DAL EM
Royal college residents
Meet our tight-knit team
Dr. Becca Chilvers
(they/them) PGY 1
Although originally from Ontario, they are no stranger to the east coast, having earned a bachelors degree at Dalhousie before completing medical school at UofT. Hobbies: hockey, scuba diving, backpacking, local drag shows. Clinical interests encompass the intersection of social justice and emergency care, 2SLGBTQ+ health, person-centered addictions care and harm reduction.
Dr. Emma Bodnar
(she/her) PGY 1
Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Emma completed her undergraduate degree at Acadia University in psychology neuroscience before moving onto to McMaster University for medical school. Loving all things East Coast, she was thrilled to move back to Halifax for residency at Dalhousie. You can often catch her babying her many houseplants or diving into a new knitting project, although you’ll just as likely see her at the gym, hiking, swimming laps, or trying to convince herself she likes running. Her interests in EM include global health, paediatrics, and addictions.
Dr. Mo Sultan
(he/him) PGY 1
Mo is originally from Syria but has called Halifax home since 2011 when he moved to Canada to complete his BSc, PhD and eventually Medical School at Dalhousie University. He is often planning the next adventure to explore a new country and learn about the local cuisine. When not travelling somewhere new or trying a new recipe he loves spending time with his wife Frankie and their two dogs, hiking and camping across the Maritimes. His EM interests include PEM, resuscitation, and wilderness medicine.
Dr. Rebecca Butler
(she/her) PGY 1
Rebecca was born and raised in beautiful Halifax, NS, and is thrilled to be completing residency here. You can often find her scuba diving local wrecks, playing D&D, or geocaching. After a busy shift in Emerg, she loves spending time with her husband and beloved rescue hamsters. Her academic interests include geriatric emergency medicine, prehospital care, and physician wellness.
Dr. Regan McKeough
(she/her) PGY 2
Regan originally hails from a small town on the beautiful island of Cape Breton, but has called Halifax home since 2017. She is a lover of all things sports and can often be found on the golf course, out for a run, or having a friendly game of Spikeball in the Commons. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and fiancé, Zack, trying out new recipes or catching some live music downtown. Her interests in EM include medical education, PEM, and sports medicine.
Dr. Casey Jones
(he/him) PGY 2
Casey was born in Kitchener, Ontario before moving to Upper Tantallon with his family as a child. He's stayed put, having done his BSc, MSc, and medical school at Dalhousie. When not panting at his favourite CrossFit gym or trying to break 90 at the golf course, he loves spending time with his fiancée and their dog. Casey's research interests are focussed on concussion pathophysiology in his work with the Dalhousie football team, in addition to pediatric ED department flow.
Dr. Breanna Hargreaves
(she/her) PGY 2
A true Haligonian, Breanna loves all things East-coast. When she isn’t exploring the never ending hiking trails and rural towns of Nova Scotia, you can find her mindlessly drawing, sweating on her yoga mat, falling off the bouldering wall (yikes), biking along beautiful wooded trails or at the archery range with her recurve bow. Although her favourite thing to do is cuddle up for movie night with her partner and cat Lucy. Breanna’s clinical interests include pediatric emergency medicine, advocacy, and wilderness medicine.
Dr. Rhiannan Pinnell
(she/her) PGY 3
Rhiannan grew up in Southern Ontario but has been slowly making her way eastward via med school in Ottawa before towing a slightly overloaded U-Haul to Halifax. On a day off, she can be found splitting her time between possible trauma-code inducing activities like horseback riding and waterskiing (as she has no talents at any sport involving projectiles) and cozier pursuits like testing out new recipes. Academically, Rhiannan is fascinated by the interaction between emergency medicine and the environment, and hopes to somehow integrate interests in prehospital care, geriatric EM and environmental health - but don't ask her how just yet!
Dr. Lewis Forward
(he/him) PGY 3
Lewis is from North Vancouver, BC via Queen’s School of Medicine. Lewis now lives a lovely East-coastal lifestyle, spending most of his time eating burritos and unwinding with climbs at Halifax’s plentiful climbing gyms, then mountain biking and trail running in Halifax’s healthy trail systems. Lewis’ clinical interests include critical care/resuscitation, incorporating outside voices into ED and trauma care, debriefing, harm reduction and addictions care.
Dr. AC Lamport
(she/her) PGY 3
Born and raised in Halifax, Anna-Claire (AC) joins us via The Dalhousie School of Medicine. In her spare time, AC can be found eating poutine at local restaurants and saying hello to every dog that passes by. In the summer months she plays co-ed softball and goes camping. AC’s emergency medicine interests include wilderness medicine, resuscitation and airway management.
Dr. Kendra MacCuspic
(she/her) PGY 3
Kendra hails from Cape Breton, and brings her Caper attitude into everything she does. She loves the social aspect of EM - it's a specialty that interacts with almost everyone in the hospital. She loves EM's range, that you can see a cognitively demanding tox case then wander down the department for a brain break to suture. Outside of EM, Kendra's favourite things are her son, hugging trees, petting cats, and sipping some coffee over morning waffles. Kendra loves waffles.
Dr. Manal Sheikh
(she/her) PGY 4
Manal is a third-year emergency medicine resident at Dalhousie University. She comes from Calgary, Alberta, and did all her education there including medical school before venturing out east.
Dr. Alysha Roberts
(she/her) PGY 4
Hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Alysha has been a proud converted-mainlander since 2001. You’d never know it by her Instagram though, cause she’s always jetting off on new adventures thanks to our generous, contract-mandated vacation time. When she isn’t planning a trip or walking her weiner dog Penelope, you can find her thrift shopping at Value Village, triple-bogeying on the golf course, or hunting for the best vegetarian food in town. Her interests in EM include global health, pre-hospital/transport medicine, trauma, and end-of-life care (she’ll narrow down an ACE eventually).
Dr. Renée Kinden
(she/her) PGY 4
Born and raised in New Brunswick, Renée came to us from Dal Med NB after obtaining her MSc Neuroscience at UofO. She loves spending quality time with her family and co-residents, and strongly identifies with her houseplants' love of sunlight. On a day off, you can catch her sipping on a quality cup of coffee, probably watching a true crime documentary. Special interests include paediatrics, palliative care and social medicine.
Dr. Dave Hung
(he/him) PGY 5
From Halifax originally, Dave loves to spend time with his wife and kids while exploring the indoors, specifically the couch. Interests include naps and snacks. Has a unique skillset not applicable to emergency medicine. Ask him about places to eat when in town. Former paramedic and filmmaker with a special interest in pre-hospital medicine and airway management.
Dr. Kyle Eastwood
(he/him) PGY 5
Originally from Ontario, Kyle studied engineering and medicine at McMaster and UofT before traveling to Halifax for his emergency medicine residency. When not with his fellow Dalhousie Emerg crew, Kyle can be found with his partner re-watching episodes of Battlestar Galactica while planning his latest camping trip, or staring at himself in the mirror at local fitness establishments. Kyle’s clinical interests include resuscitation and research focused on the application of new technologies to emergency medicine.
ESEM residents
Meet our FM/EM full scope experts
Dr. Tiffany Brooks
(she/her) PGY 3
Born and raised in New Brunswick, Tiffany is a proud member of Sitansisk First Nation. She joined the Dal EM Team after completing her BSc in Chemistry at STFX followed by her Doctor of Medicine and CCFP training through Dalhousie University. Tiffany’s vast interests include Indigenous health, obstetrics, POCUS, resuscitation, trauma, toxicology, wilderness medicine and rural & remote medicine. When not immersed in her professional pursuits, you can find her snuggled up amongst her clowder of kittens with a cup of hot coffee, in the gym, traveling the world, or traveling back home to visit her friends and family.
Dr. Amar Bhardwaj
(he/him) PGY 3
Amar Bhardwaj graduated from Dalhousie University and completed a family medicine residency in Ottawa before realizing the East Coast’s call was too strong to resist. Now in Halifax for an emergency medicine year, he’s either in the ER or on the field playing cricket and soccer, or out camping. Amar’s emergency medicine passions include POCUS and Medical Education.
Dr. Forrest Gallagher
(he/him) PGY 3
Forrest was born and raised in Springhill, NS. He completed medical school at Dalhousie Medical School and family medicine training at the Dalhousie North Nova site. Forrest spends his spare time playing or coaching hockey and enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family and friends. Forrest’s emergency medicine interests include rural medicine, simulation, trauma, and leadership.
Dr. Ryan Densmore
(he/him) PGY 3
Ryan was born and raised in Nova Scotia, the only place he ever plans to call home. When he’s not in the hospital, you can find him slapping rocks with his climbing buddies, at home forcing his cats to love him, or somewhere on highway 103 singing off-key to the latest Broadway hits during his commute from Mahone Bay! His interests in EM include medical education and psychological safety in the work environment.
Dr. Nikola Despotovic
(he/him) PGY 3
Nikola grew up in Waterloo, Ontario before completing his medical training in Toronto. He is an avid runner, basketball player and soccer fanatic who will grab tickets to any live sporting event/concert he can get his hands on. He plans on having a comprehensive family medicine and emergency medicine practice. He also dreams of being as competent in surfing as he is in emergency medical care.
PEM FELLOWS
They're basically just small adults
Dr. Areej Babatin
(she/her) Senior PEM Fellow
Areej is a passionate pediatrician who followed her dream and relocated from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to pursue a career in pediatric emergency medicine. Accompanied by her loving husband and adorable daughter, she’s embarked on an incredible journey of learning and growth. Areej is in her first training year of the Pediatric Emergency Fellowship program at the prestigious IWK Health Center in Halifax, led by PEM experts specializing in trauma, resuscitation, airway management, simulation, POCUS, and toxicology. The program not only offers excellent clinical training but also provides an opportunity to embrace Halifax's vibrant ocean-front lifestyle. In her leisure time, she indulges in her hobbies and interests, such as experimenting with recipes, retail therapy, and embarking on exciting travel adventures. Her zest for life and diverse pursuits further enrich her professional journey.
Dr. Chansey Veinotte
(he/him) Senior PEM Fellow
Chansey is s a PEM fellow who trained in pediatrics at CHEO - University of Ottawa and returned to the maritimes to learn how to be a real pediatrician from Shash. He loves playing music, although he can't make up his mind about what instrument he likes best. Chansey can be found mountain biking, playing board games, and fruitlessly supporting the Leafs. He loves spending time with dogs, family, and friends (in that order).
Dr. Shash Desai
(he/him) Senior PEM Fellow
Shash Desai is an import from out West. He completed his undergraduate in Ontario and medical school in Alberta but has now settled in to the beautiful East Coast. Shash enjoys working with learners on shift, teaching in simulations and everything Pediatric EM. Outside of work, Shash loves playing board games, performing Indian folk dances and cooking for his friends and family.
