Staff Information

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Dr. S. M. Allison
I qualified from the University of Liverpool with honors in 2001 and went on to complete a three year surgical training program. After gaining membership to the College of Surgeons of England I changed focus towards family medicine. I have worked as a physician in England, Ireland and Canada. I have been with the Medical Arts Centre since May 2012 and truly believe it is the most dynamic and progressive practice I have had the pleasure to work in. We have two amazing children who are our life and feel that Nanaimo is our home with so much to offer young families. In my spare time I have participated in a number of ultra distance races.
Dr. Marcus Barron

Having been raised in Nanaimo I was very excited at the opportunity to complete my family medicine training here at the Medical Arts Centre and NRGH. After residency I spent six months working in a variety of settings before taking over an existing practice at Medical Arts in 2015. I have a young family and we are looking forward to expanding out roots here in Nanaimo for years to come.

Dr. B. Calvin
  • Bachelor of Science University of Victoria
  • Medical Degree from UBC
  • Rotating Internship through Dalhousie University
  • Certificant of The Canadian College of Family Practitioners
  • Extra training in Palliative Medicine through the University of Toronto
  • Started doing ER and General Practice locums in Prince Edward Island and Williams Lake before settling in Nanaimo in 1992
E. Clark - Nurse Practitioner
I am from Saskatchewan and have worked as a registered nurse for over 20 years. I have completed the registration requirements for nurse practitioner and have the honour of being the first Nurse Practitioner working in Nanaimo.

 

My role as nurse practitioner allows me to see patients independently, order labs and radiology, write prescriptions and make referrals to specialists or other GPs if needed. I have been at Medical Arts Centre since 2007.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, a Masters of Nursing, Athabasca University, Alberta and am Registered as a practicing Nurse Practitioner, family stream with the CRNBC (College of registered nurses of BC).

Dr. C. Collins
I trained in London, England gaining my medical degree (MBBS Lon) in 2003; I then completed a 5-year family medicine rotation in Portsmouth, England. I am a diplomate of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK), a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (UK). Since moving to Canada I gained my Medical Council of Canada Exams (2009) and obtained my Certification of the Canadian College of Family Physicians in 2010 (CCFP).

 

I moved to The Medical Arts Centre in October 2008 and enjoy all aspects of family practice. I am passionate about teaching and using information technology to improve modern health care. I am the Family Practice Resident co-ordinator for the practice, I am a founding board member of the Nanaimo Family Practice Division and am a member of the Steering Committee for the BC governments’ Electronic Medical Record adoption program (PITO).

I enjoy spending time with my young family, woodworking, camping and being outdoors, I’m currently learning to play hockey!

