Quebec Chapter

AAO Quebec Chapter History

The Quebec Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry received their Charter in 2009. The Chapter holds regular meetings in Montreal during the annual optometric meeting. A student chapter at the École d’optométrie, Université de Montréal (School of Optometry, University of Montreal) was started in 2011.

Chapter Officers

President – Etty Bitton, OD, FAAO
Vice President – Daniel Brazeau, OD, FAAO
Secretary/Treasurer – Sandrine Malaison-Tremblay, OD, FAAO
Immediate Past President – Langis Michaud, OD, FAAO

Montreal University Student Chapter Liaisons

Faculty Liaison - Benoit Tousignant

Student Chapter

President - Lara Tchakmakian
Vice President/Treasurer - Melanie Shashaty
3rd yrs Rep/Secretary - Catherine Comtois
3rd yr Reps - Catherine Poitras and Perla Azar
2^nd yr Rep - Justine Renaud

2019 Meeting Highlights

In 2019, the Quebec Chapter maintained its continued progression of activity at Academy 2019 Orlando with numerous contributions to the scientific and the continuing education program. The Quebec chapter had two new Fellows, Drs. Sandrine Malaison-Tremblay and Dan Samaha, bringing the total of Fellows from Quebec to 45! We congratulate them and welcome them to the Quebec Chapter!

The annual meeting of the AAO is rapidly becoming a yearly pilgrimage for several students, researchers, educators and optometrists from Quebec, Canada, with 180 attending this year including 85 student members (a new record!!!). The Canadian Alumni reception allowed many friends and colleagues to catch up and continue the relationships between the two Canadian optometry schools.

Numerous presentations from students and faculty also highlighted this year’s events, with a total of 5 conferences and 16 scientific presentations.

Student AAO Chapter

Lara Tchakmakian - President
Melanie Shashaty - Treasurer / Vice-president
Catherine Comtois - 3rd year rep / Secretary
Catherine Poitras - 3rd year rep
Perla Azar - 3rd year rep
Justine Renaud - 2rd year rep

2019 Student Awards

An increasing number of students are receiving the Academy Student Fellowship. A pinning ceremony celebrated the event with the Director of the school and the faculty liaison, Dr. Benoit Tousignant.

Several students were able to receive awards towards Academy 2019 Orlando. These include optometry students as well as graduate students. We congratulate all the recipients!

Optometry students:

Lara Tchakmakian and Antoine Aidans Van Der Poel
VSP and AAOF Canadian Practice Excellence Scholarship

Graduate students:

Anabel Charlebois, J&J Vision J. Pat Cummings Scholarship
Marie-Pier Maheux (BV resident), Allergan STF
Élisabeth Nardy (MSc candidate), Allergan STF
Reza Abbas Farishta, John N. Schoen Ezell Fellow

Past Meeting Highlights

2018 Meeting Highlights

The 2018 Quebec AAO Chapter met on November 2, 2018 in Montreal. Updates on the Chapter, AAO conferences past and present and student chapter information were presented.

Academy 2018 San Antonio was once again a popular destination for Quebec optometrists from Canada. A total of 137 people were in attendance at the Academy meeting held in San Antonio, of which the majority were students (103)! Congrats to the student chapter for this amazing amazing show of support!

We also celebrated important milestones of Fellowship with the AAO such as;
1st anniversary : May Jarkas
5th anniversary : Claudine Courey, Alexandra Fraser, Nicolas Fontaine
10th anniversary : Frederic Gagnon, Patrick Simard
15th anniversary : Julie Brulé
25th anniversary : Jean-Yves Roy
30th anniversary : Jules Plante, Langis Michaud
40th anniversary : Brian Goldberg

Drs. Brian Goldberg and Langis Michaud shared their journey as to who influenced them to go to an Academy meeting and who mentored them to become a FAAO. Thank you for the share ! They now have both mentored a multitude of individuals that are Fellows themselves and attend the Academy regularly!

Drs. Brian Goldberg and Langis Michaud celebrating their longstanding support of the Academy.

The 2018 AAO meeting was a huge success attracting even more students, faculty and alumni from Quebec. Student and faculty participated at the AAO with conferences, and scientific presentations. We are also very proud of our three new inductees into the AAO family, namely, Drs Vanessa Bachir, Diane Sayah and Zoe Lacroix. Congratulations to all!

Dr. Jean-Marie Hanssens, faculty at Montreal, presenting at the poster session.

Tousignant AAO 2018
Dr. Benoit Tousignant, AAO student/faculty liaison for Montreal, presenting at the poster session.

Drs. Zoe Lacroix, Vanessa Bachir and Diane Sayah become FAAO at the 2018 meeting.

2018 Montreal students and faculty at AAO

Students, faculty and alumni from the Montreal school at the Canadian Alumni and Friends Reception.

2017 Meeting Highlights

In 2017, May Jarkas, practitioner and clinic faculty at the school, received her FAAO at Academy 2017 Chicago. We congratulate her and welcome her to the Quebec Chapter! The annual meeting of the Academy is gaining popularity with folks from Quebec, Canada. Optometrists, faculty and students were on hand at the Canadian Alumni reception in Chicago.

2016 and Earlier Meetings

At the 2015 meeting, we celebrated a new FAAO (Caroline Faucher) and a lifetime fellow marking his 50^th anniversary as a FAAO (Howard Backman). Congratulations to both!

At the 2014 meeting, we celebrated a longtime friend and Fellow of the AAO, Daniel Brazeau, on his 25^th anniversary. Congratulations Daniel!

2016 Student Fellowship Program

2015 Student Fellowship Program

2014 Student Fellowship Program

2014 Student Fellow Pinning Ceremony

2012 Student Fellowship Program