Team of Experts
At the Digestive Health Clinic, our team of professionals take pride in working together to ensure all your needs are met and expectations surpassed. Our mission is to care for patients in a dignified fashion offering competent, evidence based care. We are able to do this with our greatest resource; competent professionals who care.
Each of our physicians are in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The CPSO is a regulatory body that monitors and maintains the standards of practice in Ontario. Physicians and staff are also trained in Advanced Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support Life Support (BCLS). Sedation is provided by a team of certified Anesthetists.
Dr. Pardeep Nijhawan, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist
Medical Director
Achievements: Dr Nijhawan completed his medical school training at the University of Ottawa; Internal Medicine Internship at Yale-Norwalk, CT; and Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
At the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Nijhawan presented multiple research papers at scientific meetings and published multiple lead articles in journals and textbooks. He was awarded the Calgary Fellowship for outstanding achievements.
In 2002, Dr. Nijhawan established the Digestive Health Clinic to help bring leading edge technology to Canada.
Memberships: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, American Board of Gastroenterology, and American Board of Internal Medicine
Specializations: Therapeutic Endoscopy, Irritable Bowel and Celiac Disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and esophageal disorders.
Dr. Nitin Sarin, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist
Achievements: Dr. Sarin studied Biochemistry at McMaster University and continued studies at the University of Toronto in Medicine. He did his Postgraduate Speciality training at the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto. In addition, he completed Clinical Hepatology Fellowship at University of Toronto.
Dr. Sarin has published multiple research papers and lead articles.
In addition to practicing at the Digestive Health Clinic, he is also at North York General Hospital.
Membership: Ontario Association of Gastroenterology
Specializations: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Dr. Karen Chan, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Gastroenterologist
Achievements: Dr. Chan studied Medicine at the University of Western Ontario. She completed internal medicine residency training and gastroenterology residency training at the University of Ottawa.
From 2003 to 2006, Dr. Chan was the Staff Physician and Assistant Professor at the Ottawa Hospital – General Campus, University of Ottawa.
Membership: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Specializations: Irritable Bowel and Celiac Disease
Dr. Reena Bhargava, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C)
General Surgeon
Achievements: Dr. Bhargava completed both her medical school and surgical residency at the University of Western Ontario, and her Minimally Invasive fellowship at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
Dr. Bhargava has published multiple research papers and lead articles.
Memberships: Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and American Society of Bariatric Surgery
Specializations: Endoscopy and General Surgery
Dr. Andreas Tassis, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C)
General Surgeon
Achievements: Dr. Tassis completed general surgery residency training at the University of Toronto. He completed medical school at the Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timisoara, Romania, followed by general surgery training at G. Hatzikosta General Hospital and University General Hospital of Patras, in Greece.
Dr. Tassis has published multiple research papers and lead articles.
Dr. Tassis is fluent in Greek.
Memberships: Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Ontario Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Association of General Surgeons, Canadian Association of General Surgeons, and Hellenic Association of General Surgeons
Specializations: General surgery, and particular area of interest in Laparoendoscopic Surgery
Dr. Katharina Plenk, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Internal Medicine
Achievements: Dr. Plenk completed her medical degree at the University of Vienna, Austria, and her residency in internal medicine at the University of Toronto.
She is currently a staff member of the Department of Medicine at York Central Hospital and Director of the Stroke Prevention Clinic. She is also a lecturer at the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto.
Memberships: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and American Board of Internal Medicine certification
Specialization: Internal medicine, with clinical interests in Pre-Operative Medicine, Stroke and Cardiac Prevention, and Thrombosis
Dr. Kenneth Malhotra, M.D., B.Sc, F.R.C.P.(C)
Gastroenterologist
Achievements: Dr. Malhotra completed both his medical school training and residency at the University of Toronto.
Prior to joining Digestive Health Clinic, Dr. Malhotra was with Mississauga Urgent Care, Georgetown and District Memorial Hospital, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Ajax-Pickering Hospital and Bowmanville Hospital.
Memberships: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and College of Family Physicians of Canada
Specializations: Therapeutic endoscopy, irritable bowel and celiac disease
Dr. Shima Kassirian, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C)
General Surgeon
Achievements: Dr. Kassirian completed her Master’s degree in medicine and her residency training from the University of Toronto. Then she completed a one year Clinical fellowship at North York General Hospital.
Dr. Kassirian published multiple research papers and lead articles in journals.
In addition to practicing at VEM, she is also a General Surgeon at North York General Hospital.
Memberships: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Specialization: General surgery
Dr. George Xeroulis, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C)
General Surgery
Achievements: Dr. Xeroulis completed both his medical school training and residency training at the University of Western Ontario. He obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Toronto. In 2008, he completed a one year Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Xeroulis published multiple research papers and lead articles.
Before joining VEM, Dr. Xeroulis was a Minimally Invasive & General Surgeon at Rouge Valley Ajax- Pickering Hospital.
Memberships: American College of Surgeons, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Specializations: General surgery
Dr. Benjamin Ho, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Gastroenterologist
Achievements: Dr. Ho graduated from the University of Toronto in 1988 with a medical degree. He completed his training in the field of Gastroenterology from The University of Western Ontario in 1992.
He is also fluent in Chinese.
Memberships: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Specializations: Gastroenterology and internal medicine
Dr. Gordon Bierbrier, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Gastroenterologist
Achievements: Dr. Bierbrier graduated from McGill University in 2008 with a medical degree. He completed his residency training from The University of Western Ontario in 1993.
Memberships: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Specializations: Gastroenterology and internal medicine