Our Team

Dr. Dhandapani Ashok MBBS, MD, FRCPCH (UK): Pediatric Gastroenterologist 

• Areas of interest: paediatric inflammatory bowel disease, paediatric liver disease, eosinophilic esophagitis and therapeutic endoscopy.  

Dr. Kevin C. Bax, MD: Paediatric Gastroenterologist 

• Areas of interest: therapeutic endoscopy, aerodigestive diseases and inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. 

Dr. Eileen Crowley, MB BCh BAO, MRCPI, DCH, MSc: Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Director of the Paediatric IBD center 

• Areas of interest: paediatric inflammatory bowel disease and aspects related, including genetics, therapeutic drug monitoring and biological therapies in young children. 

Dr. Melanie Schmidt, MD: Paediatric Gastroenterologist 

• Areas of interest: paediatric intestinal failure, growth faltering and dysmotility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract 

Dr. Andréanne Zizzo, MD, MSc, FRCPC: Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Division Head, and Director of the Paediatric Liver Program 

• Areas of interest: paediatric liver disease, post-liver transplant outcomes and immune-mediated processes related to the care of children and youth 

Danielle Heibein, BScN, MScN, RN(EC): Paediatric Nurse Practitioner 

• Areas of interest: paediatric enteral feeding, intestinal failure 
• A Paediatric Nurse Practitioner:
  • Provides health services to patients in collaboration with the Pediatric Gastroenterologists \
  • Coordinates timely access to health care via telephone triage and rapid access to clinic appointments when necessary 
  • Educates and gives ongoing support for disease management 
  • Provides information on medication, disease prevention, troubleshooting symptoms and navigating the health care system 
  • Facilitates disease monitoring via laboratory services and other tests 
  • Link to community and hospital resources 

Melanie Watson, BScN, MScN, RN(EC): Paediatric Nurse Practitioner 

• Areas of interest: paediatric inflammatory bowel disease and quality improvement strategies 

Samantha Thomson, BScN: Paediatric Nurse Case Manager 

• Areas of interest: paediatric liver diseases, complex constipation and eosinophilic esophagitis 
• A Nurse Case Manager:
  • Actively participates in your child’s GI/Hep/Nutrition team by acting as a liaison between you and your child’s team members 
  • Coordinates your child’s testing and consultations to ensure they are carried out in the best possible time frame 
  • Identifies the health needs of your child and provides information and education regarding GI issues 
  • Provides guidance to families navigating the healthcare system during inpatient to outpatient transition as well as transition to adult services 
  • Partners with community agencies to assist in addressing your child’s relevant needs in the community 

Chris Medeiros, RPN: Registered Practical Nurse 

• Areas of interest: inflammatory bowel disease and constipation 
• A Registered Practical Nurse:
  • Coordinates your child’s Endoscopy, testing and consultations to ensure they are carried out in the best possible time frame 
  • Provides information to you and your child about Endoscopy preparation along with what to expect during your child’s scope day 
  • Assists your child with certain investigation updates and liaising with the team for any changes that would warrant updates to in-person follow-up 

Anna De Lange, RD, MSc: Dietitian 

• Areas of interest: Outpatient care facilitation and education 
• Each Paediatric Dietitian:
  •  Is a registered dietitian (RD) with a university degree in clinical nutrition and a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario and the Dietitians of Canada 
  • Provides nutrition support for acute and chronic illness, and the ongoing nutrition education to caregivers and patients for normal growth and development 
  • Can assess, treat and prevent disease/physical conditions using food, vitamin/mineral supplements, and/or nutrition support 
  • Provides dietary advice and information to patients and families with various gastrointestinal conditions, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease and constipation, and also address the nutrition issues related to liver diseases such as cholestasis challenges, pre- and post-liver transplant nutritional needs, autoimmune liver diseases and support use of parenteral nutrition and maldigestive processes such as irritable bowel syndrome. 

Sarah Denomme, RD: Enteral Feeding Program Dietitian 

Carrie Charters, SW: Social Worker 

• A Social Worker:
  • The social worker is available to provide emotional support and counselling to patients and their families
  • You may find it helpful to discuss personal, financial and family concerns that arise. The social worker can give you information about community resources to help with living expenses and the cost of medications. 

Darlene Kristiansen, Clerk 

• The Clerk:
  • Will make any clinic appointments that you require.  
  • Make sure you book your next appointment each time before you leave the PMDU (Paediatric Medical Care Unit) If you need to reschedule a clinic appointment, call the clerk.  

Karen Groeneweg, Child Life Therapist

• A Child Life Therapist:
  • Strives to support the emotional, developmental, and cultural needs of our patients and families.
  • Promotes effective coping through play, self-expressive activities, age-appropriate medical preparation, and procedural support.

Erica Clemens, Child Life Therapist

Taylor Beedie, MSc, Research Assistant

Nidhi Rashmikant Suthar, Research Coordinator

Lindsay McLeish, Research Coordinator 

Patricia Loptson, Medical Secretary  

• A Medical Secretary: 
  • Is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of medical offices 
  • Will be involved in scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, coordinating communications between patients and medical staff, and handling other administrative tasks

Dawn McKay, Medical Secretary

Deb Tait, Medical Secretary

Rebecca Wyllie, Medical Secretary