FYidoctors - Lower Sackville

A native of Fredericton, Dr. Debra Currie has been an optometrist since 1992 when she graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry. She began practicing in Lower Sackville in 1998 after spending time in private practice in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and working for a year as a clinical tutor at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Dr. Currie loves getting to know her patients and their families while providing eye exams in a friendly and open environment. She is particularly interested in the fast-growing field of myopia control in children and the ever-changing research in the field of glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. Over the years, Dr. Currie has served on several committees for the Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists including as a Council member, Chair of the AGM Committee and a member of the Continuing Education Committee. She is currently a member of the Community Outreach Committee as well as the Practice Enhancement Committee. She and her husband Paul live in Dartmouth with their teenaged sons, Malcolm and Charlie, and their dog Tilly. She spends her spare time reading, gardening and baking for her friends and family and loves to travel whenever she can.

Before earning his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo in 1997, Dr. Baird graduated from Dalhousie University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science (Advanced Major in Biology). During his final year of Optometry school, Dr. Baird trained for four months at the Houston Eye Associates in Houston, Texas. This was a clinical internship with a large emphasis on the therapeutic treatment of eye infection and disease. Soon after graduating from Optometry, Dr. Baird opened a clinic outside of Saint John, NB. He practiced there for 2 years before joining Doctors Eye Clinic in 1999. He became a full partner in 2000 and works in the Scotia Square and Lower Sackville office locations. During his final year of Optometry school, Dr. Baird volunteered his time in rural Dominican Republic to provide eye examinations and fit people for glasses. This was a very rewarding experience to be able to help those less fortunate in underdeveloped countries. Dr. Baird is a member in good standing with both the Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists (NSAO) and the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO). During his free time, Dr. Baird loves to travel, play hockey and golf. He also enjoys downhill skiing and spending time with his family.

Dr. Dana Mikkelsen was born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She then went on to complete her Doctor of Optometry degree and graduated with distinction from the University of Waterloo in 2021. Upon graduation, she was awarded the CooperVision Contact Lens award for excellence in contact lens care. While in Optometry school, Dr. Mikkelsen completed an externship in ocular disease, which gave her significant exposure to the treatment and management of various ocular diseases including glaucoma. She also served as Vice President of the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity student chapter at the University of Waterloo. During this time, she organized several optometric service trips around the world and volunteered on an eye care mission to provide vision services to those in need in Manila, Philippines. Dr. Mikkelsen is excited to be providing eye care in her home province of Nova Scotia. She is passionate about helping others and providing patient-centered care. Her special interests include ocular disease, dry eye management, contact lenses, and myopia control. In her spare time, Dr. Mikkelsen enjoys trying out new recipes, traveling, and enjoying time with family and friends.

Dr. Paula Gaudet has a comprehensive science background with a Bachelor of Science majoring in biology and a Doctor of Optometry degree. She's been enjoying her work in family practice eye care since 1993. Dr. Gaudet's strength is in customizing both prescription and lens design for each patient's unique lifestyle. Understanding the person attached to each set of eyes adds tremendous value for each patient to fully enjoy all aspects of his or her life. Asked what advice she'd give people with regard to their health, Dr Gaudet says "Trust your instincts. If something changes quickly or feels wrong, it's wrong until proven otherwise. Standard recall visits and insurance policies are useful but they don't take care of you. That's my job. Please feel welcome to come any time you have a concern and we'll talk about it." Dr. Gaudet has served as President and Counselor for the Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists She continues to chair a committee focused on high quality eye care standards. She and her husband Erick live in Hammonds Plains together with their son Hunter, and their 2 golden retrievers, Rooky and Rossi She enjoys cultural travel and cooking and can often be found towing the neighbourhood kids around the lake.

Dr. Alphonse Carew graduated with a Doctor of Optometry, along with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo in 1986. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Essilor Award for Clinical Excellence and the Bausch and Lomb Outstanding Achievement Award. In 1996 he received an MBA degree from Saint Mary's University. Dr. Carew started practicing in Halifax in 1986 as an associate, a short time later in 1987 he started his own practice. It didn't take long for his practice to grow to its present size with 8 doctors and three locations. He now divides his clinical time evenly between Halifax and Lower Sackville. Dr. Carew also consults with optometrists all across Canada to evaluate their practices and help them perform better. He has lectured on the topic of Practice Management on the North American Optometry circuit and has written extensively for the Canadian Journal of Optometry. For his work with the intern program at the School of Optometry, University of Waterloo he was named an Adjunct Faculty Member of the University of Waterloo. Dr. Carew is a past-president of the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) from 1997 To 1999. He has served as a council member for both the CAO and the Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists (NSAO). From time to time he is still called upon to lend a hand when issues arise within optometry. When time allows he enjoys time with his family, travel and golf.

Dr. Megan Bond grew up in Antigonish and graduated on the Dean's List with a BSc, major in chemistry and minor in biology, from St. Francis Xavier University. She then earned a Doctor of Optometry from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Bond is also a Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society member. During her time in Massachusetts, Dr. Bond completed an ocular disease externship at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Jamaica Plains as well as primary care externships at Charles River Community Health Center and Fenway Community Health Center, both located in Boston. She also completed a primary care externship with an emphasis on pediatrics and binocular vision, dry eye, and ocular disease at PineCone Vision Center in Sartell, Minnesota. Dr. Bond is happy to now be providing eye care in her home province of Nova Scotia. She loves optometry for its ability to provide continuous learning and opportunities to help others and has a special interest in pediatrics and ocular disease management. Outside the clinic Dr. Bond can be found cooking, staying active, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Christina Sayegh received her Honours Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree in 2017 from the University of Western Ontario in her hometown of London, Ontario. She graduated on the Dean’s Honours List with her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo in 2021. Dr. Sayegh is pleased to provide full-scope eye care services. She is passionate about ocular disease management and myopia control. Growing up, Dr. Sayegh eagerly anticipated her routine eye exams, as they were an opportunity to express her curiosity and share her excitement about eye care with her own optometrist. Today, Dr. Sayegh strives to impart that same enthusiasm to her patients and creates memorable experiences by making patients feel welcomed and thoroughly informed about their eye care. In her spare time, Dr. Sayegh enjoys cooking with her husband, staying active, and reading.