Medical Management Team

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. Switzer is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta and practices as a Bariatric Surgeon in Edmonton. He graduated from medical school and general surgery at U of A as well, After residency, he obtained his bariatric surgery fellowship at the Ohio State University. He also obtained his Master of Public Health focusing on obesity from Harvard University.

Dr. Switzer sits on numerous obesity surgery committees and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and presents research annually at multiple international meetings. 

He recently obtained his certification as an American Board of Obesity Medicine diplomate.

Dr. Rigby is an Emergency Physician at the Foothills and Peter Lougheed hospitals 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.  

Dr. Solomon completed his medical school training at the University of Calgary. Following this he pursued a residency program in family medicine also at U of C.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 AOC.

Hannah graduated from Bow Valley College in 2014 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She is currently in the process of completing her Registered Nurse degree. She has practiced as an acute care nurse working in various units within Alberta Health Services, and Vancouver Island Healthy Authority.

Hannah is now the lead bariatric nurse educator and manager at the Alberta Obesity Centre; with her passion lying in weight management including medical, nutritional, and mental health support.

Anya graduated from Bow Valley College in 2017. For the last 4 years, she has worked at the Alberta Children’s Hospital before joining the team recently at the Alberta Obesity Centre. Her primary clinical interest is long-term patient care follow-up and is excited to guide her patients on their weight loss journey.

In her free time she enjoys going camping and 4x4ing as well as hanging out with friends, family and her dogs Jessie and Bryn.

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 behavioural therapy (CBT), which she utilizes when supporting her patients at AOC.

Her passions include cooking, dancing, and yoga. She tries to live a health conscious life and help her patients do the same.

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. 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. 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.

Regan graduated from the Bow Valley College in 2018 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Before joining the Alberta Obesity Centre, Regan worked for Alberta Health Services as an acute care nurse at the Innisfail Health Centre and as a clinic nurse at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. She is passionate about mental health and excited to support individuals in long-term obesity management.

In her spare time, she enjoys lane swimming, hiking, and expressing her artistic side by playing the flute, drawing and painting.

 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 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. 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, or out hiking/ camping in the mountains.

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. In her spare time, she enjoys travel and the outdoors.

Dr. Nkemdirim has a strong passion for health and wellness and is excited to be part of the team at AOC. 

Natasha began her career as a LPN working with patients post op after having bariatric surgery. Natasha now focuses on community health and long term management within the bariatric population, specializing in nutrition. She is passionate about nutrition and enjoys cooking and searching for new exciting ways to incorporate healthy eating into day to day life.

Vivien is the newest member of AOC. She recently graduated as an LPN from Bow Valley College in May 2021. She has always maintained a strong Interest in health & wellness, and patient advocacy. When she is not working, she is usually staying active outdoors.

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 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. 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. 

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.

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.