Treatment Specialties

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Treatment Specialties

At West Coast Gastroenterology, we have leading experts in every area of gastroenterology. We provide care to patients with various gastrointestinal disorders, as listed below. Our clinicians have advanced training in highly specialized procedures, in addition to seeing patients with liver diseases, including liver transplant care, as well as general gastrointestinal problem.

GI Procedures

  • EGD: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy involves inserting a small flexible tube inside the mouth and examining the esophagus, stomach and duodenum using a digital camera. During this test, your doctor may take biopsies or perform therapies such as injections or coagulation of bleeding. Fasting is required prior to an EGD to ensure the stomach is clear of food. 
  • Colonoscopy: Colonoscopy is an examination of the entire lining of your Colon, also known as the large intestine. To perform the procedure a cleansing preparation or “prep” must be taken to clear the colon of its contents. On the day of your procedure your doctor will perform a digital rectal examination and gently insert a flexible tube called a colonoscope through the anus and advance it to the cecum and sometimes a short distance into the small intestine. Through the colonoscope your doctor can take photographs, perform biopsies and remove polyps. Polyps are small growths on the lining of the colon that are common and can develop into colon cancer over many years.
  • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a limited examination of the bottom portion of your large intestine called the rectum and sigmoid colon with a flexible camera tube called a colonoscope. During the flexible sigmoidoscopy, your doctor may take biopsies or remove polyps. To prepare for a flexible sigmoidoscopy you will need to perform an enema to clear the bottom part of the colon.
  • ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a procedure to investigate and treat diseases of the bile duct or pancreatic duct. The procedure involves inserting a flexible tube into the mouth and accessing the bile duct or pancreatic duct using specialized tools with x-ray guidance. ERCP requires you to be fasting to ensure the stomach is clear of food.  
  • EUS: Endoscopic ultrasound is a procedure used to investigate abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract and surrounding organs. During the procedure your doctor will insert a specialized flexible tube called an endoscope into the mouth or anus. Using an ultrasound probe at the tip of the endoscope, your doctor can then examine and biopsy the organs surrounding the gastrointestinal tract such as the pancreas, liver or other organs. EUS requires you to be fasting to ensure your stomach is clear of food. For rectal EUS an enema is required to prepare for the procedure.  
  • Push enteroscopy
  • Single-balloon enteroscopy
  • Capsule endoscopy
  • Endoscopic Zencker’s repair
  • Cholangioscopy
  • Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM)
  • Endoscopic treatments of Barrett’s esophagus, including ablative therapy and endoscopic mucosal resection of pre-cancerous/ early esophageal cancer 
  • Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
  • Altered anatomy and pancreatic duct ERCP
  • Cholangioscopy
  • Endorectal EUS
  • Celiac Plexus Neurolysis
  • Pancreatic necrosectomy
  • Esophageal manometry 
  • Esophageal catheter-based pH monitoring
  • Anorectal manometry 
  • Esophageal planimetry (EndoFLIP)
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GI Diseases

We also provide care for a broad spectrum of gastrointestinal and liver diseases:

  • Diagnosis and management of esophageal motility disorders, such as achalasia, esophageal spasm, scleroderma
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (Diagnostic tests, including pH monitoring, as well as management)
  • Barrett’s esophagus/early esophageal cancer: Screening, Diagnosis and Excision
  • Esophageal Cancer: Diagnosis, staging and treatment of obstruction
  • Zenker’s Diverticulum
  • Gastric Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis, Staging and Excision of early gastric cancer
  • Celiac Disease
  • Colon Cancer: Screening and Diagnosis
  • Rectal Cancer: Screening, Diagnosis, Staging and Excision of early rectal cancer
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
  • Chronic liver diseases/ cirrhosis: viral hepatitis, auto-immune liver diseases, management of decompensated cirrhosis and its complications, metabolic liver disease
  • Liver transplant assessment
  • Assessment for Trans-jugular intrahepatic shunt (TIPS) insertion 
  • Assessment and management of liver cancer
  • Pancreatic Diseases
  • Pancreatic Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment of obstruction
  • Disorders of gut-brain interaction (formerly known Functional GI Disorders): irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia, functional constipation and diarrhea, gastroparesis
  • Choledocholithiasis and other biliary disorders
  • Gastrointestinal motility disorders
  • Clinical trials for novel therapies in various areas of gastrointestinal and liver disorders
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USEFUL INFORMATION

Patient resources for excellent GI care

See the helpful information below for new patients, questions and answers, and helpful resources.

