ABOUT US
Optometrists
We’re so lucky to be working with this knowledgeable, fun, caring and amazing team of Eye Doctors. Get to know them a little more below. You won’t regret it!
Dr Corina Buettner
There’s something unique about what Dr Corina Buettner brings to Nuvo as both Owner and Optometrist. Be it refractive or medical care, Dr Buettner is always happy to take on new challenges and invest in her patient’s well-being. She makes each patient feel comfortable during their visit and has a knack for explaining any detail about your eyes with ease and clarity.
As a Nuvo leader, her investments in our vision have cultivated an ever-growing, positive reputation amongst the Ottawa community, and she sets herself apart by being one of the only eye doctors to provide Ortho-K (Orthokeratology) services in the Ottawa Region.
Dr Marie-Christine Deschênes
Dr Deschênes is a great asset to our clinics not only because of her expertise with refractive surgery care but also because of her extensive clinical experience with patients of all ages. It is with personal conviction that Dr Deschênes assures the best possible care to her patients by staying abreast of the newest technologies and of course by listening to her patients.
She has been living in the Ottawa region since her childhood and is now very happy to be able to serve the community where she’s grown up. Whether it is in English or in French, from the youngest to the oldest, all will appreciate her devotion.
Dr Francine Gauthier
Though her career in healthcare began in nursing, Dr. Gauthier has been practicing Optometry since 1988. A few years ago, she followed her heart and completed the Optometric Extension Program Foundation curriculum to practice Vision Therapy (now a full-scope therapy program offered at Nuvo in Orléans).
Dr Gauthier’s smile and positive attitude are infectious and we are proud to have her as part of the Nuvo team.
Dr ANDRÉE MAINVILLE
Dr Mainville adds quite a bit of sparkle to our offices! Always smiling and always keeping her patients’ best interest in mind. Nuvo is fortunate to have worked with Dr. Mainville even before her career as an Optometrist. She has truly helped cultivate and grow the positive reputation of Nuvo and has contributed greatly to the level of patient care we provide.
Never one to shy away from a 30-second dance party, her natural enthusiasm fosters a fun, positive atmosphere amongst staff and patients alike!
Dr TONI RIZK
Dr. Toni Rizk grew up in Ottawa and is now proud to serve his community. He graduated on the Dean’s Honours list from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry after completing a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry at the University of Ottawa.
With a special interest in refractive surgery care and disease management, Dr. Rizk stays abreast of the latest research, technologies, and treatments in the Optometry field and is fluently bilingual in English and French!
Dr Zena Skaff
Dr Zena Skaff was born and raised in Ottawa, and relocated her practice to join the Nuvo Eye Centre team of Optometrists! Because Dr. Skaff values patient care before all else, she encourages her patients to contact either Nuvo locations for any questions or to schedule an appointment.
With her natural, pleasant demeanor Dr. Skaff offers an amazing eye care experience for each patient and is a wonderful asset to our team!
Dr Jessica Kumar
Dr Jessica Kumar might strike you as a familiar face around Nuvo. That’s because she was a part-time technician and optical staff member prior to becoming a Nuvo Optometrists. She also completed one of her residencies with the Nuvo Orléans team, so we are thrilled to have Dr Kumar as a part of the team!
Dr Kumar embraces new technologies and is truly passionate about offering superior eye care to the community she grew up in. She puts a smile on everyone’s face with her enthusiasm toward optometry and she infuses the Nuvo life with positivity, humour and a great work ethic.
Dr Goli Sammak
Born and raised in Iran, Dr. Sammak received her Master of Handicraft in Tehran with high honor before moving to Canada to pursue higher education. She is well travelled, as her studies have taken her to various places including Saskatchewan, where she studied Biology at the University of Saskatchewan, and even Chicago where she received her Doctor of Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry in 2021.
She has acquired valuable and extensive experience from her clinical rotations in the USA, where she worked closely with geriatric patients with ocular complexities such as cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and vision rehabilitation. She has also had the opportunity to work alongside ophthalmologists at the Herzig Institute where she gained significant corneal and retinal knowledge.
Her work experience and overall love of optometry allow her to treat ocular health conditions and provide in-depth comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages. Dr. Sammak is a wonderful Doctor who makes every person feel welcome and comfortable during their visit.
