Nearly 90 students at Yaqan Nukiy School received free eye screening on June 1st, 2026 as a team of medical students, ophthalmology trainees, and ophthalmologists travelled to the Creston Valley to deliver vision screening and two days of hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) activities for children in Kindergarten through Grade 7.
Over a day and a half, the team screened 88 students, checking for easily missed vision problems that can affect a child’s learning, reading, and development. Any child flagged during screening will be connected with care through a planned follow-up coordinated with a local optometrist, ensuring that families in the community have a clear next step close to home.
The visit was part of Futures in Focus, a student-led outreach program that pairs early vision care with science education in communities that don’t always have easy access to specialist eye services. The initiative was organized by Philip Yu, a medical student at the University of British Columbia, together with Kareem Sadek and Joshua Seto, both medical students at the University of Calgary and co-founders of the Futures in Focus initiative. They were supervised by ophthalmologists Dr. Sonia Yeung and Dr. Jane Gardiner, and supported by four UBC ophthalmology trainees: Dr. Amar Khaira, Dr. Sabrina Yu, Dr. Mahraz Parvand, and Dr. Abed Baiad, who carried out much of the hands-on screening with assistance from four medical students (Philip Yu, Kareem Sadek, Joshua Seto, and Jenna Mayowski).
Why screening early matters
Vision develops rapidly in childhood, and many eye conditions cause no obvious symptoms a child or parent would notice. When problems such as uncorrected refractive error or a “lazy eye” go undetected, they can quietly interfere with how a child learns and engages in the classroom. Caught early, many of these conditions are straightforward to treat, which is exactly why bringing screening directly into the school setting makes such a difference. By the time children reach school age, a simple screening can flag issues while there is still a wide window to correct them.
More than an eye exam
Alongside the screening, a dedicated team of medical student volunteers (Farah Ali, Omar El Ferri, Doha Hassan, and Ahmad Hassan) ran a series of STEAM activities designed to make the day fun and spark curiosity. Children rotated through interactive stations that introduced science and discovery in a playful, age-appropriate way, with the hope of planting early seeds of interest in science and health careers.
A community that welcomed them
The team was quick to credit the people who made the event possible. The principal, Katherine Coleman, and staff at Yaqan Nukiy School worked closely with the visiting team to organize space, schedules, and student groups, and helped every child feel comfortable throughout the process.
The group also spoke warmly about the Creston Valley itself, describing the community’s hospitality and generosity as a highlight of the trip.
Comments from the supervising physicians
"It was a true privilege to collaborate with the medical students, ophthalmology residents, and Yaqan Nukiy School on this important vision screening initiative," said Dr. Sonia Yeung. "The school welcomed us so warmly, and we had a wonderful time with the children and educators. Working alongside the team was such a pleasure, and we look forward to many more collaborations in the future."
"Since the provincial school vision screening program was stopped during the pandemic, many children with eye problems are going undetected, until the problems are too late to treat. It was gratifying to be part of this program to get children properly screened. Working with the medical students and ophthalmology trainees was terrific. They were motivated and so excited to be involved. They are well on their way to becoming excellent physicians!" said Dr. Jane Gardiner.