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Treatment Specialties
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Location

West Coast Gastroenterology

5th floor-2775 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9

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© 2025 West Coast Gastroenterology

Dr. Sundeep Singh

Dr. Sundeep Singh is a Gastroenterologist with a special interest in the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

Dr. Singh completed his undergraduate Bachelor of Science at the University of Winnipeg. He then attended the University of Manitoba to complete his Bachelor of Science in Medicine and his Medical Degree. Subsequently, he completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Alberta, followed by his Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Calgary. He then pursued an Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellowship at the University of Calgary before his arrival in Kelowna to join the Kelowna Gastroenterology Associates. He practised here for 8 years before accepting a position at Vancouver General Hospital to help run the IBD clinic.

Dr. Singh has research interests in IBD surgical outcomes, IBD epidemiology and IBD risk factors and has published research within various recognized Gastroenterology journals including the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Gastroenterology. He now continues his research with clinical trials including evaluation of novel biologic therapeutic targets and long term safety profiles for biologics. 

Clinical interest:

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
  • Checkpoint Inhibitor Colitis
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  • Novel therapeutic management of Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases

Education:

  • Medical Degree, University of Manitoba
  • Internal Medicine Residency, University of Alberta
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship, University of Calgary
  • Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fellowship, University of Calgary

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students, UBC
  • Gastroenterology Fellows, UBC and University of Calgary

Research:

  • Rioux LC, Charbonneau J, McHugh K, Siffledeen J, Singh S, Afif W, Targownik L. Treatment patterns for advanced therapies in Canadians with moderate-to-severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Manuscript submitted to Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, under review

  • Siffledeen J, Singh S, Shulman SM, Igoe J, Heatta-Speicher T, Leitner C, Chung CH, Targownik L. Effect of Suboptimal Disease Control on Patient Quality of Life: Real-World Data from the Observational IBD-PODCAST Canada Trial. Dig Dis Sci. 2024 May;69(5):1636-1648. doi: 10.1007/s10620-024-08313-z. Epub 2024 Mar 16.
  • Haskey N, Estaki M, Ye J, Shim R, Singh S, Dieleman LA, Jacobson K, Gibson DL. A Mediterranean Diet Pattern improves intestinal inflammation concomitant with reshaping of the bacteriome in ulcerative colitis: A randomized controlled trial, Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 2023; https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad073
  • Haskey N, Shim RCK, Davidson-Hunt A, Ye J, Singh S, Dieleman LA, Jacobson K, Ghosh S, Gibson DL. Dietary adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern in a randomized clinical trial of patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis. Front Nutr. 2022 Dec 21;9:1080156. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1080156. PMID: 36618690; PMCID: PMC9812483.

  • Painchaud M, Singh S, Penner RM. Similar Outcomes in Patients Switched to Infliximab Biosimilars Compared to Those Remaining on Remicade in a British Columbia Inflammatory Bowel Disease Practice, Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, Volume 5, Issue Supplement_1, March 2022, Pages 20–21, https://doi.org/10.1093/jcag/gwab049.146

  • Shim R, Haskey N, Ye J, Singh S, Gibson D. Mediterranean Diet compliance in patients with ulcerative colitis. UBCO Interdisciplinary Conference 2021 (Abstract)

  • Painchaud M, Singh S, Penner RM. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients’ Satisfaction with Telehealth: During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, Volume 4, Issue Supplement 1, March 2021, Pages 56–57
  • Singh S, Al-Darmaki A, Frolkis AD, Seow CH, Leung Y, Novak KL, Ghosh S, Eksteen B, Panaccione R, Kaplan GG. Postoperative Mortality Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Population-based Studies. Gastroenterology. 2015 Oct;149(4)928-937.
  • Singh S, Blanchard A, Walker JR, Graff LA, Miller N, Bernstein CN. Common Symptoms and Stressors Among Individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 Sept;9(9):769-775. Epub 2011 May 20

