Meet Our Fertility Doctors

After studying science at McGill University and the University of London (UK), Dr. Dunne obtained her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario. She then completed her residency and subspecialty training at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Dr. Dunne is also a registered sonographer for gynecologic ultrasound with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Dr. Dunne’s goal is to provide compassionate and patient-centered care based on a foundation of scientific evidence. She has participated in numerous clinical studies and published research on in vitro fertilization, gynecologic surgery and ovarian disease. She is also active as a reviewer for the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Canada. Dr. Dunne is a Clinical Associate Professor with UBC in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and is a regular lecturer to the UBC medical students and medical residents of both Family Practice and Ob/Gyn departments.  Committed to providing her patients with the most up-to-date techniques in fertility care, Dr. Dunne has travelled to the United States and Europe to study at some of the world’s most progressive clinics.

As a mom and a professional, Dr. Dunne appreciates the importance of fertility and the challenges that women can face in creating their families. She is committed to understanding each patient’s unique circumstances and developing a treatment plan that best suits a couple’s, or individual’s vision for growing a family. This could include fertility treatments, such as insemination, in vitro fertilization or donor eggs for those wishing to conceive right away, or egg freezing for women who want to preserve the option of conceiving in the future. Dr. Dunne supports that families come in all shapes and sizes and she is proud to be part of the diverse team at PCRM. In 2018, Dr. Dunne was a recipient of the Business In Vancouver Forty Under 40 Award. and was named a Recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 for 2019.

Dr. Havelock is certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. His focus is on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and tubal reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Havelock is the Chair of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Special Interest Group at the Canadian Fertility Andrology Society (CFAS). He is also a staff Gynecologist in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at UBC, and serves as a clinical lecturer.

GREI Sub-Specialty Residency Program

On May 1st, 2012, Dr. Havelock was appointed the Director of the Fellowship Training program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI). Dr. Havelock has had a career-long interest in education, and the promotion of physician professionalism and high quality medical care.

Applicants to the GREI subspecialty residency program must be graduates (or current residents) of a Canadian Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program.  UBC accepts one subspecialty resident for this program every other year.  The program is two-years in duration.

Please contact the program secretary, Amy Castiglione, for more information.  Application details are available on the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology website.

Upon completing his training, Dr. Roberts was appointed Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he served as a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Director of the Donor Egg Program at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. Dr. Roberts is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. His focus is on uterine surgery, fertility preservation, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Dr. Roberts is a trustee on the Burnaby Hospital Foundation. He is also on the board of directors for the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) as the National Continuing Professional Development director. He was recently elected president of the CFAS for the term 2016 & 2017. His academic duties with the UBC Faculty of Medicine include dual appointments in the departments of OB/GYN and Anaesthesia, Pharmacology & Therapeutics as a Clinical Instructor.

Dr. Roberts is active in both clinical and basic science research, with several publications and prize for Best Basic Science Paper at the Conjoint Annual Meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and CFAS in 2005.

His specialty training was completed at the University of Alberta. Dr. Seethram’s early practice was more focused on surgical and laparoscopic management of women’s health, but in the last ten years, his focus has shifted to a combined practice with infertility, IVF and prenatal genetics. He has extensive ultrasound background and training, and is focused in First Trimester Screening for genetic abnormalities, as accredited by Fetal Medicine Foundation. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor at the UBC Faculty of Medicine, as well as the University of Alberta, and teaches in the Medical School and Fellowship programs.

Dr. Seethram’s research interests include placental function and the impact of early placental disorders on expression of placental proteins. He is also interested on the impact of the early endometrium on implantation, and currently is participating in a multicentre trial on the effect of the endometrium and its bacterial balance on pregnancy rates.

He is also interested on the impact of fertility treatments on women, couples, and families and has a keen interest on ensuring that people receive practical and productive advice, while keeping evidence-based practice at the centre of care.

She then went on to complete medical school at the University of British Columbia and received her designation of Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  Dr Calderon has practiced as an Obstetrician Gynecologist at a tertiary care centre in British Columbia and has also spent time at several rural communities in the province in addition to regular international volunteer work.  She is actively involved in teaching and mentoring of medical learners as a UBC Clinical Instructor.  Dr Calderon brings her passion for, and dedication to, women’s health to the area of fertility and reproductive medicine.

Dr. Rubenfeld is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as a subspecialist in Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Some of Dr. Rubenfeld’s particular interests include: fertility preservation, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, premature ovarian insufficiency, recurrent pregnancy loss, recurrent implantation failure, poor ovarian response, in vitro maturation, and reproductive immunology.  She loves to teach and is very much looking forward to mentoring medical students, residents and fellows, as well as ensuring that patients understand their options in order to make informed decisions about their care.  She is also committed to being a lifelong learner, and while evidence-based medicine will remain at the core of her practice, she is always open to learning about new and evolving techniques that could help her patients accomplish their goals.

