Our Team
Our Program takes pride in a multidisciplinary approach. Get to know the different specialists who participate in your baby’s care below
Neonatologists
All our neonatologists are pediatric doctors who are sub-specialized in neonatal and perinatal medicine.
Dr Miroslav Stavel
Co-Local Departmental Head of Pediatrics at RCH. Canadian Neonatal Network Site Investigator. Quality improvement lead. Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Instructor. NICU lead for RCH Redevelopment project. Involved in development of the RCH neonatal follow up program.
Dr Mudaffer Al-Mudaffer
Former education liaison, he has a particular interest in genetic conditions and currently focuses on evolving technologies in neonatal care such as point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) of the newborn.
Dr Ewa Gizicki
POCUS lead, she introduced a POCUS framework for the team. She also furthers the care of the extremely preterm newborn through quality improvement initiatives and procedural skills workshops. She is also involved as a reviewer on the RCH Foundation Quality Improvement committee.
Dr Lindsay McRae
Education lead, she is our liaison to the UBC residency and fellowship programs and is lead physician NRP instructor for Fraser Health.
Dr Nikoo Niknafs
Dr Niknafs is a skilled neonatologist whose work spans neonatal resuscitation, develomental care in preterm infants (NIDCAP), and procedural innovations such as POCUS. She is also an educator, contributing to workshops such as the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and Helping Babies Survive, alongside publishing and presenting on neonatology and neonatal care.
Dr Mehtab Sekhon
Lead for the Local Medical Review Committee (LMRC), she reviews complex cases for a multidisciplinary audience to improve processes and quality of care. She is also an NRP instructor.
Dr Krishan Yadav
Dr Yadav has a particular interest in neonatal hemodynamics and procedural skills. His area of focus is targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO), its integration in clinical care of babies and related research activities in NICU.
Locum neonatologists
We are pleased to have locum neonatologist colleagues working with our NICU team.
Nurses
The nursing team comprises of approximately 100 nurses who are specialty trained in neonatal care after having graduated in nursing.
Patient Care Coordinators (PCC) liaise with physicians, allied health professionals, other units such as Perinatal and Pediatrics, and beyond our hospital through regional access and flow, to coordinate the care and movement of patients across the health network. As such, they are a key point of contact for parents, beyond the bedside teams.
Clinical Nurse Educators (CNE) are crucial to the seamless progress of our nursing team’s skills. As we introduce novel techniques to further the care of our newborn patients, they ensure that the nursing team is prepared and knowledgeable when these changes occur within our Program.
Shannon Clarke
Clinical Manager
Part of our Program since 2000, she joined the team as a NICU nurse and progressed to Patient Care Coordinator in 2014, through which she gained great insight into NICU care, at the bedside and beyond. In 2023, she carried this rich experience into the role of Manager for the RCH NICU Nursing Team.
Kristen Albinati
Patient Care Coordinator
Carly Eliades
Patient Care Coordinator
Shantel Gerstendorfer
Patient Care Coordinator
Kristyn Lane
Patient Care Coordinator
Leigh-Anne Loewen
Patient Care Coordinator
Courtney Reichelt
Clinical Nurse Educator, she supports the onboarding of new and returning staff, job shadowing and education experiences within the NICU. With a passion for Neonatal Theory, and practical background as an NICU nurse since 2008, she continues to share her appreciation of the neonatal environment with all who are interested.
Julie Royer
Clinical Nurse Educator, with special focus on the RCH Redevelopment project. She prepares staff for the transition to our upcoming new unit, set to open in early 2026. She actively participates in quality improvement initiatives in our program and works closely with the RCH foundation to seek opportunities to continue to support our unit.
Anisha Lalji (currently on leave)
Clinical Nurse Educator, she is the Lead NRP instructor for Fraser Health. She is involved in quality improvement initiatives particularly in the care of the extreme preterm infant and supports changes within the unit to be able to continue with advancements in care.