  • Bernstein CN, Singh S, Graff LA, Walker J, Miller N, Cheang M. A Prospective Population-based Study of Triggers of Symptomatic Flares in IBD. Am J Gastroenterol. 2010 Sept;105(9):1994-2002. Epub 2010 Apr 6

  • Singh S, Graff LA, Bernstein CN. Do NSAIDs, Antibiotics, Infections, or Stress Trigger Flares in IBD? Am J Gastroenterol. 2009 May;104(5):1298-313; quiz 1314. Epub 2009 Mar 31

Awards & Grants:

  • Recipient of a Crohn’s Colitis Canada Grant in dietary research in IBD

  • American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Fellow Award

  • American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual North American Conference of Gastroenterology Fellows

  • American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Research Foundation – Horizon Resident Abstract Prize

  • The Polly & George Sheps Prize

  • Mindel & Tom Olenick Scholarship

  • Dr. John Adamson and Dr. Sanford T. Fleming Studentship

Dr. Ian Gan

Dr. Ian Gan MD, FRCPC is a gastroenterologist at Vancouver General Hospital and a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He specializes in advanced therapeutic endoscopy with a focus towards pancreaticobiliary disease. He acts as the chair and director of the West Coast Pancreas Clinic. 

He was the former head of endoscopic ultrasound and the GI Fellowship Program at Tufts University, before moving to Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. He was the program director for gastroenterology training at University of Washington. After almost ten years at VMMC, he moved back home to Vancouver. Dr. Gan has authored 75 publications in gastroenterology, mostly focusing on clinical research in pancreaticobiliary diseases. 

Clinical interest:

  • Acute and chronic pancreatitis 
  • Recurrent acute pancreatitis 
  • Pancreatic cystic lesions and pancreatic cancer screening
  • Barrett’s Esophagus 
  • General endoscopy (Upper endoscopy and Colonoscopy)
  • Capsule endoscopy
  • Advanced endoscopic procedures, including small bowel enteroscopy, EMR, EUS, ERCP (including altered anatomy, cholangioscopy, and pancreatic interventions), radiofrequency ablation, EUS guided therapeutic interventions

Education:

  • Medical training at University of British Columbia
  • Internal Medicine training at University of British Columbia
  • Gastroenterology training at University of Calgary
  • Advanced endoscopy training at Brigham Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University 

Teaching:

  • GI Fellowship Competence Committee, UBC 
  • GI Fellowship Training Committee, UBC         
  • CME Committee, Virginia Mason Medical Center 
  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology Subspecialty Fellows training at UBC

Dr. Kwan

Dr. Peter Kwan is a gastroenterologist at Vancouver General Hospital and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC.

He has completed his medical training at University of Western Ontario and university of British Columbia. He pursued further post-fellowship training at National Institute of Health, Bethesda and in Department of Medical Genetics at UBC.

He has extensive experience in assessment and management of general gastrointestinal disorders, with special interest in hepatitis B and metabolic-associated liver diseases, with research study in these two patient populations. He is fluent in English and Cantonese. 

Academic Position:

  • Clinical associate professor, UBC

Education:

  • BSc (Hon) University of Western Ontario
  • MD (Cum Laude) University of Western Ontario
  • Internal Medicine and GI fellowship  UBC
  • Post Fellowship training:
    • National Institute of Health
    • Bethesda Department of Medical Genetics
    • UBC

Interest:

  • Hepatitis B
  • NAFLD/NASH
  • Population study of the above

Current grant support:

  • Canadian Liver Foundation

Awards:

  • Alpha Omega Alpha
  • MRC Cenential  Fellowship
  • Two term president CCMS (BC)
  • Numerous community awards for public education
  • Long term service award Canadian Liver Foundation

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical Residents Training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology Subspecialty Fellowship Training at UBC 

Dr. Roberto Paolo Trasolini

Dr. Roberto Trasolini is a gastroenterologist and therapeutic endoscopist at Vancouver General Hospital. He specializes in advanced endoscopy and general gastroenterology.

