Optical Prism January 2018 | Page 29

“NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE UNDEREMPLOYED SURGEONS OR UNEMPLOYED SURGEONS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE OR SPOTS AND THAT CREATES A TREMENDOUS STRESS FOR THESE YOUNG DOCTORS..." El-Defrawy, who is also Ophthalmologist- in-Chief at Kensington Eye Institute and past president of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, says today's students are positive – and remain passionate about medicine – despite modern-day adversity where those in the industry know vacancies will need to be filled as Baby Boomers age, but are currently up against a lack of work as surgeons. In terms of maintaining a strong, experienced and varied workforce, El-Defrawy says Canada needs to start looking at its workforce carefully in orde