The University of New Brunswick and that of Waterloo in Ontario are discussing the possibility of creating an optometry program on the Saint-Jean campus.
Anyone in the region who wants to study optometry in English at present must go into exile in Ontario or abroad.
The Dre Bronwyn Mulherinhas FrederictonNew Brunswick representative to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, said she asked the following question to the director of the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo: How can we get more New Brunswickers and Atlantic Canadians into the program?
The two universities signed an agreement in principle last week, which paves the way for the opening of a satellite school in Saint-Jean. It was a memorable milestone for Dr. Mulherin.
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Dr. Bronwyn Mulherin of Fredericton called for more opportunities for prospective optometrists in Atlantic Canada to study the field.
Photo : - / Michael Heenan
She points out that the number of applicants far exceeds the number of places available in optometry programs in Canada, which pushes some of them to study in the United States.
Optometrists perform eye exams and can detect and treat certain vision problems.
The only universities in Canada where it is possible to receive this training are that of Montreal, in French, and that of Waterloo, in English.
A basis for collaboration
The universities of New Brunswick and Waterloo have not yet determined the extent of the training or the number of places they could one day offer in Saint-Jean, indicates Petra Haufvice-rector of the University of New Brunswick.
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Petra Hauf, vice-rector of the University of New Brunswick.
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-The agreement in principle is non-binding and serves as a basis for the collaboration of the two partners, she explains. The next steps would be to create a committee and go to see Waterloo how everything works.
We now have a clear plan to work step by step towards the implementation, hopefully, of a program in New Brunswick in the near future.
The ideal, according to the vice-rector, would be to launch the program in the fall of 2027, but it would be more likely in 2028. She believes that an optometry program in New Brunswick would promote the retention of future graduates in the Atlantic .
Partnering with another university for this purpose is a sensible decision given the needs, says Dr. Stanley Woo, director of the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo.
There are many more applicants than we can accept each year. It would be great to offer a Canadian solution to these people, which would allow them to train close to home and then settle in their community
states Dr. Woo.
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Dr. Stanley Woo, Director of the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo.
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The Dr. Brian Dalrymplepresident of the Association of Optometrists of New Brunswick, recalls the importance of training in this area.
When you have fewer students training, you have fewer optometrists coming back, which becomes a big problem going forward because more and more optometrists are going to retire.
explains Dr. Dalrymple.
The rural area is particularly poorly served, he adds.
We hope for more [d’optométristes] in areas like Grand Manan, St. Stephen or Campbellton where it is difficult at the moment to attract these students.
According to a report from Hannah Rudderhamof CBC
