Biographies

Ali Kohansal

Dr. Ali Kohansal obtained his medical degree at Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. He then did residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Alberta and Gastroenterology training at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. He completed his Therapeutic Endoscopy training at the University of Alberta. Dr. Kohansal's main areas of expertise are pancreatico-biliary diseases, enteral stenting for malignant and non-malignant strictures, quality and training in endoscopy and endoscopic resection of large polyps. Dr. Kohansal joined the University of Alberta in 2017.

Gurpal Sandha

Dr. Gurpal Sandha is a graduate of the Christian Medical College, Punjab University, India. After finishing a Residency in Internal Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Sandha completed a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Sandha then acquired advanced training in Therapeutic Endoscopy at the Wellesley Hospital, University of Toronto and Endoscopic Ultrasonography at the Université de Montréal.

Dr. Sandha joined the University of Alberta in 2002 and works at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. His areas of expertise are endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) including interventional endosonography for drainage of peri-pancreatic fluid collections, pancreatico- biliary endoscopy (ERCP) including SpyGlass cholangioscopy, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of large polyps and the placement of endo-luminal metal stents (esophageal, enteral, biliary, and colonic stents). More recently, Dr. Sandha has forayed into endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of neoplastic lesions and per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for the treatment of achalasia. Dr. Sandha is Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Director of Endoscopy at the University of Alberta Hospital.

Richard Sultanian

Dr. Richard Sultanian obtained his medical degree at the University of Alberta in 2005. He then
completed training in Internal Medicine in 2008 and Gastroenterology in 2010. Dr. Sultanian then acquired advanced training in Therapeutic Endoscopy at St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto. He joined the University of Alberta Gastroenterology Division in 2012.

Dr. Sultanian's areas of interest include endoscopic mucosal resection, pancreatico-biliary diseases, endoscopic treatment of Zenker's diverticulum and enteral stenting.

Dr. Sultanian is the Director of the Stop Colorectal Cancer Through Prevention and Education (SCOPE) Program.

Brendan Halloran

Dr. Halloran is a medical graduate from the University of Alberta where he also completed his residency training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Subsequently, Dr. Halloran acquired training in balloon-assisted endoscopy at the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 2011 followed by a fellowship in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at the Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Halloran's main interests include diagnostic and therapeutic small bowel imaging using video capsule and balloon-assisted endoscopy.

Dr. Halloran joined the University of Alberta Gastroenterology Division in 2013 and he is the Program Director of the IBD Centre and Co-Director of the Small Bowel Program.

Sergio Zepeda-Gómez

Dr. Zepeda-Gómez is a medical graduate from Universidad La Salle in Mexico City, Mexico. He completed Internal Medicine at the Centro Medico Nacional and then did training in Gastroenterology and Therapeutic Endoscopy at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición in Mexico City. Dr. Zepeda-Gómez completed further Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy training at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. He joined the University of Alberta Gastroenterology Division in 2011. His main areas of expertise include endoscopic mucosal resection, pancreatico-biliary diseases, balloon-assisted endoscopy including balloon-assisted ERCP, endoscopic treatment of Zenker's diverticulum and enteral stenting for malignant and non-malignant strictures.

Dr. Zepeda-Gómez is the Program Director of the Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellowship and Co-Director of the Small Bowel Program.