Dr. Selina McGee is the Visionary Founder and Owner of BeSpoke Vision. She is a nationally recognized expert at the intersection of ocular aesthetics, dry eye disease, and leadership in modern eyecare. She leads with intention and empowers doctors to implement confidently, lead authentically, and elevate both patient outcomes and the profession itself. As the founder of BeSpoke Vision and a dynamic keynote speaker, she redefines what’s possible—one doctor, one patient, one vision at a time.

She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Northeastern State University College of Optometry. She serves as a clinical investigator at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. She currently serves as Past President for the Intrepid Eye Society and the Secretary of the Board of Examiners in Oklahoma.  She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, and is Past-President of the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and Past-Trustee on the SECO Board. Most recently she was named OD of the South and OD of the year in OK.  She is the Co-Medical Editor of Modern Optometry. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology (where she graduated Summa Cum Laude) and Doctor of Optometry (also Summa Cum Laude) from Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University, Chris Wroten, O.D., graduated from Southern College of Optometry (SCO) before completing a Residency in Hospital-based Primary Eye Care at the Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center.  Dr. Wroten has served as Chief Operating Officer at the Bond-Wroten Eye Clinics, with 3 offices in southeast Louisiana, while supervising its Primary Care & Ocular Disease Residency and assisting with its Student Externship Programs, both of which he founded.  He has received appointment as Adjunct Faculty at several schools & colleges of optometry, twice been elected President of the Optometry Association of Louisiana (OAL), Chairs SECO International’s Education Committee, and received two appointments to the Louisiana State Board of Optometry Examiners.  He’s also served on numerous committees within the American Optometric Association, moderated the Presidents Council meetings, and served on the Board of Trustees for SCO, including two terms as Chair.  Dr. Wroten has lectured internationally, participated in clinical research, and been the recipient of several professional awards throughout his career.  He is a devoted husband to his wife, Sarah Wroten, OD, and is the proud father of two children, Emily and Ben.

Vin T. Dang is an optometrist practicing in Bakersfield, California, with a unique clinical focus on ocular surface disease and dry eye.

Born and raised in Paris, France, Dr. Dang earned his Doctorate of Optometry from Southern California College of Optometry. In 2016, he received his Fellowship with the American Academy of Optometry.

As Director of Dry Eye Center at Empire Eye and Laser Center, Dr. Dang is a specialist in ocular surface diseases, advanced refractive eye surgery care, and glaucoma.

Dr. Dang has contributed to optometric journals and lectures on ocular surface disease treatment and management. He serves on the advisory boards assisting in the research and development of dry eye therapies and crafting disease management protocols.

He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the past president of the Kern County Optometric Society. He volunteers nationally and internationally with OneSight and Vision to Learn.

Carlo J. Pelino, OD, is a 1994 graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. In 1995 Dr. Pelino completed a PCO ocular disease residency at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, where he concentrated in retina and neuro-ophthalmic disease. Dr. Pelino is currently a full time Associate Professor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry where he serves as the director of the optometric retina service at The Eye Institute and chief of the Chestnut Hill satellite clinic. In 2005 he completed a one- year retinal fellowship emphasizing medical and surgical treatments under the direction of vitreo-retinal surgeons at Crozier-Chester and Riddle Memorial Hospitals in suburban Philadelphia. Dr. Pelino is a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry where he completed his two-year term as the chair of the retina special interest group (SIG) in December 2020. He is one of the chief optometric advisors to Web MD as well as a strategic advisor to multiple industry companies. Dr. Pelino has worked with the University of Pennsylvania on two retinal research projects and recently completed a third project with the Vimetrics corporation. He regularly lectures about ocular disease in domestic and international programs.

Dr. Avani Davé was awarded the Presidential Scholarship to attend the New England College of Optometry where she earned her Doctorate of Optometry and thereafter, completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lens.