Dr. Trasolini uses a range of endoscopic tools and techniques to provide minimally invasive treatments for GI diseases including endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), endoscopic suturing, fluoroscopy/ERCP, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

He has a special interest in endoscopic suturing, endoscopic ultrasound guided anastomosis creation, as well as third space endoscopy. He is working to bring novel treatments for obesity and metabolic syndrome to Canada and British Columbia inspired by his fellowship training.

He has published numerous abstracts, papers and videos in advanced endoscopy. He is a clinical supervisor for the UBC Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship.

Clinical interest:

  • ERCP/EUS
  • POEM/GPOEM
  • GI neoplasia resection (Esophagus, gastric, colon, EMR, ESD, subepithelial lesions)
  • Zenker’s Diverticulum repair
  • Bariatric Endoscopy (intragastric balloon removal, dumping syndrome management, management of other post bariatric surgical complications/syndromes)
  • Barrett’s ablation
  • Capsule Endoscopy/Small bowel enteroscopy

Education:

  • Medical School at the University of British Columbia
  • General Internal Medicine training at University of British Columbia
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship at University of British Columbia
  • Advanced Endoscopy at Harvard University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Bariatric Endoscopy and Foregut Endosurgery at Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  • Master of Science at New York Medical College

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology subspecialty Fellowship training at UBC
  • UBC Medical Undergraduate jaundice week co-lead
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship Competency Committee

Dr. Daljeet Singh Chahal

Dr. Daljeet Chahal MD MASc FRCPC is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Vancouver General Hospital, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Chahal practices in all areas of general Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He is a member of the Liver Transplant Program of BC and is involved in transplant assessment, care during critical illness, and care of patients after transplantation including immunosuppression management.

Dr. Chahal has published various conference abstracts, journal articles, and book chapters on various topics in Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases.

Dr. Chahal’s clinical and translational research interests include studies aiming to better characterize complications of acute-on-chronic liver failure, and studies to reduce ischemic complications after liver transplantation.

Dr. Chahal is also involved in clinical trials of novel therapeutic compounds for patients affected by various types of liver disease. He is the co-editor of “AI in Clinical Medicine.” He is fluent in English and Punjabi

Clinical interest:

  • General endoscopy: (Upper endoscopy & Colonoscopy)
  • General gastroenterology
  • Colon cancer screening
  • Fatty liver diseases
  • Liver fibrosis assessment (Fibroscan)
  • Cholestatic liver disease (PBC, PSC)
  • Liver cancer (HCC, Cholangiocarcinoma)
  • Viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C)
  • Compensated and decompensated cirrhosis
  • Acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ALF, ACLF)
  • Liver transplant assessment and evaluation
  • Post-liver-transplant care (graft management, immunosuppression)

Education:

  • Master of Applied Science in Bioengineering, University of British Columbia
  • Doctor of Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Internal Medicine Residency, University of British Columbia
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship, University of British Columbia
  • Advanced Liver Disease & Transplant Hepatology, Mount Sinai Hospital (NYC), Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute (RMTI)

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology subspecialty Fellowship training at UBC

Awards:

  • UBC Friedman Award for Scholars in Health
  • Canadian Association for Study of the Liver Fellowship Award

Dr. Michael Byrne

Dr. Michael Byrne MD, FRCPC is a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, and Director of the Interventional Endoscopy Fellowship program at Vancouver General Hospital/University of British Columbia.

He is also the CEO and founder of Satisfai Health, a company using Artificial Intelligence and allied technologies across the spectrum of GI diseases. He is frequently described as one of the pioneers in bringing AI to Gastroenterology and Endoscopy.

He has published over 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals, over 200 abstracts, and is the lead editor for a recent textbook from the publisher Wiley, entitled “AI in Clinical Medicine”.

