Dr. Sliva was born and raised in Glenavon (a small town of approx. 200 people, located 1.5 hours north of Estevan), and did two years of Pre-Optometry at the University of Regina. In 2005, she started her journey in optometry when she was accepted to the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science (then the University of Waterloo School of Optometry). She became an active member of the Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS), even acting as President one year. Knowing that she wanted to return to her home province to practice, she selected externship sites close to home, in an effort to learn as much as possible about the people she would soon be providing eyecare. Her education took her from Waterloo, to Brandon and Winnipeg, and finally to Regina and Estevan. She graduated on the Dean’s Honours List in 2009 and was awarded the RACH Memorial Award at the School of Optometry’s graduation awards. In 2011, Dr. Sliva opened South East Eyecare and received the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur at the Estevan Women of Today Awards.
Dr. Sliva enjoys not only patient care, but patient education, as well. She firmly believes that everyone benefits when patients are involved in their diagnosis and care plans, and actively strives to find new ways to provide information to patients in order to help them make informed eyecare decisions. Dr. Sliva is active in her provincial optometry association (SAO), St. Mary’s School SCC, Estevan 6th Scouting, and the Souris Valley Museum board. She has six beautiful children (who all know where the cookies are kept in the staff room) and a very supportive husband. She enjoys camping and crocheting, and has two cats.