This Veterans Day, as we honor those who served, we also celebrate the profound legacy our community has built in caring for our nation’s veterans. NECO’s connection to this mission runs deep, dating back to the 1940s, when World War II veterans returned home and entered optometry school on the GI Bill, using their military service to launch careers dedicated to vision care. Yet few realize how pivotal NECO graduates were in building the modern VA Optometry Service from the ground up.

With Canadian students making up nearly 30% of the NECO community, October brought a wonderful opportunity to celebrate together. Last month, our campus came together for a Canadian Thanksgiving event organized by CAOS, giving our students a well-deserved break and a taste of home. Special thanks to Specsavers, FYiDoctors, IRIS The Visual Group, and EssilorLuxottica, our sponsors for this annual event. We hope all of our Canadian alumni enjoyed a warm and meaningful holiday!

We had more than 150 alums try our "Match the NECO Presidents" trivia game earlier this month. From that group, we randomly chose one lucky winner of a NECO hoodie: Amanda Havens, Class of 2011!

 Congratulations, Amanda—you'll be receiving your NECO merch in the next couple of weeks! Watch your email for more opportunities to win swag in the months ahead.

Have you ever wondered where your OD degree could take you?

Join us for the NECO Virtual Mini-Series, a three-part career series featuring NECO alumni who have put their optometry expertise to work in unexpected ways, from entrepreneurship and leadership to consulting, industry, advocacy, content creation, and more.

Our first session features conversations with two entrepreneurs: Andrew Asgarpour, OD '15, co-founder of EyecareX, an AI-powered optometry practice management platform, and Nieka Sabeti, OD '16, founder and CEO of CHESHMA Beauty, a line of cosmetics designed with eye health in mind. Alina Reznik, OD '16, NECO Alumni Relations Liaison, will guide the conversation as our speakers share their experiences, key takeaways, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Whether you're exploring new opportunities, considering your next career move, or curious about how fellow alumni are making an impact, this complimentary alumni series is for you! Join us each month from December through February and hear from new alumni guests as they share their unique career journeys and insights.

NECO Virtual Mini-Series: Where Can Your OD Degree Take You?

Thursday, December 3, 2026
7:30-8:30PM
Via Zoom (link will be shared with registrants before the event)
Complementary

Alumni Spotlight

Lifelong Relationships at Eyedeology
Farrah Sunderji, OD ‘06

My journey in optometry began at NECO, where I developed not only the clinical foundation for my career, but also a curiosity about how vision affects the way people learn, function, and experience the world. My time at NECO exposed me to diverse patients, clinical environments, and ways of thinking about patient care. Those experiences inspired me to continue my training through a residency in Pediatrics and Vision Therapy, including the incredible opportunity to work and train alongside ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Working within that environment strengthened my appreciation for collaborative care and helped shape the way I approach complex ocular conditions today.

Today, I am the founder and owner of Eyedeology in Calgary, Alberta, where my goal has been to create a different kind of optometry practice—one centered on lifelong relationships, education, prevention, and caring for the whole person. Our philosophy is rooted in service, kindness, community, and a commitment to continually learning and bringing carefully researched technology and emerging treatments to our patients. My early passion for pediatrics and vision therapy has expanded into developmental and neuro-optometric care, concussion rehabilitation, myopia management, advanced dry eye care, and comprehensive family eye care. I strongly believe that the best outcomes often come through collaboration, and I value working alongside ophthalmologists, family physicians, and other allied healthcare professionals to provide more integrated patient care.

Education has also become an important part of my journey. I have the privilege of mentoring optometry and medical students and sharing what I have learned with the next generation of healthcare professionals. I am equally passionate about educating outside the clinic. Through television, news, print, and other media opportunities, I am able to help the public better understand eye health and the broader role vision plays in learning, development, neurological function, and quality of life. I continue to be a student myself, seeking out new education, collaborating with colleagues, and exploring the latest evidence, technology, and treatments that can help us provide better care. Looking back from my days at NECO to where I am today, one thing has remained constant: my excitement about what is possible within our profession and how much of a difference we can make in people's lives.

Alumni in the News

Rebecca Maida, OD ‘08 Opens Independent Practice 

Congratulations to Dr. Rebecca Maida on opening Maida Family Eyecare in Belmont, MA! Combining her passion for healthcare, education, and community relationship-building, Dr. Maida’s practice focuses on clear, comfortable vision, myopia management, and exceptional patient care. Catch the full story at The Belmont Voice:  Sharper Vision Arrives on Leonard Street 

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