Dr. Rubenfeld is honoured to be joining such a wonderful and welcoming team at PCRM.  When patient-centred care is the priority, everyone benefits, and she is excited to work in a place where so much thought has gone into improving the patient experience.  She looks forward to playing a role in her patients’ fertility journeys and will endeavor to find ways to help in even the toughest situations.  Nothing about infertility is easy, but she wants her patients to know that she will be with them every step of the way.

She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and a subspecialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She is board eligible for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Dr. Ahn’s academic interests include fertility preservation, reproductive endocrinology (PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency, recurrent pregnancy loss), reproductive surgery, and IVF.

Dr. Ahn is a clinical lecturer for the Faculty of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Alberta. She enjoys teaching resident doctors and family physicians about management of infertility, and endeavours to facilitate timely access to infertility treatments.

Dr. Ahn is a native of Toronto, Ontario, but has lived and worked in Nova Scotia for the past 11 years. She and her husband are excited to make Edmonton their new home.

Dr. Hilton obtained her medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan and subsequently completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Calgary. Dr. Hilton practiced obstetrics and gynecology and provided fertility treatments and care in Regina, Saskatchewan before moving to Vancouver for sub-specialty Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons training in Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility through the University of British Columbia. Through her medical practice, Dr. Hilton collaborated with fertility clinics across Canada and the USA to provide fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) for her patients.

Dr. Hilton advocates for improving access to fertility care. She worked with patient advocacy groups and the government of Saskatchewan to develop a fertility care pathway with education materials for patients and physicians. She has presented at local, national and international conferences, and she enjoys teaching all levels of medical learners. Dr. Hilton’s clinical and research interests include ovarian stimulation, ultrasound assessment of fertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility related gynecologic surgery, time-lapse embryo assessment and IVF treatment.

Her research has been published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada, and she has presented her research throughout North America at various conferences. Last year she was awarded the Department of OB/Gyn Paul Harding Research Day Award, and has also received the James Crookes Surgical Award, the Canadian Blood Services Summer Student Internship Award, and the Canadian Blood Services Excellence in Leadership Award.

She is certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Dr. Liang’s academic and research interests include assisted reproductive technology, fertility preservation, and weight and fertility. She has published peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters.

Dr. Liang is proud to call Edmonton her home and is excited to join the team at PCRM. She hopes to provide evidence-based, compassionate care in helping patients achieve their reproductive goals. Dr. Liang is able to provide patient care in both English and Mandarin.

In 1997, she and her husband were recruited to the University of Alberta, where she is currently a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Much of her academic career has been devoted to medical education. Dr. Sagle has held various leadership positions including Department Chair, and Associate Dean Undergraduate Medical Education. She is currently Chair of the Royal College exam committee for Gynecological Endocrinology and Infertility (GREI), the national exam which certifies specialists in this field.

Her areas of expertise include PCOS, the effects of obesity on reproduction and the emotional impact of infertility. Dr. Sagle feels it is important to allow patients choice in their care while still practising within evidence based guidelines.

She enjoys living in Edmonton with her husband, two adult daughters, a Devon Rex cat and a Tibetan Spaniel.

Dr. Smithson graduated with first class honours from Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business in Kingston, Ontario.  He then attended Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in London, Ontario, where he received his medical degree.

Remaining at Western for his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Smithson was granted fellowship through certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.  He then returned to Eastern Ontario, this time to the University of Ottawa, where he completed his subspecialty training in Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Dr. Smithson’s primary goal is to provide the best evidence-based reproductive care with a patient-centric focus.  Ultimately, he hopes to assist all those who come to the clinic with their journey to achieve the goal of building a family.

His areas of clinical interest include male factor infertility, fertility preservation, third-party reproduction, and surgical techniques which optimize fertility treatments.

Dr. Smithson’s research interests include health economics and decision modelling, a topic in which he’s published peer-reviewed journal articles and has made several oral presentations.  Medical education has long been a priority for Dr. Smithson.   He plans to continue his participation in medical student and resident teaching at the University of Alberta.

Over the years, Dr. Smithson has been involved in several professional organizations including the Council of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.

Upon finishing his training, he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Division of Urology at the University of Alberta. His main urological practice is based out of the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Urology Centre and the University of Alberta Hospital. Dr. Bach is board-certified in Urology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Urology.

Dr. Bach’s clinical and research areas of expertise are in male factor infertility and sexual dysfunction. He has published numerous scientific papers and book chapters and presented his research at national and international conferences. He also enjoys teaching all levels of medical learners both directly and via the development of educational tools.

