Listen varicosely – we have a new vascular surgeon at SHN!
Dr. Brandon Van Asseldonk has joined the Division of Vascular Surgery in the Department of Surgery at Scarborough Health Network (SHN). He will be primarily based out of the General campus.
Dr. Van Asseldonk completed medical school and vascular surgery residency at the University of Toronto. Throughout his residency he undertook rotations at the SHN which added immensely to his clinical training. Prior to medical school, he completed an engineering degree and briefly worked as an engineer at Apple Inc. During residency he completed several projects focused on machine learning applications in vascular surgery. He is currently working on a Master of Computer Science.
His clinical practice spans the full gamut of vascular surgery including dialysis access, carotid disease, venous disease, lower extremity occlusive disease, and aortic pathology.
Dr. Van Asseldonk feels that Scarborough is an exciting and vital community and is thankful for the privilege to serve the people of Scarborough. He is also grateful for the support of the Division of Vascular Surgery and the entire SHN team. He looks forward to being part of the growing role of SHN in medical student and resident education.
“There is no disease more conducive to clinical humility than aneurysm of the aorta.” – Dr. William Osler
This quote speaks to the innate challenges treating aortic disease, and many other vascular pathologies. Without the caring and devoted multidisciplinary team at SHN, it simply wouldn’t be possible!
New SHN Physicians in Psychiatry
Dr. Andrea Berntson has joined the Department of Psychiatry at Scarborough Health Network and will be primarily based out of the Centenary campus until the new SHN Community Mental Health Centre is open. She is involved in collaborations with the CMHA assertive community treatment team, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities and Inner City Health Associates in addition to providing ambulatory services within SHN’s Department of Psychiatry.
Following her Psychiatry Residency at the University of Toronto, Dr. Berntson was a staff psychiatrist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She has recent experience as a Staff Psychiatrist and Head, Transitional Programs at Mt Sinai Hospital and was recently promoted to Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Dr. Berntson has published in peer reviewed journals and presented and provided special lectures locally and internationally. She is the University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry Residency Coordinator for Underserved and Marginalized population rotations.
Dr. Paris (Ka Sing) Lai has joined the Department of Psychiatry at Scarborough Health Network and will be primarily based out of the Centenary campus. He is providing care in a number of setting including inpatient, outpatient, LTCF mental health outreach and collaborative care with the CareFirst GAIN team.
Following his Psychiatry Residency at the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Lai completed a Postgraduate Residency in Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He has been regularly involved in research initiatives and has published in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Lai recently received the 2022 Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry Subspecialty Resident award and the 2022 Western University, Department of Psychiatry Best Resident Scholarly Project Award.
New SHN Physicians in Medicine
Dr. Joshua Friedland has joined the Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine at Scarborough Health Network and will be primarily based out of the General campus.
Dr. Friedland completed his Internal Medicine residency training at the University of Toronto. He has been regularly involved in research initiatives and has published in peer reviewed journals and received the 2018 Medicine Clerkship Rotation Award.
Dr. Andy Liu has joined the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology at Scarborough Health Network and will be primarily based out of the Birchmount campus.
Following his Internal Medicine residency training at University of Western Ontario, Dr. Liu completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University of Calgary and Mayo Clinic. He has experience as a Locum Tenens in Gastroenterology at Foothills Medical Centre and as an attending physician in Gastroenterology at New York‐Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Centre. Dr. Liu has published in peer reviewed journals and received the 2019 Associate Dean’s Letter of Excellence for Clinical Care.
Dr. Daniel Low has joined the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology at Scarborough Health Network and will be primarily based out of the General campus.
Following his Internal Medicine residency training at University of Western Ontario, Dr. Low completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University of Toronto and most recently a fellowship in Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. He is the Cofounder of EndoX (artificial intelligence company in gastroenterology focused on automated image detection in endoscopy) and has experience as a Research Assistant in the lab of Dr. Samir Grover (2016‐2022), Dr. Geoffrey Nguyen (2017‐2020), Dr. Nahum Sonenberg (2012‐2013) and Dr. Jeffery Mogil (2010‐2012). He has published in peer reviewed journals and received the 2022 Dr. KN Jeejeebhoy Award.
New SHN Physicians in Diagnostic Imaging
Dr. Yaw Amoako‐Tuffour has joined the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Scarborough Health Network.
