AURORA EYE CARE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Owner
I was born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta, to Chinese-Vietnamese refugee parents (Chinese descent, but born and raised in Vietnam). I believe the melding of Chinese and Vietnamese culture at home combined with growing up in Western Canada has given me a fairly open-minded and unique perspective on life. I am eternally grateful to my parents, who fled Vietnam in the 1980s with their respective families and settled in Canada. They happened to end up in Lethbridge, where they met and started our family. Both worked very hard much of their lives in factories to afford my siblings and me all the opportunities we took for granted growing up here in Canada. Whenever I feel as if my own struggles are too difficult, I reflect on my parents' life struggles to put things into perspective.
Staying close to home, I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Lethbridge graduating with a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences with both honours and great distinction before heading off to the University of Waterloo for Optometry school. One of the most memorable experiences of Optometry school was my internship in Toronto at a retinal ophthalmology clinic in my 4th year, where I was exposed to so many rare and complicated internal eye conditions. It fueled my desire to provide full-scope eye care services. I had always planned on returning to Alberta after graduating from Waterloo in 2020, and when the opportunity arose to come to Grande Prairie to practice, I jumped on it. I look forward to serving Grande Prairie and its surrounding communities. This community has been very welcoming.
Job Titles:
- Optometrist, F.C.O.V.D, Owner
Dr. Charlotte Forgie grew up in the Peace Region and received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta. She then went on to Pacific University near Portland, Oregon, where she graduated with distinction as a Doctor of Optometry in 2015. After graduation, Dr. Forgie went on to complete a 1-year residency that focused on pediatrics and vision therapy. Throughout the years of school and residency, Dr. Forgie discovered a passion for helping children who are struggling with reading and patients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. She is a board certified fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). She is excited to have the opportunity to bring her skills and knowledge back home to the people of the Peace Country.
Outside of the office, Dr. Forgie enjoys spending time crafting, baking and spending time with family. Her husband's name is Shawn, and they have 2 young daughters.
A Vancouver, BC native, I moved to Ontario to complete my Bachelor of Science degree in Honours Biology at the University of Waterloo. I continued to stay in Waterloo for my Doctor of Optometry degree, where I was the recipient of the VSP/AAOF Practice Excellence Award and the Alcon Award for Excellence in Contact Lenses.
Wanting to pursue my interest in specialty contact lenses and myopia management, I further completed a Cornea and Contact Lens residency, where I also served as a clinical supervisor and lecturer. I am passionate about fitting therapeutic contact lenses for various eye conditions such as keratoconus, post-LASIK ectasia, and ocular disfigurements. Additionally, I have extensive experience utilizing specialty contact lenses and medical therapy in the management of progressive myopia in children. I am excited to share my experience with the Grande Prairie community.
When not looking at eyeballs, I enjoy hiking, baking, and playing tennis. I can perform eye examinations in English, French, and Mandarin Chinese.
Job Titles:
- Optometrist, Founding Owner
I grew up in Calgary and moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology. I then moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, where I completed my Doctor of Optometry degree at Pacific University.
At Pacific University, I was president of the Optometric Honor Society Beta Sigma Kappa. I was also the recipient of the Carl Zeiss Vision Fellowship for Clinical Excellence and the American Academy of Optometrists Potential for Strong Leadership in Independent Practice awards.
During my fourth year at Pacific University, I was able to apply my knowledge during my clinical internships. I studied advanced contact lens fitting at the Moran Eye Center and focused on low vision and eye diseases at the Veterans Affairs Hospital. My favourite internship was at the Air Force base in Hawaii. I got to spend three months studying and enjoying the beaches in my spare time.
Job Titles:
- Optometrist, Founding Owner
I'm originally from Trail, BC, and moved away after high school to pursue my academic career. I lived in Calgary while obtaining my Bachelor of Science in both Biological Sciences and Psychology. While at the University of Calgary, I was a residence advisor, volunteered as a peer counsellor and worked with the first-year orientation program. Following undergrad, I moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, to attend the Pacific University College of Optometry.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Pacific University and was highly involved in many clubs and organizations. I was our class president as well as the treasurer for the American Association of Student Optometrists. I was a member of Beta Sigma Kappa and received several academic acknowledgements:
The Dean's Award of Academic Excellence
Pacific University's 2008 Student of the Year
Vision Monday's 2010 Most Influential Woman in Optics
I enjoy being involved and remain active in the optometry community. I am currently on the board of directors for our practice management group, Eye Recommend.
I was born and raised in Medicine Hat with my three younger siblings. My mom always loved to escape the cold Alberta winters, so our family vacations helped develop my love of travel.
I moved to Lethbridge to attend the U of L and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. From there, I moved on to Waterloo to pursue my Optometry degree. Throughout high school I played soccer and volleyball, sports I continued to play recreationally in my college years.
In my fourth year of optometry, I had the opportunity to come to Grande Prairie for an internship and enjoyed it so much I never left.
When I'm not working, I enjoy painting, yoga, cooking, and playing volleyball.
Job Titles:
- Optometrist, Founding Owner
Being born and raised right here in Grande Prairie, I feel fortunate to be able to do something I love in the community I grew up in. I think it's important to connect with the community around me, and along with Dr. Hunter and Dr. Manville, I really feel that our practice makes those connections.
I pursued post-secondary at Grande Prairie Regional College before moving to Edmonton to study in the Honours Physiology program at the University of Alberta. From there, I moved to the University of Waterloo, where I completed the Doctor of Optometry program, graduating with honours.
"In University I found eye disorders incredibly interesting. I sought an internship with a multi-specialty Ophthalmology practice in Birmingham, Alabama, so that I could learn more about ocular disorders relating specifically to the cornea and retina."