Further sub-specialty training in the field of andrology and male infertility was performed at the University of Toronto (Mount Sinai Hospital) in 2000. Dr. Chow also is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). His main urological practice is based out of North Vancouver at the Lions Gate Hospital. In addition, he runs a weekly teaching clinic specializing in male infertility at the Department of Urologic Sciences where he holds the appointment of Clinical Associate Professor.

Dr. Flannigan is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia where his practice in male infertility and sexual medicine is based out of Vancouver General Hospital. He has been the recipient of numerous international awards and serves as the Director of Male Reproduction and Sexual Medicine Research in the University of British Columbia Department of Urologic Sciences in addition to holding an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York for male reproduction research. He is actively involved in male infertility research including clinical trials and technological innovations as well as investigating the genetic and molecular mechanisms contributing to male infertility.

https://flanniganfertility.ca/

His general urological practice is with the Metrovan Urology Group. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. He has been the President of the BC Urological Society, Section of Urology representative at the SSPS/BCMA and Chief of Surgery at Richmond Hospital.

Dr. Christopher Wu completed his Medical School at the University of British Columbia and his Urology
Residency at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He then completed Fellowship training in Male
Reproductive Medicine and Andrology at the University of Toronto under the auspices of Drs. Keith Jarvi,
Kirk Lo, and Ethan Grober, with a special focus on urological microsurgery and penile reconstruction
procedures.
He practices general adult and pediatric urology in the Fraser Health Authority. He is based out of
Burnaby Hospital but also works at the Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody as well as the Royal
Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. His areas of interest include Male Infertility, Andrology, as well
as Minimally Invasive urologic procedures.

He received his fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, then further trained in ultrasound and became ARDMS certified.
He has been involved in women’s health care for over 40 years, at several different levels. First as a resident, then a consultant, an educator, a mentor, an administrator, and finally chairing  the department of Ob/Gyn in Ottawa. In 2014 he moved to Qatar, and there as departmental vice chair he helped open SIDRA, a brand new 7 star hospital with a new out patient facility, for women and children in Doha.
He has been actively involved in the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada for many years in several capacities, culminating as it’s President in 2012. Currently he chairs their Obstetrical Guideline committee. Most recently, he has worked locally in B.C. on the Sunshine Coast, as the head Ob/Gyn Generalist in women’s health.
He loves to teach, counsel, and work towards solutions for his patients’ specific healthcare needs. He holds a faculty position with the Department of Ob/Gyn at UBC, where he teaches medical students/future specialists, and is a member of the Regional Executive Committee. In his spare time he is never far from a golf course, or his family. He is extremely excited now, to join the talented team at PCRM in Victoria.

Dr. Ciezki completed her bachelor of science at University of Victoria, medical degree at Avalon University School of Medicine and residency training at University of Saskatchewan. She is undergoing certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has also completed Burwin Ultrasound training to complement her practice and will spend her last portion of residency training with PCRM to enhance her skills. As a mother, she appreciates the desire to have a family and welcomes the opportunity to provide quality care to the greater Victoria community in hopes of helping build families for others.

She has been actively involved in the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) throughout her training, previously serving on the Board of Directors, multiple planning committees, Promotion of the Specialty Committee, and is current past-chair of the Resident Committee. She hopes to continue her involvement with SOGC into practice. She has represented Canadian trainees as an Executive Member within the World Association of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynecology (WATOG) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). She has presented her research at multiple levels, most recently internationally at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting. She has a passion for medical education and its development and will continue to teach medical learners. In her spare time, she enjoys her time at home with family or on a golf course.

Dr. Hunt received his medical degree from University of Western Ontario in 1994 and completed his specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynecology from UBC in 1999. Dr. Hunt has practiced for the past 23 years on Vancouver Island, the last 18 in Victoria. He did outreach clinics in Alert Bay, Port Hardy and Tofino in his first five years of practice.  Dr. Hunt has also been formally involved in medical education through both the UBC OB/Gyn residency training program and the Island Medical Program including leadership roles for 3rd year clinical rotations. Dr. Hunt served as the department head of the Division of Gynecology on the south island for five years until 2021. He is a member of the BC Colposcopy program through BCCA and has a broad based clinical practice.

Dr. Wong-Merrick spent her childhood between Bangladesh and British Columbia. She now lives on Vancouver Island with her family. Many Vancouver Island physicians may already have met Dr. Wong-Merrick during her locums for OB/GYN practices in high-risk obstetrics and gynecologic surgery. She is also involved in clinical teaching of medical students and residents. Dr. Wong-Merrick has volunteered on medical missions to underserved populations in Ecuador and Guatemala and is proud to offer services in Spanish.