He frequently presents at international conferences, particularly in relation to Artificial Intelligence and Gastroenterology.

Clinical interest:

  • General gastroenterology
  • Pancreaticobiliary diseases
  • General endoscopy (Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy)
  • Advanced therapeutic endoscopy: ERCP, EUS, cholangioscopy, pancreatic necrosectomy

Education:

  • Master of Arts in Medical Studies and Psychology at Cambridge University
  • MBChB at Liverpool University
  • Doctorate of Medicine (Cantab) at Cambridge University
  • Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology fellowship, multiple hospitals in Dublin, Ireland
  • Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Duke University Medical Center

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology Subspecialty Fellows training at UBC

Dr. Isabella Tai

Dr. Isabella Tai is a Clinician-Scientist with a special interest in Gastrointestinal cancers.  She is interested in understanding the mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance, metastasis and tumour progression in gastrointestinal cancers. Her group uses genomic and proteomic approaches to identify genetic markers that could be suitable for colorectal cancer screening, and to identify unique signatures that correspond to drug resistance in colorectal cancers.

Affiliations:

  • Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Education:

  • Medical degree: MD, PhD – MD/PhD Program, University of Toronto
  • General Internal Medicine (University of Toronto)
  • Gastroenterology (University of Toronto; Beth Israel Medical Deaconess, Harvard Medical School)

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology subspecialty Fellowship training at UBC

Research:

Research:

Dr. Nazira Chatur

Dr. Nazira Chatur MD, FRCPC is a gastroenterologist at Vancouver General Hospital with more than 25 years of clinical experience. She is the current Section Head for Gastroenterology in BC and the President of the BC Society of Gastroenterology. She is a gastroenterologist and endoscopist with special interest and extensive experience in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As well, she has published on colonic neoplasms in childhood survivors of malignancy and continues to service this patient population.

Additionally, she is the GI lead on the BC Cancer Association (BCCA) Task Force for immune checkpoint inhibitor related adverse events. Previously, she worked for over 10 years in IT, such as Motorola in the area of radio network telecommunications including secure data transmission using encryption and decryption. This resulted in a joint patent.

Clinical interest:

  • Novel therapies in management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
  • Adverse effects of checkpoint inhibitor (immunotherapy) therapies for malignancies
  • Colon cancer screening
  • General endoscopy (upper endoscopy and colonoscopy)
  • Education:
  • Medical school training at UBC
  • Internal Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Fellowship in Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia

Education:

  • BSc in Management and Systems Sciences
  • Medical school training at UBC
  • Internal Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Fellowship in Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia

Clinical interest:

  • Former Adult Gastroenterology Training Program Director at UBC for over 10 years

Awards:

  • Donald M. Carr Memorial Teaching Award – awarded by fellows in the Adult
  • Gastroenterology Training Program at UBC
  • UBC Faculty of Medicine Teaching Award. Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • Astra Zeneca Award for Excellence in Teaching (Gastroenterology)
  • Excellence in Gastroenterology at UBC

Dr. Eric Yoshida

Dr. Eric Yoshida OBC, MD, MHSc, FRCP(C), FACP, FACG, FCAHS, FAASLD is a Professor of Medicine at University of British Columbia. He has had more than 30 years of experience in management of common liver disorders as well as extensive clinical and research expertise in viral hepatitis and liver transplant. He has had over 385 peer-reviewed publications in medical and scientific journals, over 160 non-peer-reviewed publications, and 30 miscellaneous articles.

He has been an author or co-author on over 350 abstracts presented around the world. He has been extremely active in leadership roles in the academic and medical communities. He is the current Co-Chair of the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) new Diversity and Equality Committee, Current Chair of Medical Advisory Committee of the National Canadian Liver Foundation since 2010. He is the founder and the current editor-in-chief of the Canadian Liver Journal. He has held several leadership roles, including the President of Vancouver General Hospital Medical, Dental, and Allied Staff Association, the Vancouver Physician Staff Association, the Head of Gastroenterology at UBC, the head of Gastroenterology at Vancouver General Hospital, the Medical Director of BC’s Liver Transplant Program, and President of CASL.

