Dr.Ashcroft was born and raised in Birtle, Manitoba. He completed his Optometry degree at the University of Waterloo in 1977. Upon graduation, he set up practice in Dauphin and later in Roblin.
Dr. Ashcroft provides comprehensive eye care at his offices in both Dauphin and Roblin. He believes that patient-centered communication as well as having compassion for patients’ needs are essential elements in providing excellent optometric care.
Dr. Ashcroft is a Shriner. He is also a Free Mason and is very involved in many of their chapters. He also likes to spend time traveling and at his family cottage. He is married with four grown daughters. Dr. Ashcroft has served the Parkland for several years and enjoys seeing patients of all ages.
Dr. Kara Vanderheyden (nee Menzies) was born in McCreary and raised in Neepawa. After graduating from high school she went to the University of Waterloo where she received her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences and went on to complete her Masters in Vision Science. In 2014, she graduated with honors with her Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry & Vision Science. At graduation, Dr. Vanderheyden received the Canadian Contact Lens Society Award, the COVD award, and the Karen Tompa Nowy Memorial Award for exemplifying excellence in patient care. Dr. Vanderheyden has numerous scientific publications in contact lens wettability and meibomian gland dysfunction.
Dr. Vanderheyden joined Ashcroft Vision Care shortly after graduation. She enjoys providing comprehensive eye care to patients of all ages and has a special interest in the areas of dry eye and specialty contact lenses.
Dr. Vanderheyden and her husband, Ryan, are happy to call Dauphin and the Parkland home. They enjoy being active members with the Rotary Club of Dauphin and spending time in the great outdoors with their two dogs.
Dr. Jeremy Mills grew up in Boissevain, Manitoba before attending the University of Manitoba to complete a degree in General Science. After completing his undergraduate degree, he started attending Indiana University School of Optometry. Throughout his 4 years of optometry school he developed special interests in pediatric vision care, contact lenses and sports and performance vision training. Dr. Mills is a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society and enjoys continuing to learn about the ever-changing advances in eye care technology and treatments.
During his 4th year of optometry school Dr. Mills completed externships in Green Bay, Wisconsin with a heavy focus on geriatric vision exams and ocular disease. His second externship was completed in Evansville, Indiana at a referral and cataract surgery centre where patients were referred from over 70 surrounding optometrists. Other externships included emphasis in pediatric vision exams, contact lenses and primary care optometry.
Dr. Mills and his wife Audrey are very excited to make Dauphin their new home and look forward to getting to know the community and being involved. They love the outdoors and enjoy cheering on the Indiana University basketball team every winter!
Dr. Beldavs graduated cum laude with a doctor of medicine degree, University of Western Ontario, in 1987.
He completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of Toronto in 1988. He did a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Western Ontario in 1991, and was awarded the Hurmant Award in Ophthalmology.
He completed his Fellowship in anterior segment,cataract, cornea surgery in Atlanta, Georgia in 1992.Dr. Beldavs was part of the ophthalmology departmentat the Gimbel Eye Centre in Calgary from 1993 to 1995.
He has current staff positions at Misericordia Health Centre, Western Surgery, Winnipeg and Swan Valley Health Centre.
Dr. Beldavs frequents our Dauphin office every two months.
