeon. She consults in general and comprehensive ophthalmology, with a special interest in surgeries of the eyelid periocular tumours, and the excision and reconstruction of.

Dr Chen completed her undergraduate degrees at the University of Queensland before progressing to her medical degree at the same university. Her junior doctor years were spent at Nambour General Hospital on the Sunshine Coast, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. During this period, she partook in many outreach ophthalmology clinics to the rural and remote towns of Queensland. Dr Chen completed her ophthalmology training in Queensland, working in the major tertiary hospitals in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Townsville. Following this, she furthered her interest in rural and development ophthalmology by becoming a Fred Hollows Foundation fellow.

In 2014, Dr Chen returned to Brisbane to undertake a paediatric ophthalmology fellowship at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Queensland Children’s Hospital. Dr Chen then further pursued her interest in the subspecialty of oculoplastics before returning to her home of Brisbane. Dr Chen also currently practices publicly at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and is involved in the teaching and supervision of medical students, junior doctors, and ophthalmology trainees.

She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland School of Medicine, and is on the RANZCO Women in Ophthalmology committee. In her spare time, Dr Chen enjoys reading widely and being active with her young family.

Deeksha Rao

Optometrist

Deeksha Rao

Optometrist

Deeksha Rao is an early career optometrist at Specsavers Keysborough, who graduated from Deakin University optometry class of 2021, with Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry.

Prior to optometry, she graduated from Monash University, with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Honours in the School of Physiology, with research focused on type 2 diabetes.

She has previously worked with Diabetes Australia during the rollout of Keepsight.

Currently, she is a member of the Specsavers ECO advisory committee and has been involved in CPD nights organised for ECOs in Melbourne.

She is also completing the ACO course in Public Health and Leadership.

Deeksha is passionate about clinical eye care and helping to close the gap in health care in Australia.

Dr Shelley Hopkins

Senior Lecturer in Optometry and Vision Science, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology

Dr Shelley Hopkins

Senior Lecturer in Optometry and Vision Science, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology

Dr Shelley Hopkins is a Senior Lecturer in Optometry and Vision Science, School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology. Dr Hopkins coordinates the paediatric optometry clinic within QUT Health Clinics as well as leads an extensive outreach program that services rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland. She lectures into both the undergraduate and postgraduate optometry courses, predominantly on the topics of binocular vision, paediatrics, cultural safety and primary care optometry.

Dr Phillipa Sharwood

Ophthalmologist, Queensland Ophthalmic Specialists

Dr Phillipa Sharwood

Ophthalmologist, Queensland Ophthalmic Specialists

Dr Phillipa Sharwood is an ophthalmologist with special interests in cataract and strabismus surgery in both adults and children. Her private practice is at Queensland Ophthalmic Specialists in Taringa as well as public clinics at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Her general ophthalmology training was completed at Sydney Eye Hospital followed by a further 2 years of subspecialist training in the UK at the Cambridge University Hospitals and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London.

She is extensively involved in education of ophthalmology registrars, medical students and final year optometry and orthoptic students.

Dr Jose A. Mendoza

Ophthalmologist

Dr Jose A. Mendoza

Ophthalmologist

Dr. Jose A. Mendoza MD. MSc.

* Ophthalmologist with a Master's degree in clinical ophthalmology from Universidad de Salta - Argentina.
* Image and Diagnostics Research Fellow from Stanford University - USA.
* Refractive Surgeon Fellow from Oftalmosalud Eye Institute - Peru.
* Medical Director of Centro de Diagnostico Ocular - Peru.

Member of:
* Peruvian Ophthalmological Society (SPO).
* American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
* European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS).
* European Society of Retina Specialist (EURETINA).

Joanna Thabthiang

Clinical Performance Consultant SA/VIC

Joanna Thabthiang

Clinical Performance Consultant SA/VIC

Joanna Thabthiang graduated from Flinders University in 2017, having completed the Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry. Joanna has spent +10 years working with Specsavers in multiple metro locations across South Australia. She joined the support office team as a Clinical Performance Consultant for SA & VIC in 2021.

Joanna loves using her experience and knowledge to support partners and optometrists in delivering expert clinical care.

David Nguyen

Optometrist

David Nguyen

Optometrist

David Nguyen is an early career optometrist who graduated in 2021 after completing a Bachelor of Vision Science and Master Optometry at Deakin University and Bachelor of Science at University of Melbourne.

David has worked at Specsavers Mornington since graduating and is currently participating in the Specsavers Pathways Program.

He focuses on practicing patient-centred care and has a keen interest in conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Dr Tuan Tran

Ophthalmologist, Sunshine Coast Eye and Retina

Dr Tuan Tran

Ophthalmologist, Sunshine Coast Eye and Retina

Dr Tuan Tran completed specialist ophthalmology training with an additional general ophthalmology fellowship at the Sydney Eye Hospital. He underwent further subspecialist training as the clinical medical retina and uveitis fellow at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital (Melbourne), He was then awarded the Alan James Travelling Scholarship by RANZCO to support hisVitreoretinal surgical fellowship with the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (Canada) as the William H. Ross fellow. To further his experience, he worked as a VR and MR consultant at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff (UK).

His broad and extensive training across multiple continents and internationally regarded institutions, he has garnered a broad perspective and a wide set of surgical skills to allow him to treat his patients with the best possible individualised care.

He is currently based in the Sunshine Coast where he is a senior lecturer with Griffith University (school of medicine and dentistry) and is a vitreoretinal surgeon at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

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