Following his Diagnostic Radiology residency training at Dalhousie University, Dr. Amoako‐Tuffour completed a fellowship in Musculoskeletal Imaging, at the University of Toronto. He has been regularly involved in research and quality improvement initiatives and has also served on the Quality Improvement Committee for the Nova Scotia Health Authority, Central Zone, Diagnostic Imaging. Dr. Amoako‐Tuffour has published in peer reviewed journals in Thyroid research, Otology & Neurotology, Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Laryngology & Otology and Biomedical Engineering. He has received several awards and most recently received the 2021 Best Trainee Presentation – Dalhousie Radiology Departmental Research Day.
Dr. Zain Badar has joined the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Scarborough Health Network.
Following his Radiology residency training at SUNY Update Medical Center, Syracuse, NY and UHS Wilson Medical Center, Binghamton, NY, Dr. Badar completed a fellowship in Interventional Radiology at University Health Network and Paediatric Interventional Radiology at The Hospital for Sick Children. He has experience as a Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Locum at William Osler Health System, Interventional Radiology at Sunrise Vascular and most recently Interventional Radiology Locum at McMaster University. Dr. Badar has published in peer reviewed journals and received the 2020 Pioneer Award Presentation – SPIR and the 2019 SUNY Upstate GME Resident Research Award.
Dr. Kalesha Hack has joined the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Scarborough Health Network.
Following her Radiology residency training at University of Ottawa and Paediatric residency training at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Dr. Hack completed a fellowship in Woman’s Imaging, Radiology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Body Oncology Imaging, Radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, NY. She has experience as a Rotation Supervisor Obstetrical Imaging and Co‐Director Obstetrical Ultrasound Unit at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and most recently as an Assistant Professor of Radiology at University of Toronto. Dr. Hack has published in peer reviewed journals, is a current member of Woman and Babies Research Ethics Committee and received the 2021 Sustained Contribution to Medical Imaging Undergraduate Education Award and the 2021 Outstanding Teacher Award in the Residency Program.
Dr. Tishan Maraj has joined the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Scarborough Health Network.
Following his Diagnostic Radiology residency training at University of Toronto, Dr. Maraj completed a fellowship in Interventional Radiology at University of British Columbia. He has experience as a Locum Radiologist at Glenwood Radiology, Edmonton, Alberta, as a Research Assistant, Trauma Surgery, at St Michael’s Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and as a House Officer, General Surgery & Emergency Department at San‐Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad. Dr. Maraj has published in peer reviewed journals and was a professional cricket player for Trinidad and Tobago from 2004‐2012.
Dr. Timothy Miao has joined the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at Scarborough Health Network.
Following his Diagnostic Radiology residency training, more recently as Chief Resident at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Dr. Miao completed a fellowship in Musculoskeletal Imaging at the University of Toronto. He has experience as a Radiologist for the Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Cancer Conference and Musculoskeletal Tumour Board, both at the University of Toronto. Dr. Miao has published in peer reviewed journals including the American Journal of Roentgenology, Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal, Abdominal Imaging, Canadian Urological Association Journal, Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, and Journal Nuclear Cardiology. He received the 2021 Ontario Medical Association (OMA) Resident Achievement Award.
Dr. Miao enjoys all aspects of Diagnostic Imaging, with particular interests in Musculoskeletal, Abdominal, and Emergency Radiology.
New SHN Physician in Lab Medicine
Dr. Haitham Nasser has joined the Department of Lab Medicine at Scarborough Health Network and will be primarily based out of the Birchmount campus.
Following his Pathology Residency at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre, Lebanon, Dr. Nasser completed a fellowship in Cytopathology at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI. He has experience as an Anatomical Pathologist and Cytopathologist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Nasser has published in peer reviewed journals in various areas including microscopic colitis, malignant granular cell tumour, Endocrine Mucin‐Producing Sweat Gland Carcinoma, Hidden Primary Tumour, and Ovarian Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumour with Primitive Neuroectodermal Differentiation.
New SHN Physician in Cardiology
Dr. He (Tom) Chang has joined the Department of Cardiology at Scarborough Health Network and will be primarily based out of the Centenary campus.
Following his Internal Medicine residency training at the University of Toronto, Dr. Chang completed a fellowship in Cardiology and an additional fellowship in Echocardiography at the University of Western Ontario. He has been regularly involved in research initiatives for the Department of Cardiology and Respirology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Chang has published in peer reviewed journals and received the 2018 University of Toronto Mississauga Campus Teaching Award.