When Toby Wercberger, OD ‘25 began her optometry journey, she knew she wanted a career in healthcare—but not in a traditional way.

“I always loved the sciences and knew I wanted to work in healthcare,” she shared. “When I discovered optometry, I thought, ‘Why did I never think of this before?’ It blends science, patient care, and work-life balance, and allows you to build lasting relationships with patients.”

Growing up in Toronto, Toby began shadowing optometrists in high school and college, learning about the medical side of the profession. “The more I learned, the more I fell in love with it,” she recalled. “I was lucky to meet amazing doctors who opened their clinics to me and showed me what optometry could be.”

When it came time to choose a school, NECO stood out immediately. “I got such a welcoming, homey feel from NECO from the start,” she said. “The staff were responsive and helpful during the application process, and the opportunity to work in the community—like doing vision screenings at local elementary schools—even in our first year really sealed the deal.”

That early patient interaction had a lasting impact. “I remember walking into the lunchroom at an elementary school just a month or two into the program, thinking, ‘we’re on the provider side now.’ Even though our preceptors double-checked everything, it reassured me that I was in the right place, doing the right thing.”

The Dr. Richard Laudon Scholarship: A Timely Gift

This year, Toby began a residency in vision therapy in New York City—a move that brought both professional opportunity and financial challenge. “I knew I wanted to do a residency no matter what, to gain that additional training so I could best provide for my patients,” she explained. “But after four years of optometry school, taking a pay cut and moving to an expensive city like New York is a huge financial burden. Receiving the Dr. Richard Laudon (NECO Class of 1975) Scholarship was such a relief—it allowed me to focus on why I’m here and what I’m learning, rather than the financial stress.”

Toby expressed deep gratitude for Dr. Laudon’s generosity: “I’m very honored to have been selected. This scholarship is helping me pursue my specialty and bring that knowledge back to my community.”

After completing her residency, Toby plans to return to Toronto to join a private practice with a focus on pediatric patients and vision therapy. She hopes to build strong networks with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and pediatricians to ensure comprehensive care.

“With vision therapy, there’s so much co-management,” she said. “I want to create a better network so patients receive well-rounded healthcare—not just eye care in isolation.”

Reflecting on her time at NECO, Toby describes her experience as transformative. “NECO gave me a great education and a great community. Yes, there were challenges, but overall, I’m so grateful—for my training, for the opportunities, and for the scholarship that is allowing me to take this next step. It’s an honor to be supported in pursuing my passion and to be able to give that back to my patients.”

Your gifts change lives. Support from donors like Dr. Laudon makes it possible for students like Toby to follow their passions, pursue specialized training, and bring exceptional care to their communities.