Dr. Davé is the Director of the Optometry and Contact Lens Service at the Ross Eye Institute in Buffalo, New York. Her clinical practice focuses on the management of complex ocular surface and corneal disease with the aid of advanced technology and treatment including specialty contact lenses. As a Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University at Buffalo, she is involved with lecturing residents, supervising medical students and serves as a clinical investigator for several research studies. Additionally, Dr. Davé is honored to serve as a speaker and consultant for both pharmaceutical and contact lens companies. 

Dr. Davé is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and recipient of the Johnson and Johnson Vision Care Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care.

Dr Patrick Simard, Od, MSc, MBA, FAAO, FBCLA, FIACLE, IACMM, FIAOMC, Diplo AA) (CCLRT)

Dr Patrick Simard is graduated from École d’Optométrie de l’Université de Montréal in 2002 where he also obtained his Master’s Degree in vision’s science on keratoconus research (2006). He is a Fellow of the AAO, the IACLE, the BCLA and the IAOMC. He is a Diplomate of the AAO in the section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies. He also obtained a Master’s in Business Administration in 2010 from HEC Montreal. Dr Simard is in private practice at Clinique d’Optométrie Bélanger and is a clinical instructor and lecturer at Université de Montréal since 2002. His research interests include myopia control, orthokeratology, aberrometry, and scleral lenses. He co-holds a patent for a contact lens design that controls the development of myopia and axial length.

James S Wolffsohn, a Professor of Optometry at Aston University since 2000, formerly Deputy Executive Dean for Life Sciences and then associate Pro-Vice Chancellor, is the Dean of the School of Optometry and also Head of the Department of Audiology. Prior to his appointment to Aston University, Professor Wolffsohn was a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia following an Optometry degree at the University of Manchester (UMIST), training period at Moorfields Eye Hospital and a PhD at Cardiff University. His main research areas are the development and evaluation of ophthalmic instrumentation, myopia management, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, presbyopia and the tear film. He is a National Teaching Fellow, has published more than 380 full peer-reviewed papers and presented at numerous international conferences. He is the academic Chair of the British Contact Lens Association, having previously being President and was chair of the BCLA Contact Lens Evidence-based Academic Reports (CLEAR); he is on the Executive of TFOS, was a harmoniser and sub-committee chair for TFOS DEWS II, TFOS DEWS III & TFOS Lifestyle reports; he is the International Myopia Institute’s Chief Scientific Officer and was joint-Chair of their white papers. He holds the BCLA Medal (2021), AoA Glenn Fry (2022) and AAOptom CCLRT Founders (2024) awards.

Dr. Lonsberry grew up in Rossburn, Manitoba (Canada). He obtained his Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo in 1996 after completing a Master of Science in Physiology from the University of Manitoba. He completed his residency in Primary Care Optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry in 1997, then joined the faculty at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN. During his time at SCO, he completed a Masters in Education degree with an emphasis in adult learning. 

Currently, Dr. Lonsberry is a Full Professor with Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon where his primary teaching responsibilities are supervising interns and overseeing a specialty "lumps and bumps" clinic. In his spare time, he goes to Anchorage, Alaska where he sees patients in a private practice.

Dr. Lonsberry is a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, the Optometric Retinal Society, and the Optometric Glaucoma Society.

Since graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2011, Dr. Rollett has focused his career on vision therapy, a field that has grown into a true professional passion. Based in Kelowna, British Columbia, he works alongside a dedicated team at Okanagan Vision Therapy, a group of centres supporting patients of all ages through vision therapy and neuro-visual rehabilitation. In addition to his clinical work, he enjoys sharing what he has learned with new and developing practices across North America, offering guidance as they build and strengthen their own programs.

Adam Cmejla is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM), host of the 20/20 Money podcast, and founder of Integrated Planning & Wealth Management in Carmel, IN. As a third-generation business owner, he and his firm focus on helping OD practice owners nationwide proactively manage cash flow, reduce taxes, and invest prudently through a process called the Integrated Income Planning Cycle™. This engaged and collaborative planning process ultimately allows practice owners to "plan life, on purpose.”

