Dr. O’Connor completed his Master’s (1997) and Medical degrees (2001) at Queen’s University in Kingston. He went on to complete his residency training at the University of Ottawa in 2006, followed by a University of Toronto Fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at the Hospital for Sick Children. In 2007, he joined the Department of Ophthalmology in Ottawa as a staff surgeon, dividing his time between paediatric and adult practice.

He has served as the President of the Canadian Orthoptic Council (2012-2015) and President of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (2017-2019). From 2007 to 2016, he directed pre-clerkship Undergraduate Ophthalmology Teaching for Anglophone students at the University of Ottawa Medical School. Among his distinctions for excellence in clinical teaching at the post-graduate teaching level, he is a three-time recipient of the PARO Teaching Award. He is currently the Department Chief of Ophthalmology at CHEO and is the Director of the Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship.