Dr. David Thomas was born and raised in Northwest Calgary. He grew up in the community of Varsity until his family moved to Hawkwood when he was in Grade 7. He went to Sir Winston Churchill High School and then attended the University of Calgary, where he obtained a Bachelor Degree in Psychology. While at the University of Calgary, he developed his interest in vision and was involved in the publication of several research papers on both visual attention and visual search. He graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 1998 after completing a residency in ocular disease management in Birmingham, Alabama.

BRINGING OPTOMETRY TO CALGARY’S NEEDY

Upon graduation, he was thrilled to return to his home community by joining the Crowfoot Vision Centre where, along with treating his patients over the years, he has been involved in several research studies to help improve contact lens materials and cleaning solutions. Dr. Thomas, along with the Drop-In Centre, The Centre of Hope, and the Mustard Seed, has developed the ‘I-Care Program’ which has provided the free eyewear and optometry Calgary’s needy require for almost 10 years now.

Dr. Thomas has lectured regularly at the Kerby Centre for Seniors on topics such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts and has enjoyed talking about the eye at many Calgary and Airdrie elementary schools. He is currently a member of the Alberta College of Optometrists’ Competency Committee which ensures the competence of all optometrists in Alberta. He has three children with his wife, Lisa, and enjoys many activities away from work such as camping, golfing and curling. He also enjoys both playing and coaching soccer and hockey.

Dr. David Thomas looks forward to seeing all of his patients, current and new alike, in the near future.

Dr. Laura Jacques studied biochemistry and psychophysics at the University of Winnipeg where she was awarded the Lieutenant Governor Gold Medal. She subsequently pursued functional brain imaging research within the department of Neuro-Ophthalmology at McGill University, after which she was accepted to the University of Waterloo Optometry program. While studying at Waterloo she completed externships at the Gimbel Eye Centre in Calgary and the Eye Associates of Pinellas in Florida, where she was actively involved in the pre- and post-operative management of cataract, refractive, retinal disease, glaucoma, and oculoplastic procedures. Additionally, she was actively involved in research pertaining to the hemodynamics of the retina, dry eye, and diabetes at the University of Waterloo and Toronto Western Hospital.

After graduating with Honours as a Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo in 2008, Dr. Jacques had the pleasure of completing an additional externship at the Nagri Eye Hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. During her time at the government-funded hospital she was directly involved in ocular emergency triage, the treatment of ocular disease, and the delivery of lectures at the Nagar School of Optometry. "It was a wonderful experience that continues to motivate me to work towards increasing the accessibility of ocular healthcare in order to increase quality of life," Dr. Jacques said.

Dr. Jacques was later drawn to the progressive province of Alberta to pursue the practice of optometry. "The Alberta Association of Optometry attracts keen optometrists and helps them increase their scope of practice and pursue their passion," she said. Her practical expertise includes the management of ocular disease, pre- and post-operative care, contact lens fitting, pediatric optometry, and low-vision care.

Similar to many other Albertans, during her spare time Dr. Jacques enjoys alpine adventures in the Rocky Mountains.

Dr Neeru Johal was born and raised in Northeast Calgary where she attended Lester B. Pearson High School before her family moved to the Northwest community of Panorama Hills. She completed her undergraduate education in Medical Laboratory Sciences and Biological Sciences after which she began working in Blood Group Serology at Canadian Blood Services and Transfusion Medicine at the Foothills Medical Centre.

In 2009 she made the decision to go “across the pond” to the United Kingdom and graduated with honours in Optometry at Aston University School of Life and Health Sciences in Birmingham. She decided to pursue a Masters in Optometry from which she graduated with honours in 2013. Dr Neeru Johal completed a primary care externship practicing alongside a glaucoma-specialty optometrist and an ocular disease externship at the Eastbourne District General Hospital and Eastbourne Eye Clinic. After obtaining her license to practice independently from the General Optical Council, she took on a resident optometrist position at Vision Express Winchester where she remained for 2 years providing patient-centred care through comprehensive eye examinations and working alongside binocular vision specialists and ophthalmologists within the Hampshire region.

Upon returning to her home country of Canada, Dr Neeru Johal obtained her IOBP certification from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry. She completed an additional ocular therapeutics externship at Seema Eye Care here in Calgary where she evaluated post-operative patients for any developing signs of ocular infection or inflammation. She also had the pleasure of observing ophthalmic surgeons, Dr Ahmed Al-Ghoul and Dr Jamie Bhamra, perform surgical procedures involving cataract extraction with IOL placement, corneal transplants, dry eye management, YAG laser capsulotomy and collagen cross-linking for corneal ectasia.

Outside of practicing optometry, Dr Neeru Johal loves to try out new places to eat, travel with her husband and go to group-boxing sessions with her sisters.

Dr Neeru Johal is excited to be a part of the Crowfoot Vision Centre team and is looking forward to providing exceptional level of eye care to all members of the community.