About Us
Mission Statement
The Ontario Association of Clinic Endoscopists (OACE) is a non-profit organization that represents Endoscopists throughout the province of Ontario. We are an interest group that works with other organizations toward improving the working and clinic conditions of Endoscopists and, in turn, the overall health of their patients. We also contribute to continuing professional development through our involvement with the Ambulatory Clinic Endoscopy Day.
Meetings
The Annual General Meeting is held each year during the Ambulatory Clinic Endoscopy Day and ad-hoc meetings are held throughout the year as needed.
Board of Directors
Dr. Augustin Nguyen
President
Dr. Augustin Nguyen holds Bachelors and Masters of Science in Biochemistry. He completed his MD at the University of Toronto School of Medicine, graduating as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honour Medical Society.
Dr. Nguyen continued with his training in internal medicine and gastroenterology at the University of Toronto. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in both internal medicine and gastroenterology. His interests in gastroenterology include inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver disease, endoscopy, and quality of care. He has active staff privileges at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and is the current Chief of the Department of Medicine, Physician Director of Medical Programs, Physician Lead in Endoscopy, as well as Co-Chair of the Endoscopy Quality Committee. He has also been on a number of regional committees for Waterloo-Wellington Region including the FIT implementation steering committee. He is a founding member of the Tri-City Colonoscopy Clinic in Kitchener. He has been Medical Director of Tri-City Colonoscopy since 2013.
Dr. Mark Silverberg
Vice President
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Dr. Avantika Marwaha
Treasurer
Dr. Avantika Marwaha completed her Doctor of Medicine at The University of Ottawa in 2004. She completed her internal medicine and gastroenterology fellowships at McMaster University, graduating in 2010. She worked at a variety of different OHPs and opened her own GI clinic and endoscopy practice at GI Health Centre, with partners Dr. Sapna Makhija and Dr. Emily Ching, in June 2012. Along with her colleagues, she has established a successful GI practice. Dr. Marwaha is active on multiple GI committees, including membership on the Executive committee of the Ontario Association of Clinic Endoscopists (OACE), which represents the interests of all Ontario OHPs run by either surgeons or gastroenterologists. She is also the Chair of the Canadian Global Rating Scale (C-GRS) sub committee on the Quality Affairs Committee of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. This committee oversees endoscopy quality indicators that are important in providing quality care to patients using a validated tool (C-GRS questionnaire) and is patient-centred. She is also an Executive member on the Ontario Association of Gastroenterology (OAG) organizing committee for the annual post-research GI conference, held in June of each year.
Vacant
Secretary
Dr. Andrew Bellini
Past President
Andrew Bellini obtained his medical degree at the University of Toronto. He went on to complete his training in internal medicine and Gastroenterology at the University of Toronto. He has been in clinical practice at William Osler Health System since 1997. He is past president of OACA and is the current Chair of the OMA medical interest group, clinic endoscopists. He is the GI endoscopy regional lead for Mississauga Halton/Central West region and the MedicalDirector of Scope Clinic.
Executive
Dr. Ian Bookman
Dr. Ian Bookman is the former Head of the Division of Gastroenterology at St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Medical Director of the Kensington Screening Clinic. Dr. Bookman is Co-Founder of www.thetummyclinic.ca, a virtual, multi-disciplinary IBS clinic with Registered Dietitians, Naturopathic Doctors, Psychologists and Nurse Practitioners. He is also Founder of www.bumrun.com, a charity that raises awareness of colon cancer screening and prevention. He is also a past president of OACE.
Dr. Francois Flamand
Dr. Francois Flamand obtained his Bachelor degree in Science (BSc) and his Doctorate degree in Medicine (MD) from the University of Manitoba.
Following a surgical internship, Dr Flamand completed a 5 year residency in surgery in London, Ontario. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He completed additional studies in minimally invasive surgery of the colon in Hamilton and Toronto. His primary interests are in endoscopy and laparoscopic surgery of the colon and rectum. He spent many years offering surgical services at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, where he served as Chief of Surgery from 1998 to 2000. He recently retired from a very busy surgical practice in Cambridge, but is pleased to continue offering endoscopic care at Tri-City Colonoscopy Clinic.
Dr. Doug Hemphill
Dr. Hemphill trained at McMaster (Meds '89) and then did fellowship training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at University of Toronto. He has been on staff at the Royal Victoria Regional Health center in the Barrie since 1997. He practices gastroenterology and hepatology with 4 colleagues in Barrie. He performs endoscopy in both hospital and clinic setting. Barrie Endoscopy was established in 2007. It is run by 4 gastroenterologists in 6 general surgeons all of whom have privileges at RVH. Operating costs are partially offset by CCO funding, over seen by a unique partnership between the hospital and our clinic. Dr. Hemphill was the founding member of the Ontario Association of Clinic Endoscopists (OACE) and he is an active member of the executive. He is the Regional Colorectal Screening/GI Endoscopy Lead for the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Program.
Dr. Nelson King
Dr. King was born and raised in Toronto. He is a graduate of Earl Haig Secondary School in North York. He attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario for his undergraduate work, and later completed medical school at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1991. Dr. King completed his surgical training at the University of Toronto and joined the Royal College as a Fellow in 1996. He recently celebrated his 20th year as a member of the active staff of the Department of Surgery at the Etobicoke campus of the William Osler Health System.
His focus is on the surgical management of both benign and malignant conditions. During his tenure Dr. King has served as the Head of the Division of General Surgery. Dr. King was a founding partner in the Ontario Colonoscopy Clinic, which continues to provide care in colon cancer screening in the community. To date, the clinic has performed more than 30,000 procedures. Dr. King was an original executive member of the Ontario Association of Clinic Endoscopists (O.A.C.E.) in 2008, and served as the Association’s President.
Away from the workplace, Dr. King is kept busy by three active children and three adult step-children. Grand-children cannot be far away! The cottage serves as a relaxing getaway. As an avid sports fan, the games provide a nice distraction.
Dr. Liliana Oliveira
Dr. Lindsay Crabbe
Dr. Lindsay Crabbe MD, FRCP(C) is a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist who has been practicing in Barrie since 2013. She has active staff privileges at Royal Victoria Hospital and Georgian Bay General Hospital and is the medical director at Barrie Endoscopy. She completed medical school, Internal Medicine residency training, and a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at McMaster University. She practices general gastroenterology with a special interest in inflammatory bowel disease.