Shalu Pal, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, FIAOMC started and manages, The Yorkville Eye Institute, a five-optometrist group practice in Toronto, Ontario Canada which is home to every subspecialty within optometry. Dr. Pal is a Myopia in Practice (MIP) researcher, and co-founder of the Canadian Contact Lens Academy. She is a CE advisor for the Ontario Association of Optometry, the Academy of Ophthalmic Education, Scleral lens workshops co-ordinator and co-founder of contact lens workshops – now known as the STAPLE program. She is the Canadian Ambassador for Global Ophthalmic Women and the British Contact Lens Association. Dr. Pal’s work in the areas of specialty lenses, myopia management, dry eyes treatments, ocular aesthetics, communication and practice management continues to be published. 

Dr. Pal has been honored with the CLCS Achievement Award for her educational contributions to the industry and awarded the Legends Award by American Optometric Association. Dr. Pal has most recently graduated from the Global Healthcare Executive Education Program at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Pal volunteers locally and globally and is the founder of Locals Supporting Locals, a community-based charity. She is committed to the success of optometry students, lectures globally and consults with many industry partners for the betterment of the profession through education.

Dr. Matthew T. Vaughn is an Associate Clinical Professor at SUNY College of Optometry and the University Eye Center in New York City, where he supervises students and residents in the comprehensive eye care of children across all ages and ability levels, with particular expertise in examining children with complex needs, autism spectrum disorders, learning-related vision problems, and pediatric ocular disease. Dr. Vaughn serves as the instructor of record for the Pediatric Optometry and Vision Development course and laboratory, and the Advanced Topics in Pediatric Ocular Disease elective. He is actively involved in the American Academy of Optometry, where he contributes to diversity initiatives and advocates for equitable healthcare access for the LGBTQ+ community and for queer optometrists within the profession. Dr. Vaughn completed his residency in Pediatric and Infant Vision Optometry at SUNY Optometry following his Doctor of Optometry degree from SUNY College of Optometry and undergraduate degree in biology from The College of New Jersey.

Mr. Dubey teaches negotiations, conflict management, domestic and international business law, and entrepreneurship at the Smith School of Business and negotiations at Queen's Law School. He also teaches negotiations, conflict management, consensus building, cross-cultural management, governance, strategic collaboration, and ethics for the Smith School of Business Executive Education. 

Mr. Dubey began his working career as a commercial pilot, after graduating from the aviation Flight Technology program at Seneca College in 1984. In 1985, he founded and ran both an executive aircraft charter company and a flight training school in Toronto. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from the University of Toronto and worked as an aviation consultant, providing strategic and regulatory advice to Canadian and foreign clients. Following the completion of his law degree from Queen's University in 1994, he articled and practiced law with two major law firms in Toronto, specializing in corporate commercial law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, finance, and aviation. In 1999, he became the Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel and a member of the Board of Directors of Quicklaw Inc., the leading provider of legal online database services to the legal profession in Canada. He led the company towards an IPO and its subsequent sale in 2002. After the sale of Quicklaw, he returned to the private practice of law. Mr. Dubey joined Queen's University full-time in 2006. In addition to teaching, he has held several senior administrative roles at Smith. 

He served as an officer in the Canadian Forces (Reserve) from 1981 to 2010. Mr. Dubey advises and has been a member of several not-for-profit boards. Mr. Dubey was inducted into the Kingston Business Hall of Fame in the Mentor category in 2013. Mr. Dubey is currently the chair of the financial committee for the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation and a member of the Community Futures Eastern Ontario Board. He maintains a consulting practice focused on negotiation/mediation, governance, strategy and culture and diversity.

Dr. Oliver received his MD from and completed his Ophthalmology residency training at the University of British Columbia. He completed an adult glaucoma fellowship with additional training in pediatric glaucoma and advanced anterior segment surgery at the Université de Montréal. Dr. Oliver teaches medical students, residents, and glaucoma fellows in his clinics and operating room. His practice centres on the surgical management of glaucoma and cataract surgery.

