Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of the Ontario Association of Optometrists is comprised of member optometrists who are nominated by their peers in the profession to serve a two year term. Elections for open positions the Board are held yearly.
OAO's Board Members are noted for their leadership in the profession and serve as advocates for patient and community interests. The President also serves an elected two year term and is responsible for providing guidance to the Board and working as a formal spokesperson on optometric and healthcare matters.
OAO President:
Dr. John Mastronardi
Dr. Mastronardi practices in Windsor and has been active in advocating for patient safety and value, providing advice and support to his patients to ensure they make the best eye care choices. He has been an active and involved Board member for a number of years and is focused on helping OAO member optometrists meet the needs of their patients in an ever-evolving healthcare sector.
OAO Past President:
Dr. William Ulakovic
Dr. Ulakovic served as OAO President from 2007 to 2009 and has been a long-standing and active Member of the Board of Directors since 1999. Living and working in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He serves in an advisory role to the Board and current President.
2010 Board of Directors:
Dr. Barrie Conron
Dr. Conron practices in Dundas and serves as OAO Treasurer. He is an OAO Past President and is a keen advisor to the Board and OAO at large on matters of community, policy and is active in charitable efforts at home and abroad.
Dr. Farooq Khan
Dr. Khan practices in Whitby and is an active member of OAO's sight testing initiatives, serving to educate his patients and the public on the need for comprehensive eye exams and to drive awareness of the role of optomterists as critical healthcare providers.
Dr. Bruce Lidkea
Dr. Lidkea practices in Fort Frances and is the Board lead for a number of initiatives including the development of a policy manual to guide OAO members on practice management.
Dr. Stelios Nikolakakis
Dr. Nikolakakis currently teaches at the University of Waterloo to 4th year optometry students. He provides practice management seminars to fellow optometrists and assistants all over the country. He maintains two full service optometric practices in Etobicoke.
Dr. Sheldon Salaba
Dr. Salaba practices in Hamilton and is Board lead for the Children's Vision initiative and is an active proponent of consumer education; helping his patients understand the risks of unauthorized sight testing.
Dr. Fiona Soong
Dr. Soong practices in Toronto and is OAO lead for community; demonstrating a commitment to building peer-to-peer opportunities for optometrists in support of their patients.
Dr. Fabian Tai
Dr. Tai has served on and chaired a number of working groups. Dr. Tai is a University of Waterloo graduate and completed an externship in Florida where he obtained experience in laser surgery co-management, as well as cataract and ocular disease management technology.
Dr. Phil Vrkljan
Dr. Vrkljan practices in Hamilton and takes an active and involved role in working to educate patients on the risks of unqualified sight testing and also devotes considerable time to student outreach.
Dr. Marta Witer
Dr. Witer practices in Toronto and is Board lead for public education; taking an outreach and education role to ensure that OAO is able to share its collective knowledge with the communities it serves. Dr. Witer is also a dynamic philanthropist and has supported many initiatives above and beyond optometry.
Dr. Lareina Yeung
Dr. Yeung practices in Toronto and has served as the OAO lead for community and other outreach initiatives.