He is passionate about providing care to marginalized and underserved population.

Clinical interest:

  • Viral hepatitis
  • Cholestatic liver diseases
  • Liver cancers
  • Liver transplantation
  • General gastroenterology
  • General endoscopy (Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy)
  • Education:
  • Medical Doctorate, University of Toronto
  • Internal Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Fellowship in Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia
  • Master of Health Sciences/ clinical epidemiology, University of British Columbia
  • Fellowship training in Transplant Hepatology, University of California, San Francisco

Education:

  • Medical Doctorate, University of Toronto
  • Internal Medicine, University of British Columbia
  • Fellowship in Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia
  • Master of Health Sciences/ clinical epidemiology, University of British Columbia
  • Fellowship training in Transplant Hepatology, University of California, San Francisco

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology subspecialty Fellowship training at UBC
  • Advanced Transplant Hepatology Fellowship training

Awards:

  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • Martin M. Hoffman Award for Excellence in Research (UBC, Department of Medicine)
  • Vancouver Acute Medical and Allied Staff Award for Clinical Excellence
  • Order of British Columbia (2016)
  • William A. Webber Award from UBC Medical Undergraduate Society (2018)
  • Resident Advocate Award from the Professional Association of Residents of BC (2006)
  • Distinguished Service and Meritorious Achievement Award from the Canadian
  • Association for the Study of Liver (2016)
  • Canadian Liver Foundation 50th Anniversary Recognition Medal (2019)

Dr. James R Gray

Dr. Gray MD, CCFP, ABIM, FRCPC, CAGF is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UBC. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, he has been an active member of the Gastroenterology Division at Vancouver General Hospital since 1989.

He is an appointed Fellow of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. He has been the President of the BC Society of Gastroenterology and served as the Medical Advisor to the GI Society and Badgut.Org. He has been a Board member of the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research, and has been involved as co-Chair in the Guidelines and Protocol Advisory Committee to the BC Medical Commission.

He is a current examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Gastroenterology. He is a DOPS assessor (Direct Observation of Procedural Skills) as part of the provincial program for quality assurance during colonoscopy.

Clinical interest:

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
  • Disorders of Gut-Brain interaction (formally known as Functional GI disorders, including IBS, functional dyspepsia, Constipation, and diarrhea)
  • Colon cancer screening
  • General endoscopy (Upper endoscopy and Colonoscopy)

Education:

  • Medical School at the University of British Columbia
  • Internship at Dalhousie University
  • Internal Medicine training at the University of British Columbia
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship training at the University of British Columbia
  • Gastroenterology Research Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical Residents trainees at UBC
  • Gastroenterology Subspecialty Fellowship trainees at UBC

Dr. Sarvee Moosavi

Dr. Sarvee Moosavi MD, FRCPC, MEd. (Candidate) is a clinical assistant professor in gastroenterology at Vancouver General Hospital. She practices in all areas of general Gastroenterology and Hepatology. In addition, she sees complex referrals from all around the province for disorders of gut-brain interaction (formerly known as functional GI disorders), as well as neurogastroenterology and GI motility disorders.   

She is the founder of the only gastroenterology motility lab in the province of British Columbia with access to both esophageal and anorectal manometry, where she personally performs high-quality tests assessing gastrointestinal function, including esophageal and anorectal manometry, pH monitoring, and esophageal planimetry (EndoFLIP). She has first authored several articles in highly reputable journals, as well as the “Atlas of High-Resolution Manometry and pH Monitoring”.

She has presented at international and national conferences on various topics on disorders of gut-brain interaction and esophageal motility disorders. She is fluent in both English and Farsi.