Dr. Cedrick Mah is committed to delivering exceptional eye care to patients across various communities. He pursued his Doctor of Optometry at the University of Waterloo and furthered his training by completed a residency at the Oklahoma College of Optometry, specializing in ocular disease with an emphasis on low vision rehabilitation.

Dr. Mah is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and holds a Diplomate status with the American Board of Optometry, and a recent fellow of the Canadian Council of Specialties in Optometry. He is interested in ocular emergencies, scope modernization and low vision. Outside of clinical practice, Dr. Mah contributes to the advancement of optometry facilitating workshops on advanced procedures. Dr. Mah currently practices at Mt. Pleasant Optometry Centre in Vancouver, BC, and with Mobile Eyes Optometry, providing eye care services in nursing homes throughout Vancouver.

Dr. Sophia Leung is the Principal Optometrist and a Clinical Director at Seema Eye Care Center, a tertiary surgical center in Calgary, Alberta, with a clinical emphasis in medical cornea. Dr. Leung is a University of Waterloo alumni and 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 and board member of the American Society of Optometric Surgeons. Dr. Leung will also be graduating from Cornell University and Queen’s University with a dual-MBA in May 2026. Dr. Leung is an Adjunct Faculty for Northeastern State University College of Optometry and University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, and a member of the Intrepid Eye Society. 

Dr. Halleran is a graduate of the Southern California College of Optometry. During her clinical externships, Dr. Halleran gained exceptional experience in the treatment of anterior segment disease which grew into passion for the treatment of ocular Surface disease and use of specialty contact lenses. 

Dr. Halleran is the current chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Optometrists and currently owns and operates a large optometry clinic in her hometown of Clarenville, Newfoundland. She also has served on the board of directors with the Discovery Healthcare Hospital foundation and is Past-President of the Rotary Club of Clarenville. 

Dr. Halleran enjoys the pursuit of clinical research and has authored and co-authored numerous research papers and posters with a focus on Dry Eye disease. Dr. Halleran has sat on a number of clinical advisory boards and continues to enjoy pursuing the expansion of scope for Optometrists across Canada. In 2019 she completed her requirements and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. 

In her spare time Dr Halleran can be found tending to the animals that she shares with her Husband Ian on their hobby farm and Apiary in rural Newfoundland or spending with her daughter Layla who was born in 2021. 

Dr. Periman, a distinguished board-certified Cornea and Refractive Surgery Fellowship trained ophthalmologist, seamlessly blends her molecular biology expertise with her role as Founder-Director of Dry Eye Services at Periman Eye Institute in Seattle. Renowned for fostering collaborations, advancing education, mentorship and spearheading research, she lectures globally, writes dozens of articles and has 23 peer-reviewed publications. Her eloquent but common-sense communication, inspired by her Montana ranch upbringing, and her mastery of immunopathophysiology, earned her the moniker "The DryEyeMaster."

Dr. Nicole Poon, born and raised in Vancouver, earned her Doctor of Optometry from SUNY College of Optometry. She completed a residency in cornea and contact lenses at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia, gaining expertise in specialty contact lenses, myopia management, and comanaging ocular disease with ophthalmology. Her passion lies in providing clearer vision with specialty contact lenses and managing myopia in both children and adults to reduce the risk of associated complications. Outside of the clinic she enjoys spending time with her husband and their dog Toto.

Kayla is the CEO & founder of Spexy, an international optometric speaker, a certified optician, and quite the optometric renegade. Her direct and relatable approach to training has set her apart in the optical industry. Kayla took her knowledge of industry coaching and adapted it to reach any eyecare office that is hungry to grow by putting her training in an online video learning platform called Spexy® The result, she and her team train opticals how to give a sensational experience to their patients and it is transforming the patient relationship with their optical in a powerful way. To learn more about her visit www.beSpexy.com.