We’ve gotten to know Dr. Sammak as someone who loves spending time with family, is an avid biker and swimmer and is a big fan of classical music. She is conversant in English, Farsi, and is even taking French classes to become fluent… She’s one awesome human!
Dr. Sammak is now accepting new patients at our Ottawa clinic.
Dr Juan Giraldo
Dr. Juan Giraldo completed an honours Bachelor of Science degree (magna cum laude) from York University in 2018, before graduating from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science in 2022 (with Distinction).
He was the recipient of the 2020 Students of Vision Scholarship and the first-ever two-time winner of the National Vision Scholarship (2021, 2022). He was also the recipient of the Dr. Michael Gutwein Memorial Award in 2022. What great accomplishments!
Dr. Giraldo has a special interest in ocular disease, dry eyes, and specialty contact lenses. He offers vision care services in English, French, and Spanish.
In his spare time, Dr. Giraldo enjoys spending time with family, working out, playing soccer, and recording music.
Dr. Giraldo is currently accepting new patients at our Ottawa location. We are thrilled to welcome him to our awesome team!
Dr Jonathan Wareham
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Wareham and the team of vision therapists from the Pupils Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation Clinic (now the Nuvo Vision Therapy Clinic in Orléans)!
Dr. Wareham’s education includes extensive studies in the field of Neuroscience (bachelor’s degree from the University of Lethbridge and master’s degree from Western University), a Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry, and post-graduate studies in visual dysfunction, learning related vision problems, strabismus and amblyopia therapy, and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. He has also completed course work with the College of Vision Development, Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, Padula Institute, and College of Syntonics.
Dr. Wareham is a founding board member of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy & Rehabilitation (COVT&R) and is contributing to updating the Ontario Neuratrauma Foundation Guidelines for Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury & Persistent Symptoms (adults) 3rd edition.
He is now happily applying a neuroscientific approach to the practice of optometry by providing Vision Therapy for patients with developmental vision problems or who require vision rehabilitation following brain injury. He loves a challenge and celebrates the success of his patients.
Dr Emmanuelle Sauvé
Dr Emmanuelle Sauvé is a wonderful addition to the Nuvo Optometrist team! Dr Sauvé grew up in Glengarry, and after completing her Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, she pursued her Doctor of Optometry degree at the New England College of Optometry in Boston. Dr. Sauvé has gained clinical experience working closely with Ophthalmologists and Optometrists in Miami, Boston, Alaska and Oregon. While working alongside these other Optometric professionals, Dr Sauvé gained knowledge in diagnosing, treating, and managing many ocular diseases.
During her off-time, Dr Sauvé enjoys travelling, spending time with friends and family, and playing soccer.
Dr Sauvé is bilingual in both French and English and is accepting new patients at the Orleans clinic.
Dr Amy Zhang
Raised in Ottawa, Dr Zhang is proud to be serving the Ottawa community she grew up in! Her love of eye care began at a young age when she started wearing high-prescription corrective lenses (both glasses and contacts) at 7 years old.
Dr Zhang graduated with a Bachelor of Anatomy and Cell Biology with a minor in Computer Science from McGill University. From there, she followed her passion for eye care to the University of Waterloo, completing her Doctor of Optometry degree. Dr Zhang graduated on the Dean’s Honour List and was awarded the VSP AAOF Practice Excellence Scholarship in her final year of study. This scholarship was awarded based on clinical and academic excellence.
Throughout her educational career, Dr Zhang completed clinical externships in Miami and Ancaster (ON), where she worked alongside Ophthalmologists and Optometrists in managing ocular diseases, binocular vision dysfunctions, and fitting specialty contact lenses. In addition, she completed a summer at Herzig Eye Institute in Ottawa, where she familiarized herself with co-managing cataract and laser refraction surgeries. Dr Zhang is continuing to work to help children, like herself, with myopia (near-sightedness) control programs such as orthokeratology, to help with their long-term eyesight.
Dr Zhang loves to travel and is passionate about keeping up with new technologies and techniques in the optometry field.
Dr Zhang is fluent in both English and Mandarin and speaks conversational French. She is now accepting new patients at the Orléans clinic!
ONLINE BOOKING
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You can now book your appointment online for a routine eye exam!
