Dr. Brandea Balcomb was born and raised in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. After attending Acadia University, she studied at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science where she graduated with her Doctor of Optometry degree and was on the Dean’s Honours list. During her time there, she completed an externship in ocular disease and therapeutics at John-Kenyon American Eye Institute in Kentucky and Indiana. She also completed primary care externships in Kitchener, Ontario and Digby, Nova Scotia. After finishing at Waterloo, Dr. Balcomb spent 6 weeks volunteering at Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, a part of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, in Blantyre, Malawi.
She also completed primary care externships in Kitchener, Ontario and Digby, Nova Scotia. After finishing at Waterloo, Dr. Balcomb spent 6 weeks volunteering at Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, a part of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, in Blantyre, Malawi. She helped provide eye care not only in the hospital, but also by travelling to remote areas of Malawi to provide care to those who would not otherwise have access. Since then, she has had the opportunity to practice in Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and now Alberta.