Dr. Mahnia Madan is a Vancouver-based optometrist and recognized leader in advanced and regenerative dry eye care. She is the Immediate Past President of the BC Doctors of Optometry and serves on the Board of Directors for the Dry Eye Society of the Americas (DESA) and Canadian Women in Eye Care (CWEC).

Dr. Madan earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Pacific University College of Optometry and completed a residency in ocular disease at the Eye Center of Texas in Houston. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and has delivered over 65 invited lectures across North America on complex ocular surface disease, glaucoma, and emerging regenerative therapies.

She is a lecturer at Pacific University College of Optometry, serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Modern Optometry, and is a continuing education reviewer for ARBO. Dr. Madan is also a consultant to industry partners and has authored numerous articles in leading optometric publications. She is recognized for advancing clinical standards in ocular surface disease through education and interdisciplinary collaboration

Dr. Anna Tinker is a Medical Oncologist at the British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver Centre and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Her clinical expertise is in the treatment of women with gynecologic cancers. Her research interests are in the area of clinical trial development, immunotherapy, and translational research. She is presently the Chair of the Provincial Gyne Oncology Tumour Group, and is also the Director of OvCaRe’s Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Unit. She is an active member of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, participating as study chair, a member of the Ovarian Cancer Working Group Committee and on the Investigational New Drug Committee and she serves on the Gynecologic Cancers Steering Committee – Ovarian Task Force for the National Cancer Institute (US).

Dr. Ho’s research involves evaluating the impact of therapies proven in clinical trials in the real world through population-based analysis. Her current focus is on developing a learning health care system with a real-world data evidence-generation framework to inform healthcare decision-makers.

Dr. Richard Maharaj, O.D., FAAO, is the managing partner of Prism Optometry Services and director of Interventional Dry Eye Clinics at the Prism Eye Institute, the largest provider of medical and surgical eye care in Canada. He also holds several academic and leadership positions, including clinical adjunct faculty at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry, Section Chair for Ocular Surface Disease with the Canadian Association of Optometrists, and Editorial Board Member for The Journal of Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease. In addition, he is the co-founder of the Canadian Dry Eye Summit, a national conference dedicated to advancing the education of eye doctors in diagnosing and managing dry eye disease.

Beyond his clinical and academic commitments, Dr. Maharaj serves as the Chief Scientific Officer for AI4Eyes, an initiative focused on developing artificial intelligence diagnostics for eye care. He is also a published international speaker and clinical scientist with expertise in ocular surface disease and the psychology of health care. Actively engaged in both national and international professional associations, he continues to contribute to the advancement of research, education, and innovation in optometry and ophthalmology.

After graduating from the University of Montreal, Dr. Courey continued her studies to complete her residency, then a Master of Science (MSc) in Contact Lenses and Anterior Segment. She then became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) and of the Scleral Lens Society (FSLS). Passionate about helping dry eye patients, she has been invited to speak on the subject in Canada and the United States as well as in Europe (fun fact: she is doubly certified by the Boards of Examiners, she obtained her certification from the Canadian AND American Board of Examiners.)

Her mission is to be able to help patients suffering from Dry Eye Disease with the most up-to-date information and treatment options possible.

Dr. Luk received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry at the University of Waterloo, and it is notable that she was on the Dean’s Honour List for both! After graduating, she gained valuable clinic experience in several private practice settings in Ontario.

Over the years, Dr. Luk has volunteered for organizations such as Cycle for Sight, VOSH (Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity), OAO (Ontario Association of Optometrists), and the Lakeridge Hospital Diabetic Support Group. She has also served on a mission trip with VOSH in Mexico. Dr. Luk currently sits on the membership committee for BC Doctors of Optometry.

Dr. Luk is passionate about Dry Eye Therapy. Her vast training and expertise are invaluable to patients who require customized advanced dry eye treatments. She has worked alongside leaders in the dry eye field and has also lectured on this topic.