FYidoctors - Smithers

Dr. Barry Lester was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. He received his Bachelor of Optometry degree from the University of Durban - Westville in South Africa in 1990. In 1994 he graduated from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, with a Doctor of Optometry Degree. Dr. Lester has worked in Newfoundland and Labrador with the Grenfell Regional Health Services and later in Dawson Creek, BC. In 1995, he moved to Smithers, BC where he has continued to practice, except for a sabbatical in 2005 when he returned to study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London, the UK to do an MSc in Community Eye Health. He is currently an Honorary Lecturer with the MD Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of British Columbia. He has a keen interest in community approaches to public health optometry and is currently working with BC First Nations communities to increase access to eye care. He trains community health workers to screen preschool children for vision problems in partnership with the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health as part of a provincial program. Dr. Lester has also worked internationally in blindness prevention with several international non-government organizations, most recently with TWECS in the Philipp(more...)

Dr. Trevor Kreke joined the Smithers and Burns Lake practices in 2003 after starting his career in Prince Rupert. Born in La Ronge, SK and raised in Logan Lake, BC, Dr. Kreke attended UBC and received his BSc with honors in 1996. While completing his Doctor of Optometry at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Kreke did an internship with Houston Eye Associates, a subspecialty ophthalmology clinic in Houston Texas, with rotations in glaucoma, retina and vitreous, and corneal sub-specialties. Upon graduation, Dr. Kreke received the T.T. Beattie Award for Othoptics and Visual Training. In 2010, Dr. Kreke completed his Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents certificate at Nova Southeastern University and is an Honorary Lecturer with the MD undergraduate program, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kreke has a keen interest in ocular disease and enjoys practicing in the north where there is a strong multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to medical care. Outside the office, Dr. Kreke enjoys spending time with his wife, Lori, and his two children mountain biking, skiing, and hiking around this beautiful part of British Columbia.

Dr. Molly Brawdy was raised in Smithers, BC and is very excited to return to the north to practice here. They were a recipient of the UNBC Scholar’s award and completed their BHSc at UNBC in 2019 with an undergraduate Honours thesis exploring experiences of physical activity among glaucoma patients. They completed their Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Waterloo in 2023, receiving the Canadian Association of Optometrists Leadership award upon graduation. Dr. Brawdy was fortunate to complete an externship in Oklahoma, where they were certified in and completed both minor surgical and some laser procedures. Dr. Brawdy holds additional training in 2SLGBTQIA+ health care and the creation of safe spaces within the clinic setting. They are passionate about the provision of holistic and culturally safe care, with publication and research interests that include incorporating cultural safety principles in optometric and allied health professional education. When outside of the clinic, Dr. Brawdy enjoys being active outdoors, painting, and spending time with their partner, friends, and family.