Mehdi Al Atrach, MScPharm, BSOptom
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext.
Email: malatrach@uwaterloo.ca
Mehdi completed his Bachelor of Optometry and Vision Science from MUBS, Lebanon in 2019. He completed his Master’s in Industrial pharmacy from the Lebanese University in 2016 and his Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2005 from ONU, Ada, Ohio, USA. Currently, he is pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Dr. Lyndon Jones and Dr. Chau-Minh Phan on drug-delivering contact lenses.
Theodore Chow, OD, MSc
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 36210
Email: trchow@uwaterloo.ca
Teddy received his Doctor of Optometry from the University of Indiana in 2019. After graduation, Teddy joined a private practice in Markham focusing primarily on orthokeratology and specialty contact lenses, where he continues part-time today. He is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Vision Science under the supervision of Dr. Lyndon Jones and Dr. Paul Gifford investigating the dynamics of tear layer profile and corneal moulding using custom design orthokeratology lenses.
Piyush Garg, MTech (Biotechnology)
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext.
Email: p24garg@uwaterloo.ca
Piyush completed his master’s in biotechnology from Amity University, India. He has done his internship at Amity Institute of Click Chemistry Research and Studies, India where he worked on hydrogels for drug delivery. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Dr Lyndon Jones and Dr Chau-Minh Phan investigating degradable materials for ocular drug delivery.
Asiya Jabeen, BSOptom
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 36210
Email: ajabeen@uwaterloo.ca
Asiya completed her Bachelor’s in Optometry in 2016 from the Bausch and Lomb School of Optometry (affiliated with Birla Institute of Technology and Science) with 1 year of clinical internship at LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India. She received her master’s degree in Vision Science from the University of Waterloo, Canada in 2020 under the supervision of Dr. Lyndon Jones. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Dr. Lyndon Jones on Choroidal involvement in Myopia.
Daniel Kessie, OD
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567
Email: dkessie@uwaterloo.ca
Daniel completed his Doctor of Optometry(OD) program at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana in 2021. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree on OCT imaging of the limbus under the supervision of Dr. Alex Hui and Dr. Kostadinka Bizheva.
Nijani Nagaarudkumaran, MSc
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 37009
Email: nnagaarudkumaran@uwaterloo.ca
Nijani completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Waterloo in Biomedical Sciences in 2017. She recently completed her Master’s Degree at the University of Waterloo, developing a method for quantifying various cytokines present in the tear envelope under the supervision of Dr. Lyndon Jones. She worked as a laboratory technician with CORE and is now pursuing a PhD.
Heinz Ochtere, OD, MSc
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 36210
Email: hotchere@uwaterloo.ca
Heinz completed his Doctor of Optometry (OD) program at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana in 2010. He transitioned as International student to pursue his Master’s degree at the School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, and successfully completed in 2013 under the supervision of Profs. Lyndon Jones and Luigina Sorbara. He returned to Ghana and worked with Sight for Africa Eye Clinic (NGO) and also acted as Interim Clinical Director with Quantum Eye Clinic. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Waterloo investigating the ocular effects of scleral contact lenses on dry eye patients under the supervision of Profs. Lyndon Jones and Maud Gorbet.
Sharon Qiu, OD, MS
Graduate Student
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext.
Email: sharon.qiu@uwaterloo.ca
Sharon is a residency-trained optometrist with a passion for specialty contact lenses. She completed an OD/MS dual degree at the New England College of Optometry, where she graduated as the valedictorian of the Class of 2022. After graduation, she completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at the University of Waterloo. Sharon is currently pursuing a full-time PhD in Vision Science at CORE. She is also serving as a part-time attending optometrist and supervisor for 4th year student interns at the University of Waterloo Contact Lens and Myopia Control Clinic.