Our Physicians
Oncologists
Dr. Brock Debenham, MD, FRCPC, DABR
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Brock Debenham is a radiation oncologist. He completed his residency training at the University of Alberta, and fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City. He is the Director for the Division of Radiation Oncology at the University of Alberta. He has previously served as program director for the radiation oncology residency program, and as the Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs, for the University of Alberta MD program.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Rufus Scrimger, MD, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Scrimger completed his residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Alberta in 1999. He went on to complete a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, studying helical tomotherapy. Currently his research interests continue to be the use of advanced technology in radiation treatment, and the integration of new imaging modalities such as PET and MR spectroscopy on the radiation planning process.
Dr. Scrimger is the Director for the Radiation Oncology Fellowship Program at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Scrimger is accepting new referrals for all cancer diagnosis/workup, screening, and cancer surveillance patients.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
DR. Naresh Jha, MBBS, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Naresh Jha is a radiation oncologist. He completed his residency training at the University of Alberta, and fellowship at MD Anderson in Texas. His expertise includes head and neck cancer, thyroid cancer, and skin cancers.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Kurian Joseph, MBBS, FRCPC
Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Joseph completed his residency training in Ireland, and completed a fellowship at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. His expertise includes GI, breast, and skin cancers.
Dr. Joseph is accepting new referrals for all cancer diagnosis/workup, screening, and cancer surveillance patients. He leads our breast surveillance clinics.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
ENT and Oral Medicine
Dr. Vandana Singh, BDS, MS, MMSc, FRCD(C)
Oral Medicine & Pathology
Dr. Vandana Singh is a specialist in oral medicine. She provides care for orofacial, myofascial, neuropathic pain, and the management of oral mucosal lesions, including pre-cancerous and cancer conditions.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Lisa Burnell
ENT | Head & Neck Surgery
Dr. Lisa Ashleigh Burnell is an Specialist in Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) with a
special interest in Head and Neck. She earned her Bachelor of Medicine and
Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Cape Town in 2004 and furthered her
expertise with a Fellowship of the College of Otorhinolaryngology (FCORL) from
the College of Medicine South Africa, completed at Witwatersrand University in
2014.
With extensive training across leading South African hospitals, including Chris
Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg
Academic Hospital, Dr. Burnell served as an ENT Registrar from 2010 to 2014
and as an ENT Specialist from 2015. Her international experience includes an
Outreach Head and Neck Clinical Fellowship at the University of Alberta,
Canada, in 2016, focusing on oncological head and neck surgery. She also
completed the IFHNOS Global Online Head & Neck Fellowship from 2017 to
2019.
Dr. Burnell is fully registered as an ENT specialist with the CPSA as well as the
College of Medicine South Africa (CMSA). She is the secretary for the
International Society for Maxillofacial Reconstruction and she previously
represented South Africa on the YO-IFOS Committee.
Fluent in English and Afrikaans, Dr. Burnell combines clinical excellence with a
commitment to advancing ENT care through research, education, and
international collaboration. She resides in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband,
and their two children.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Dan O'Connell, MD MSc. FRCSC
ENT | Head & Neck Surgery
Dr. Dan O'Connell is the Director of the Division Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Alberta.
He holds a number of national and international leadership roles, including:
- President - International Society for Maxillofacial Rehabilitation
- Secretary, Canadian Association of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
- Associate Editor, Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Vincent Biron, MD, PhD, FRCSC
ENT | Head & Neck Surgery
Dr. Vincent Biron is an Assistant Professor and Surgeon-Scientist in the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta. He is presently the Director of the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Research Laboratory of Alberta (OHRLA), Chair of the Northern Alberta Head and Neck Tumor Board and Associate Editor for the Journal of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Dr. Biron began his post-secondary education at the University of Alberta where he received a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Molecular Genetics, followed by a PhD in Medical Genetics in the area of epigenetics. He then obtained a medical degree from the University of Calgary and returned to the University of Alberta to complete his residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. This was followed by fellowship training in Head and Neck Oncologic, Microvascular and Skull Base Surgery from the University of California Davis. Dr. Biron returned to the University of Alberta as Faculty member in the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 2014.
His clinical practice is focused on head and neck cancer, transoral robotic (TORS) and thyroid surgery. He is actively involved in international outreach aimed at improving head and neck cancer care in developing countries.
He has published over 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include molecular biomarkers, epigenetics of head and neck cancer, human papillomavirus, transoral robotic surgery outcomes and molecular diagnostics. He has received numerous awards and grants for his research.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Family Medicine & Palliative Care
Dr. Adhikar Gokul, MB, ChB, CCFP
Family Medicine
Dr. Adhikar Gokul was born in Halifax, NS and is a graduate of the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine in Durban, South Africa. Dr Gokul is a specialist in family medicine with certification from the College of Family Physicians (CCFP). He is an established and highly skilled physician with over 15 years of experience, working in Edson and Edmonton.
His passion is driven by the bonds he builds with his patients over the course of their lives and the enjoyment he holds in keeping them healthy and well.
“I love supporting my patients and empowering them through all walks of life and I see myself as a partner in their healthcare. I especially enjoy building relationships and working with patients to help them as they establish their healthcare goals and needs.”
– Dr. Gokul
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: No
Dr. Zehra Vicaruddin, MBBS, CCFP
Palliative Care
Dr. Vicaruddin completed her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Calgary in 2009. She has extensive clinical experience, having worked in outpatient clinics, the Misericordia Hospital, Villa Caritas, and the East Edmonton Urgent Care Centre. In 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she played an active role in COVID units, assisted living facilities, and long-term care settings. This experience sparked her passion for geriatric and palliative care. Today, she focuses on providing care in assisted living facilities and conducts home visits for palliative patients.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes