Under the leadership of Dr. Amrit Rai, Medical Director of the Toronto Ophthalmic Training Centre at Kensington Eye Institute, and in partnership with Dr. Alejandro Oliver, a former University of Toronto retina fellow, our department continues to expand opportunities for residents to experience ophthalmology beyond the Greater Toronto Area.
Each month, residents and faculty travel to Timmins, Ontario, to provide clinical and surgical care to patients from Northern communities. This initiative offers valuable hands-on experience in a rural setting and encourages trainees to consider careers in underserved regions following their training. Many senior residents have participated in these rotations, and medical students have also joined, contributing to the program’s ongoing success.
Dr. Rai has also partnered with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to strengthen educational opportunities in the region. This collaboration supports Northern-based medical students in exploring ophthalmology and highlights the value of practicing in rural settings.
Rural Ophthalmology Mission – CNIB Eye Van
In addition to our Timmins outreach, the department proudly supports the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Eye Van (https://visionlossrehab.ca/en/resources/eye-van), a mobile clinic that delivers essential eye care to remote communities across Ontario.
By participating in these visits, our residents and staff help improve equitable access to vision care while gaining firsthand experience with the unique challenges of delivering ophthalmology services in northern and rural settings. These experiences not only enhance clinical skills but also deepen understanding of the barriers faced by underserved populations.