Respiratory
therapists
Respiratory Therapists (RT) autonomously assess, monitor and manage neonatal patients with respiratory distress or underdeveloped lungs, who require support such as mechanical ventilation. They manage airways, administer oxygen therapies and inhaled medications. They are actively involved in emergency response as well as chronic respiratory care, and as such are integral to the delivery of neonatal intensive care. Finally, they educate families, and contribute to quality improvement initiatives and research.
RTs bring a diverse experience from departments across the whole hospital. They also benefit from the expertise of the NICU Core RTs who are specifically assigned to work with our NICU team.
Traci Boss
NICU Core Respiratory Therapist
Anant Kaur
NICU Core Respiratory Therapist
Riya Parhar
NICU Core Respiratory Therapist
Pharmacist
Clinical pharmacists actively follow our patients and advise the medical team on medication selection and dosage, help monitor for side effects as well as quality reviews for the unit. They provide education to parents regarding neonatal medications, safety of maternal medication for breastfeeding mothers, and infant immunizations.
Dietitians
Dietitians specialize in the nutritional needs of newborns, especially those born prematurely or with neonatal disorders. They monitor our patients' growth and develop customized feeding plans to meet their individual needs. They also ensure an adequate supply of macro- and micro-nutrients, such as iron and Vitamin D, which are crucial for brain development and bone health. They may recommend specific types of fortifiers or supplements to meet the unique growth needs of each infant.
Gladys Liu
Registered Dietitian
D'Arcy McKay
Registered Dietitian
Occupational
therapists
Occupational Therapists (OT) are specialized in neurodevelopmental care. They help babies progress in their daily activities, supporting their interactions, building resilience, optimizing sleep, and providing developmentally supportive care. They are also specialized in oral feeding and support babies in the acquisition of this skill. They also co-facilitate a variety of parent education classes and arrange follow-up in the community as needed.
Kim Belle
Occupational Therapist
Adrianna Elliott
Occupational Therapist
Jessica Leung
Occupational Therapist
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists (PT) are specialized in infant musculoskeletal development and neurodevelopmental care. Through interventions and education, they support the development of functional movement patterns and positive sensory experiences for neonates. They also co-facilitate a variety of parent education classes and arrange follow-up in the community as needed.
Ali McFadden
Physiotherapist, Neonatal Touch & Massage Therapist Certified.
Noa Tsur
Physiotherapist
Social worker
Social Workers connect with NICU parents to offer social and mental health support as they navigate their baby’s hospital stay. They assist families in navigating the health system as it pertains to their community and social supports, and provide education on postpartum depression and anxiety amongst others.
Carrie Pon
Social worker
First Nations Liaisons
Indigenous health liaisons provide cultural support, advocacy and health information to Indigenous patients and their families in hospital and community settings. They connect with other health care professionals and service providers to promote and advocate for culturally appropriate and timely care.
Available through the Fraser Health Authority at 1-866-766-6960, 08:30am to 08:00pm, every day.
Lactation consultants
Lactation consultants are nurses specialized and offering support to parents in breastfeeding/chestfeeding, lactation, pumping, infant oral feeding, and weaning.
Our NICU Lactation Consultant plays a vital role in nurturing the bond between parent and baby during some of the most critical moments. With specialized expertise in neonatal care, this dedicated position ensures that families receive compassionate, evidence-based breastfeeding support tailored to the unique needs of our patients.
Sandeep Garcha
Lactation Consultant
Sarah Gillis
Lactation Consultant
Jessica Maxwell
Lactation Consultant
Clerks
Clerks support the NICU team through processing physician orders and referrals, scheduling tests and treatments, and maintaining patient records and charts.
Caitlin Forster
Unit Clerk
Bernadette Sleeman
Unit Clerk
Students & Learners
We are involved in education through affiliations with the following institutions, and we welcome learners at varied stages of their career:
University of British Columbia
Faculty of Medicine: medical students, residents and fellows, welcoming on and off service learners.
Faculty of Nursing
Faculty of Pharmacy: student and hospital pharmacy residents.
Faculty of Social Work.BCIT Specialty nursing program
Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC.
Connect with your institution’s program director to organize elective rotations with our Program!