Clinical interest:

  • General gastroenterology
  • General endoscopy (Upper endoscopy and Colonoscopy)
  • Colon cancer screening
  • Esophageal and anorectal planimetry, pH monitoring
  • Esophageal Panometry (EndoFLIP) (Currently the only gastroenterologist with formal training and access to this technology in the entire province)
  • Esophageal disorders, including Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Disorders of gut-brain interaction (formerly known as functional GI disorders)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, microscopic colitis, and celiac disease

Education:

  • Medical Undergraduate Degree, University of British Columbia
  • Internal Medicine Fellowship, McGill University
  • Gastroenterology fellowship, University of British Columbia
  • Neurogastroenterology and Motility training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, LA, California and University of Calgary
  • Master of Education (2025), Harvard University

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology subspecialty Fellowship training in Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility disorders at UBC (Adult and Pediatric fellows)
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship Competency Committee representative
  • Gastroenterology Chief of Service at Vancouver General Hospital
  • Medical Advisor to GI Society and Badgut.org

Research:

  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (Cytosponge Clinical trial)
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (Role of Dupilumab in esophageal remodelling in EOE)
  • Use of new technology, including Esophageal Panometry (EndoFLIP) in Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  • Use of EndoFLIP technology in assessment of candidacy for G-POEM (gastroparesis in lung transplant recipient)
  • Role of esophageal dysmotility and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the lung allograft survival amongst the lung transplant recipients.
  • Functional GI disorders in pregnancy

Awards:

  • Recipient of VCHRI Research Team Grant 2023

Dr. Vladimir Marquez

Dr. Vladimir Marquez MD, FRCPC, MSc. is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist with subspecialty training in liver transplantation with over 10 years of clinical experience.

He is currently the Medical Lead of the Liver Transplant Program at Vancouver General Hospital. He is particularly interested in the management of portal hypertension. In his general hepatology clinics, he manages various conditions including PBC, PSC, viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, Wilson’s disease, and steatohepatitis.

He has research interests in liver transplantation,
portal hypertension, and Wilson disease, and has served as an investigator on clinical trials in these areas. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and French.

Clinical interest:

  • Vascular Liver Disorders
  • Portal Hypertension and complications of advanced liver disease
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Colon cancer screening
  • General endoscopy (upper endoscopy and colonoscopy)

Education:

  • Medical Doctorate (M.D.C.M.), McGill University
  • Internal Medicine, Laval University
  • Fellowship in Gastroenterology, Laval University
  • Masters in Clinical Epidemiology (with Thesis), McGill University
  • Fellowship in Transplant Hepatology, University of British Columbia
  • Post-Fellowship Training in Vascular Liver Disorders, Beaujon Hospital (Paris)

Teaching:

  • Academic Lead, Liver Transplant Fellowship Program, UBC
  • Gastroenterology Fellowship Training Committee representative

Awards:

  • The Dr. Donald M. Carr Memorial Teaching Award 2022
  • The UBC Gastroenterology Fellows Lectureship Award 2016, 2017, 2020

Dr. Baljinder Salh

Dr. Baljinder Salh MBChB FRCP(UK) FRCP(C) is a gastroenterologist at Vancouver General Hospital and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. He is the current Head of the Division of Gastroenterology at Vancouver General Hospital.

He graduated from Leeds University in England, with subsequent training in internal medicine and gastroenterology in England as well as here in Vancouver. He has undertaken research in both countries including a translational science fellowship in a starfish laboratory, where he learnt about biochemical signal transduction cascades. He has applied this information to his areas of interest and research that includes inflammatory bowel disease and its complications such as cancer.

He is the Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials at Vancouver General Hospital, exploring the use of novel therapeutic compounds/targets in patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease. He is fluent in English and Punjabi.

Clinical interest:

  • Novel therapies in management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
  • Celiac disease
  • Eosinophilic and other intestinal immune disorders
  • Gastrointestinal malignancies
  • Colon cancer screening
  • General endoscopy (upper endoscopy and colonoscopy)

Education:

  • Medical school training at Leeds University in England
  • Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Fellowship, UK and BC, Canada

Teaching:

  • Undergraduate Medical Students at UBC
  • Surgical and Medical residents training at UBC
  • Gastroenterology subspecialty Fellowship training at UBC

Research:

  • Research interests in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including translational research, clinical research, and clinical trials of novel pharmacologic agents.