Future Focus 2026: A Night of Insight, Connection, and Purpose at University of Waterloo
Monday, April 6 2026 | 10 h 51 min | News
Future Focus 2026 returned to the University of Waterloo on April 2 co-hosted by UW optometry students Elisa Haley and Shreya Jain.
With 118 students in attendance, this fourth annual gathering brought together UW optometry students and industry leaders for an evening centered on connection, career exploration, and purpose.
The event theme, “Vision with Purpose: Building Meaningful Careers in Optometry,” was reflected throughout the program — from the student-moderated industry panel to the keynote presentation by Dr. Martina Sawatzky (UW ’19).
Dr. Sawatzky’s talk, Defining Meaning through Service, offered a powerful perspective on how students and new graduates can build careers that extend beyond clinical practice to include community and global impact.
Student moderators Natasha Reyes and Maryam Safdar, both graduating this year, directed questions to the assembled panel representing the Visionary Sponsors gaining insight into career pathways and tips as students enter the profession. Click here to view the full panel discussion.
Students also had the opportunity to engage directly with sponsors during the networking session, mentorship opportunities, and professional growth.
And of course, the evening wouldn’t be complete without the prize draw — featuring over $2,000 in giveaways, which were met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
The event was made possible thanks to the support of Visionary Sponsors:
Eye Recommend, FYi doctors, OSI Group and Specsavers Canada, along with Horizon Sponsors Vogue Optical, MNP, CSI Dry Eye Innovations, Nikon Lenswear Canada, Bausch + Lomb Canada and CRO Clinical & Refractive Optometry.
Future Focus continues to grow as one of the most anticipated events for UW optometry students — offering a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and start shaping what a meaningful career in optometry can look like.
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