Our Physicians
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 Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs for the University of Alberta MD Program.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Dan O'Connell, MD MSc. FRCSC
ENT | Head & Neck Surgery
Dr. Dan O'Connell is Associate Professor, Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Alberta. He is involved with medical education and acts as the Director of the Fellowship in Advanced Training in Head & Neck Oncologic 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. 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. Ahmed Darwish
Family Medicine with Interest in ENT
Dr. Darwish completed his first residency and master's degree in Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery Cairo University Egypt, Qasr El Eyni Faculty of Medicine.
After my first residency, I moved to Saudi Arabia and worked as a consultant for ear, nose and throat at Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital in Jeddah for 12 years with interest in microsurgery of the middle ear and endoscopic sinus surgery.
I obtained F.R.C.S.I in Otolaryngology from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and practiced Otolaryngology in the UK for one year in Bristol, UK. I still hold a full license with General Medical Council of UK.
I moved to Canada in 2010 where I completed the LMCC exams and completed a Fellowship in Allergy from McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I then moved to Alberta and completed my residency of Family Medicine at Calgary University before obtaining my CFPC certification.
I speak Arabic, English and Hungarian. I am the father for three lovely children, and enjoy camping, gardening, swimming, wood sculpture and painting.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Daniel Mckennitt, MD, MPH, CCFP
Family Medicine
Dr. Daniel McKennitt completed his M.D. and family medicine residency training at the University of Alberta. He went on to complete a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) and postdoctoral fellowship in medical education.
Dr. McKennitt is a board-certified specialist in family medicine having gained Certification in the College of Family Physicians (C.C.F.P.).
Dr. McKennitt, originally from the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation in Manitoba, is one of few Indigenous family physicians in Alberta and Canada.
Outside of clinical work, Dr. McKennitt enjoys umpiring baseball, spending time with family and friends, and running on the beautiful trails of Edmonton’s River Valley.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
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. 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
Dr. Sherif Idris, MD, MMCi, FRCSC
ENT | Head & Neck Surgery
Dr. Sherif Idris completed his residency training at the University of Alberta, and completed a fellowship in Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery & Microvascular Reconstruction and Head and Neck Surgical Endocrinology at Duke University in North Carolina.
Dr. Idris is accepting referrals for all ENT conditions.
Dr. Michael Smylie, MBBS, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Michael Smylie is a Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of
Alberta. He is an international expert in the treatment of malignant melanoma. He has authored over 90 research publications and has over 25,000 citations of his work.
Dr. Smylie is accepting new referrals for all cancer diagnosis/workup, screening, and cancer surveillance patients.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes
Dr. Rufus Scrimger, MD, FRCPC
ENT | Head & Neck Surgery
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 associate department head for the Division of Radiation Oncology, as well as the Director for the Radiation Oncology Fellowship Program.
Dr. Scrimger is accepting new referrals for all cancer diagnosis/workup, screening, and cancer surveillance patients.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS: Yes