The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is welcoming four new physicians to the organization and many of them are familiar faces.
Dr. Elyse Epp joins the emergency medicine and family medicine department, Dr. Matthew VanTil and Dr. Matt Milkovic join the emergency department and the hospitalist program, and Dr. Raid Shaarbaf joins the internal medicine department.
Dr. Elyse Epp (Submitted photo)
Epp attended the University of Guelph and earned a bachelor of science with distinction and completed her doctor of medicine at the University of Toronto. Epp then completed her family medicine residency in Chatham-Kent with an additional year of training in emergency medicine through Western University’s Canadian College of Family Physicians Emergency Medicine Program.
"I am so grateful for all of the incredible mentors I have in Chatham and how welcoming the family and emergency medicine groups have made me feel the last three years in residency," she said. "I am excited to be finally joining the team and to work alongside all of the wonderful doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other allied health at CKHA."
VanTill earned his doctor of medicine and completed his family medicine residency in Chatham-Kent through the Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. He furthered his career by completing an additional year of training in emergency medicine through The University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Matthew VanTil (Submitted photo)
VanTil is originally from Blenheim and said he's excited to be back and working at CKHA.
“I’m looking forward to coming back and working in the emergency department with everyone that I know, as well as with the hospitalists that I’ve worked with in the past," he said. "I am happy to be back."
Milkovic is also no stranger to Chatham-Kent.
Originally from Chatham, Milkovic earned a bachelor of medicine, from Graduate Entry Medical School at the University of Limerick in Ireland in 2020. He also completed his family medicine residency in Chatham-Kent through the Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Dr. Matt Milkovic (Submitted photo)
In June 2022, Milkovic received the Leonora Sheppard Award in Family Medicine. The award is presented at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and is awarded to a student in the final year of their family medicine residency who demonstrates clinical excellence and a commitment to practice comprehensive family medicine in Ontario.
Milkovic said he's excited to practice medicine in his hometown.
"I’m looking forward to officially joining the team at CKHA and to continue working with the hospital’s highly skilled inter-professional teams," he said.
Shaarbaf started his medical education by earning his medical degree in Baghdad, Iraq. He then completed his internal medicine residency program at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.
Dr. Raid Shaarbaf (Submitted photo)
Shaarbaf spent six years practicing internal medicine and five years as an assistant professor of internal medicine at Dalhousie University before furthering his own education again by completing a fellowship in adult critical care medicine at the University of Toronto.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges that come with the work,” said Shaarbaf. “There are a lot of challenges, and I am excited about that."