Blog #52 Oh, what a year!
Last night, I attended a Webex meeting on-line
for the supervisors involved in the Clerkship Program for the School of
Optometry at the University of Waterloo.
This is the second year in which Burlington Eyecare has participated in
the 4th Year Clinical program with the School. Optometry students complete at least three
years of undergraduate studies; then three years of classroom studies,
laboratory work, and clinical practice at the optometry school; in their fourth
year of optometry, the students do three
supervised clinical rotations, often in very different places. Every four
months at Burlington Eyecare, we host a new student. It is a privilege to be
able to provide this practical experience and guidance to future optometrists,
and it’s a privilege which we enjoy thoroughly.
Last March, when the whole province of Ontario
was locked down, it was very difficult to see how we could re-open the clinic,
and even more difficult to figure out how we were going to prepare the next
year of students, the Class of 2021.
Well, here we are. I would like to first thank the staff and
faculty at Waterloo for all the hard work: tailoring the program, working with
unprecedented challenges, and getting a class of 90 students through this year’s
challenges. Secondly, I would like to
thank my staff and colleagues for also navigating the year and giving our
students an excellent experience. Thirdly,
to our patients at Burlington Eyecare, for showing good-natured patience and
unfailing encouragement during their student exams, allowing the students to refine
and practice their skills even in the midst of all the covid cafuffle. Finally,
I would like to thank the Class of 2021 for being very flexible, for being
courageous in a very trying situation. I
would like to congratulate this exceptional Class for rising to the occasion
and finishing well.
Last night’s on-line meeting was good reminder
of all that has been accomplished. It is
my hope that these graduates can take this same indomitable spirit and apply it
to their new careers. Best wishes to you
all!
We also welcome the Class of 2022, one of which
will be starting with us on May 17th.
til next week,
the good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist
