Medical Management Team
Dr. Richdeep Gill
Dr. Joseph Solomon
Dr. Joseph Solomon
Dr. Gill completed both his medical degree and General Surgery residency at the University of Alberta. During his residency Dr. GIll pursued his research interests in surgical frontiers and was awarded a PhD in Experimental Surgery. He went on to complete subspecialty training in Bariatric Surgery before joining the Calgary Adult Bariatric Surgery Clinic.
Dr. Gill holds an academic appointment at the University of Calgary. Dr. Gill's surgical career focuses on the improvement of obesity related co-morbidities and optimizing outcomes for bariatric patients.
He recently obtained his certification as an American Board of Obesity Medicine diplomate.
Dr. Joseph Solomon
Dr. Joseph Solomon
Dr. Joseph Solomon
Dr. Solomon completed his medical school training at the University of Calgary. Following this he pursued a residency program in family medicine also at the University of Calgary.
Dr. Solomon has a range of research in the area of surgical oncology and cell biology, and holds an academic appointment with the University of Calgary where he teaches medical residents at the Cumming School of Medicine.
Dr. Solomon has a passion for health, fitness, and weight management which he integrates into his primary care practice and at The Alberta Obesity Centre.
He recently obtained his certification as an American Board of Obesity Medicine diplomate
Dr. Ian Rigby
Dr. Gabriel Marcil
Dr. Gabriel Marcil
Dr. Rigby is an Emergency Physician at the Foothills Hospital and the Peter Lougheed hospital in Calgary. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Calgary with a developing interest in obesity medicine.
He obtained his MD at the University of Calgary and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Queens University. He subsequently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Education from the University of Dundee, Scotland dovetailing with his academic interest in medical education.
Dr. Rigby has developed curriculum and taught at the University of Calgary's undergraduate medical program.
He recently obtained his certification as an American Board of Obesity Medicine diplomate
Dr. Gabriel Marcil
Dr. Gabriel Marcil
Dr. Gabriel Marcil
Dr. Marcil is a general surgeon with specialty training in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. He currently practices at the Red Deer Regional Hospital in Red Deer, Alberta.
He graduated from McGill University’s medical school in 2015 and went on to complete his general surgery residency at the University of Calgary in 2020. After residency, he obtained his bariatric surgery fellowship at the University of Alberta. He then became certified with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in 2021. Dr. Marcil previously obtained a law degree with focus on biotechnologies and pharmaceutics from the University of Sherbrooke.
Dr. Marcil has published numerous obesity related peer-reviewed articles and frequently presents research at international meetings with his colleagues from the University of Alberta and University of Calgary.
He recently obtained his certification as an American Board of Obesity Medicine diplomate.
Behavioural Medicine Team
Dr. Holly Sidhu
Dr. Jordan Vollrath
Dr. Jordan Vollrath
Dr. Sidhu completed her medical school training at the University of Calgary. She then ventured to Eastern Canada to complete her residency in family medicine at Memorial University in Newfoundland, where she became certified in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). She has also completed extra training in psychiatry and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which she utilizes when supporting her patients at The Alberta Obesity Centre.
Her passions include cooking, dancing, and yoga. She tries to live a health conscious life and help her patients do the same.
Dr. Jordan Vollrath
Dr. Jordan Vollrath
Dr. Jordan Vollrath
Dr. Vollrath completed his medical school at the University of Alberta in Edmonton before going on to finish his Family Medicine residency at the University of Calgary.
He has worked in a wide variety of both urban and rural clinical settings including ER and hospital based medicine. He is a co-founder of Cherry Health a Canadian technologies company. In 2020, he was awarded the Joule Physician Innovation prize by the Canadian Medical Association. He has a passion for mental health and its relationship with weight outcomes.
In his spare time, he enjoys being active and outdoors - skiing, camping, mountain biking and spending time with his French bulldog.
Dr. Ishan Sharma
Dr. Ishan Sharma
Dr. Ishan Sharma
Dr. Sharma is a family physician with a special interest in mental health and psychotherapy. Prior to pursuing medicine he completed a degree in kinesiology; immersing himself in exercise and nutritional science. While completing medical school and residency at the University of Calgary, Dr. Sharma focused his elective rotations in areas including solution-focused therapy, trauma therapy, addiction medicine, and obesity medicine. Above all, he is especially passionate about helping patients achieve their health and wellness goals!
In his spare time, he enjoys weightlifting, hiking, learning new languages, and hosts his own mental health podcast, The Recovery Refresh. Feel free to listen along on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube! https://linktr.ee/ishansharmaMD
Dr. Onome Ogona
Dr. Ishan Sharma
Dr. Ishan Sharma
Dr. Ogona completed her medical training in the United Kingdom and has been practicing as a family physician since 2013. She has a special interest in mental health and is a life and weight loss coach. She uses a combination of psychotherapy and coaching to support her patients in their weight management journey.
In her spare time, she enjoys walks, travelling and reading a good book.
Psychology Team
Dr. Alana Ireland
Dr. Ireland is a psychologist practicing in Calgary, and an Assistant Professor of psychology. She graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Calgary, and has been an active therapist, university instructor, and researcher since. Dr. Ireland’s research and practice has focused on the spectrum of weight-related issues including obesity, weight bias, body image dissatisfaction, and eating disorders.
Dr. Ireland is passionate about mental health as well as promoting health, confidence, and comfort in our bodies.
Nutrition Team
Dr. Sheila Ung
Dr. Michael Yosefi
Dr. Michael Yosefi
Dr. Ung-Datta completed both her medical school training and residency in family medicine at the University of Calgary. She obtained her Master of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK). Dr. Ung-Datta is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary.
For 12 years, Dr. Ung-Datta practiced low-risk obstetrics in addition to family medicine before shifting her focus to women’s health, nutrition and weight management.
Dr. Michael Yosefi
Dr. Michael Yosefi
Dr. Michael Yosefi
Dr. Michael Yosefi completed his BSc in Molecular Biology in 2012 from York University in Toronto, and his Doctorate of Medicine (MD) in 2016 from the University of Calgary. This was followed by residency training in Family Medicine at the University of Calgary and in 2018, he became certified in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
He has a passion for nutritional science and fitness. When he’s not tending to his patients, Michael enjoys spending time outside in the Canadian Rockies by ways of running, scrambling, climbing, and cycling.
Dr. Keshav Sharma
Dr. Makela Nkemdirim
Dr. Makela Nkemdirim
Dr. Sharma is a graduate of the University of Alberta Medical School and completed his Rural Family medicine Residency training in Southern Alberta through the University of Calgary. He initially practiced as a locum physician in Rural Alberta and in the Northwest Territories before settling down in Calgary, tailoring his practice towards nutrition weight management and bariatric medicine.
In his free time, you can catch Dr. Sharma trying to stay active out on the golf course, hiking or camping in the mountains.
Dr. Makela Nkemdirim
Dr. Makela Nkemdirim
Dr. Makela Nkemdirim
Dr. Nkemdirim completed her medical degree at the University of Toronto. She returned home to Calgary to complete her residency in family medicine in 2003. Since that time, she has practiced family medicine with a special interest in women’s health, maternity, and newborn care. She is an associate clinical professor at the University of Calgary and enjoys teaching medical students and residents through her general and maternity practice.
Dr. Nkemdirim has a strong passion for health and wellness and is excited to be part of the team at The Alberta Obesity Centre.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and the outdoors.
Dietitian Team
Kayla Evans
Kayla is a recent graduate from the University of Alberta Dietetics program. Her practice focuses on providing evidence-based nutrition information and helping others develop a healthy relationship with food. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and working on her nutrition blog.
SPORTS MEDICINE - PHYSIATRY - EXERCISE MEDICINE
Dr. Sumeet Gill
Dr. Jennifer Assh
Dr. Hafeez Kurji
Dr. Gill is a practicing Sports Medicine and Family Physician. He obtained his Medical Degree from McMaster University. He completed a residency in Family Medicine and subsequent fellowship in Sports Medicine at the University of Toronto.
He draws on his Sports Medicine training and coaching experience in Strength & Conditioning to care for patients at AOC. His clinical interests include exercise prescription, musculoskeletal medicine, and medical education.
Dr. Hafeez Kurji
Dr. Jennifer Assh
Dr. Hafeez Kurji
Dr. Hafeez Kurji obtained in medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2016. He has since completed his Family Medicine residency training in June 2018 and his Enhanced Skills residency training in Sport and Exercise Medicine in June 2020, both at the University of Calgary. Dr. Kurji presently holds his Certification in Family Medicine with a Certificate of Added Competency in Sport and Exercise Medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Throughout his residency training and early into his career he has taken a special interest in Sport and Musculoskeletal Medicine. He has been assisting with a number of sports teams including the University of Calgary Dinos Varsity Athletics (USports), Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL), Airdrie CFR Bisons (AAA Hockey), Calgary Colts (CJFL), Speed Skating Canada and covering other local sporting events.
Outside of clinic practice Hafeez enjoys living an active lifestyle, playing ice hockey, ball hockey, golf, and softball, as well as going to the dog park with Fawkes his entlebucher mountain dog. He also enjoys travelling with his new wife.
Dr. Jennifer Assh
Dr. Jennifer Assh
Dr. Jennifer Assh
Dr. Assh is a physiatrist, which is also known as a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). This is a medical specialty that focuses on helping individuals with neurological and/ or musculoskeletal conditions maximize their function and improve their quality of life. She obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree and completed her postgraduate medical training/ residency in PM&R at the University of Alberta. She is now a Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the U of A, participating in the training of physiatrists.
Her medical practice is based at the Body Restoration clinic in Edmonton, where she works in general musculoskeletal medicine and electromyography. For the latter she holds the designation of CSCN Diplomate (EMG) from the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists. She has a special interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injections.
SPECIALISTS
Gastroenterology - Dr. Rachid Mohamed
Gynecology and Obstetrics - Dr. Caroline Le Jour(Head)
Gastroenterology - Dr. Rachid Mohamed
Dr. Rachid Mohamed is a therapeutic endoscopist in Calgary, based out of the Peter Lougheed Center. Rachid completed medical school in Edmonton and went on to an internal medicine residency at the University of Alberta. He moved home to Calgary in 2008 where he completed his gastroenterology fellowship followed by a fellowship in therapeutic endoscopy. He is Section Head for Therapeutic Endoscopy in the Calgary zone. His interests lie in endoscopy, specifically complex pancreaticobiliary endoscopy and advanced tissue resection.
Internal Medicine - Dr. Pradip Joshi
Gynecology and Obstetrics - Dr. Caroline Le Jour(Head)
Gastroenterology - Dr. Rachid Mohamed
Dr. Pradip Joshi became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada in 1981. He is board certified in Internal Medicine & Geriatrics.
He joined the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial in 1982, and he is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine.
He has a special interest in diabetes, lipid disorders, geriatrics, venous thrombotic diseases, clinical research, and teaching. He has been on various advisory panels on diabetes and lipid disorders.
He received the award for Canadian Diabetes Association 2011 Outstanding Healthcare Professional.
Gynecology and Obstetrics - Dr. Caroline Le Jour(Head)
Gynecology and Obstetrics - Dr. Caroline Le Jour(Head)
Gynecology and Obstetrics - Dr. Caroline Le Jour(Head)
Dr. Le Jour is originally from Montreal where she completed her medical degree at McGill University before heading out West to Calgary to complete residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology. She developed an interest in bariatric medicine in 2014 and continue to seek learning opportunities in the area. She is a clinical assistant professor.
She grew up playing ice hockey and soccer but now also enjoys mountain sports.
Partnerships
Specialized Pharmacy
Specialized Sleep Clinic
Specialized Pharmacy
Founded in 2019, Rx Connect Specialty Pharmacy is a proud Canadian company, comprised of Healthcare Professionals with extensive Specialty experience. Rx Connect has devised a healthcare model that supports each and every patient to receive the most optimum individualized healthcare management by focusing on helping people to achieve a
Founded in 2019, Rx Connect Specialty Pharmacy is a proud Canadian company, comprised of Healthcare Professionals with extensive Specialty experience. Rx Connect has devised a healthcare model that supports each and every patient to receive the most optimum individualized healthcare management by focusing on helping people to achieve a healthy weight, they also provide advice about exercise alongside other lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation and alcohol consumption. Our young innovative team will assist each and every patient to improve patient health outcomes by enhancing adherence and compliance to medications. Rx Specialty Pharmacy is committed to exceptional patient care by dedicating to safety, quality and innovation.
Specialized Pharmacy
Specialized Sleep Clinic
Specialized Pharmacy
UPharmacy prides itself in providing consistent high-quality care, making it the specialty pharmacy of choice for many of its patients. Focusing on select areas of medicine, including lifestyle medications, UPharmacy staff and its pharmacists are there to provide patient-centered care when you need it. All pharmacists at UPharmacy are wel
UPharmacy prides itself in providing consistent high-quality care, making it the specialty pharmacy of choice for many of its patients. Focusing on select areas of medicine, including lifestyle medications, UPharmacy staff and its pharmacists are there to provide patient-centered care when you need it. All pharmacists at UPharmacy are well informed when it comes to the counselling of the specialty medications they dispense. We are continuously seeking out ways to deliver up-to-date information in an innovative and efficient manner. At UPharmacy, your health is our commitment.
Specialized Sleep Clinic
Specialized Sleep Clinic
Specialized Sleep Clinic
Aveiro Sleep is an industry partner with a network of 35 clinics throughout Alberta and British Columbia. Their integrative approach includes Diagnostic Sleep Testing, CPAP Therapy related to OSA, as well as Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) and Home Oxygen Therapy. The Aveiro Family includes Aveiro Sleep, Sleep Medix, CanSleep and FreshAi
Aveiro Sleep is an industry partner with a network of 35 clinics throughout Alberta and British Columbia. Their integrative approach includes Diagnostic Sleep Testing, CPAP Therapy related to OSA, as well as Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) and Home Oxygen Therapy. The Aveiro Family includes Aveiro Sleep, Sleep Medix, CanSleep and FreshAir Respiratory Care.
The Aveiro team understands that obesity is a major risk factor for the development and progression of sleep disordered breathing, most commonly known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The prevalence of OSA is estimated to be higher in an obese patient and should be investigated. Aveiro’s team will guide patients through screening and treatment options unique to each care plan.