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 Zenon Cieslak
Former head of department, he has ushered our Program through many advancements, including progressing to a level III NICU in 1995. Passionate about neonatal care and furthering team expertise, he teaches procedural skills at the bedside to physicians and allied health alike.
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.
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 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.
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
Nursing 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 has 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.
Leigh-Anne Kuwica
Patient Care Coordinator
Shantel Gerstendorfer
Patient Care Coordinator
Kristen Albinati
Patient Care Coordinator
Kristyn Lane
Patient Care Coordinator
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 2025, including onboarding new NICU team members. She is also an NRP instructor for Fraser Health and actively participates in quality improvement initiatives in our program.
Nicole McDougall
Clinical Nurse Educator, she is involved in the Meditech Expanse project.
Anisha Lalji
Clinical Nurse Educator, she certifies nurses for NICU Care through the BCIT Neonatal Program and is the Lead NRP instructor for Fraser Health. She is involved in quality improvement initiatives particularly in the care of the extreme preterm.
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.
Karen Kang
NICU Core Respiratory Therapist
Anant Kaur
NICU Core Respiratory Therapist
Shiraz Sahib
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.
Frances Chow
NICU Core Clinical pharmacist
Dietitians
Dietitians monitor the growth of our patients and optimize their nutrition to meet their individual needs. They also ensure adequate supply of macro- and micro-nutrients, such as iron and Vitamin D, which are crucial for brain development and bone health.
Tracy Tam
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
Physical
therapist
Physical Therapists (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
Physical Therapist, Neonatal Touch & Massage Therapist Certified.
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.
This team of nurses offers lactation consultations across multiple units (post-partum Maternity, Pediatrics, and the NICU), and we are grateful to have access to their care.
Parent partner &
Family navigator
Ashley Durance
A veteran NICU parent with lived experience, she supports parents and caregivers and provides input within the NICU to improve the family experience.
Clerks
Clerks support the NICU team through processing physician orders and referrals, scheduling tests and treatments, and maintaining patient records and charts.
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!