Head of School Message
Monday 27 February marks the beginning of semester one teaching for students in Parts II to IV of the BOptom programme. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new Part II students and congratulate them on admission to the optometry degree.
I would also like to acknowledge that the Part V students have been back on campus seeing patients in the Optometry Clinic under the supervision of our clinical staff since mid-January and wish them well for their final year with us in the programme.
2023 has also seen the welcome return of international students both to the undergraduate BOptom degree and as new PhD students, which is a hopeful sign that the disruptions of the past few years due to COVID-19 are mostly behind us.
The research activities of the school continue to grow with the establishment of new vision science research facilities in building 505, and the expansion of the Community Eye Health team who are commencing Aotearoa New Zealand’s first population-based eye health survey in 2023. I am always impressed by the dedication and productivity of the School’s researchers when we compile our annual reports to groups such as the Aotearoa New Zealand National Eye Centre based in the faculty.
Finally, I’d like to wish everybody the best for 2023.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini – Success is not mine alone, it is the success of the many
Ngā mihi
Dr Andrew Collins
Urumatua o te Kura | Head of School
School of Optometry and Vision Science
Part V Workshop Week 2023
Photo: Part 5 Optometry student James Hwang measuring peripheral visual fields on Camille Guy. Each year new Part V students participate in a range of specialist workshops which have been spread out through the first semester. In 2023 for the first time these...
Staffing Update
Farewell With great sadness we say farewell to Soheil Doustkouhi, who has been an integral part of the school for five years with his PhD studies followed by working as a research fellow with Steven, during which time he also provided valuable teaching in the BOptom....
Eye Health Care in the Pacific
Our Community Eye Health Team sees two exciting projects get underway. Eye Health Care in the Pacific: The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is collaborating with the University of Auckland in a project to determine the state of eye health care in the Pacific region....
February News
Here are a few recent activities and news items from around the school: Associate Professor Monica Acosta is continuing to work on refreshing the school’s postgraduate courses, the aim being to offer a range of 15-point courses which students in masters programmes...
Head of School Message
Monday 27 February marks the beginning of semester one teaching for students in Parts II to IV of the BOptom programme. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new Part II students and congratulate them on admission to the optometry degree. I would also like...
End of year message from Head of School
As we come to the end of another challenging year that has seen us having to adjust to the disruptions of COVID circulating in the community, I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all the staff, academic and professional, that make up our School,...
School management team update
The school’s management team structure and roles have been refreshed over the last few months. Please see below the new roles, holders of the roles, and the main focus of each role: Head of School – Dr Andrew Collins Work closely with professional and academic staff...
July quarterly update
Staffing updates Congratulations to Zaria on the arrival of new baby Asher, born on Queen’s Birthday weekend (4 June). His older brother Maxwell is “pretty chuffed” with his new baby brother. Welcome to Roxanne and Harpreet, who will join Renita Martis in standing in...
Mid-year message from Head of School
First, I would like to note that it has been a great honour to have taken on the role of Head of School this year, and to express my gratitude for the hard work, expertise, and support of my predecessors and all the staff in making the school, and BOptom and...
April 2022
Staffing update: Head of School Steven Dakin stepped down this month as Head of School. Steven presided over the school for eight years, leading the extremely important change from a department to a school and steering the school through significant change since then....
Dakin lab site launch
Professor Steven Dakin’s new and improved lab site https://www.clinicalvision.org/ was recently launched. The lab team includes Dr Catherine Morgan, recent PhD graduate Dr Soheil Doustkouhi, and current PhD candidates Selassie Tagoh, Aryaman Taore, and Tony Han. ...
Robert Maher Award 2021
Kristine Hammond has been awarded the prestigious Robert Maher Award for 2021 at the ADONZ (Dispensing Opticians Association) conference. Kristine entered the field of optics in 1993 and gained experience as a branch manager and area manager, completing her Advanced...