Dr. A. Kaban
  • Undergraduate Degree Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) University of Manitoba 1975
  • Pharmacist 1975 – 1978
  • Doctor of Medicine Degree University of Calgary 1981
  • Family Practice Residency Program Calgary General Hospital 1981 – 1983
  • General Practice including Obstetrics and Emergency Grande Prairie, Alberta 1983-2003
  • Locum Physician Nanaimo, B.C. Aug. 2003 – June 2006
  • Family Physician at Medical Arts Centre, Nanaimo, from June 2006 to present with hospital privileges at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
  • Fellowship, College of Family Physicians of Canada since 2004
Dr. D. Kazanowski
Medical Degree from The University of British Columbia in 1989 following which completed an internship at The Greater Victoria Hospital Society and moved to Nanaimo to join The Medical Arts Centre in January 1991.
Dr. J. Mander
Graduated 1999 Sheffield University, UK. Postgraduate training as a GP in Lincoln, UK. Worked as a single-handed GP until 2007 before my move to Nanaimo.
Dr. R. Janse Van Rensburg
  • Qualified as MD In South Africa in 1985(MBchB)
  • Moved to Canada 1997 and currently hold LMCC and Canadian College of Family Physicians license (CCFP)
  • Special interest in general family medicine and obstetrics
  • Hobbies is camping, fishing and everything outdoors.
Dr. Shaun van Pel
Born and raised in Nanaimo, I started medical training after working one year as a teacher. Medical Arts was actually my clinic as a baby and I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to train here during my residency as well. Over that time, I have been able to develop my skills and interests and now offer a full service family practice with specific interest in Obstetrics and Maternity care. I am also excited to get involved with medical education and training of medical students and residents. I live here now with my wonderful wife and young son (along with our “fur babies”, 2 cats and a dog). I enjoy tennis, soccer and playing music.
Dr. H. Visser
I grew up on an orange farm in South Africa, In 1977 I graduated from Stellenbosch University. (MB;ChB) Worked in Northern Manitoba for over 10 years, Involved with First Nation Health in Norway House and Cross Lake. I also did emergency work in Thompson. During this time I obtained my CCFP qualification. I moved to Nanaimo in 2012 with my family to escape the mosquitoes. I really enjoy working in such a friendly community and clinic.
Dr. Stuart Ockelford
I moved here from the UK over 2 years ago where I worked as a family doctor for 14 years in a busy market town called Nottingham.
My wife, 2 children, 2 dogs and I wanted adventure and the opportunity to live in a beautiful country with mountains and oceans. After discovering Nanaimo we moved ourselves here.
My passions include mountain biking and hiking. We have started kayaking and now we have bought a canoe and are truly settling to life on Vancouver Island.
Dr. Charlotte Breakey
Received my medical degree from the University of Calgary. Outside of Medicine, I spend time with my husband climbing mountains, running trails, swimming lakes and surfing. We are very much enjoying island life. I’m incredibly grateful to the community of Nanaimo, and to the medical Arts staff and patients.
Dr. Laura Barron

Coming Soon…

Dr. Vito Carone

Coming Soon…

Dr. Randip Khatkar

Coming Soon…

Dr. Armon Molavi

Coming Soon…

Resident Physicians

Medical Arts is passionate about teaching and medical education, we have (currently) 4 residents at our clinic. These residents are fully qualified medical practitioners with an MD degree.

They spend 2 years doing advanced medical training with the preceptor physicians at the Medical Arts Centre to ensure they are ready for full independent practice. We have both first-year and second-year residents.

Dr. Caitlin Blewett

Place of birth: Musquem, Squamish and Tseil-Waututh territory, Vancouver. Caitlin has a BA in Family Studies (Sociology) and a Masters of Public Health.  Caitlin lived in Haida Gwaii for 7 years before starting medical school and has worked in public health, community engagement and research as well as serving as a paramedic and volunteer firefighter.  She also worked as the General Manager of the internet for all of Haida Gwaii.  Caitlin and her family love being outside, taking the long way around where ever they go to see where they will end up.  They are avid campers, boaters, surfers and fishers and as a side hobby, she is an avid knitter.  Caitlin is passionate about rural and northern medicine.  She hopes to grow into a confident family physician who can operate in a small community where she is responsible for managing everything that comes through the door.  She is an enthusiastic researcher and still in the throws of a qualitative study on maternity care providers’ experiences of the pandemic.  Her career goals are to practice rural/remote full scope Family Medicine.  She is passionate about working with Indigenous communities actively working towards reconciliation in every aspect of her practice.

Dr. Colm Quirk

Cully was born in North Vancouver and has a Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Kinesiology.  He was previous Assistant coach at Queen’s University Varsity Men’s Rugby team and a clinical planning coordinator for St. Paul’s Hospital Redevelopment Project.  He has loved running his Men’s Health Resource, The Hunk Alert, which challenges men to improve the way they eat, move and connect and looking forward to joining The CrossFit Nanaimo gym.  Joining Cully in Nanaimo will be his girlfriend, Holly Harrington and their chocolate lab, Murphy.  His interest is in sports and exercise medicine and not sure if his practice will be full time sports med or a mix of family practice and sports but quite sure it will be somewhere in BC.