BC Cancer psychiatrists are medical doctors specializing in mental health.
Depression, anxiety, problems with sleep, changes in personality, fear of treatment or illness, changes in thoughts and perception, and optimizing psychiatric medications through cancer treatment are all things our psychiatrists help people with regularly.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors specializing in mental health. To become a psychiatrist in BC, one must complete three or four years of an undergraduate university degree, four years of medical school, and then five years of residency training in Psychiatry. Once practicing, all psychiatrists in BC are responsible to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and must complete Continuing Medical Education activities annually.
No. Our psychiatrists tailor help to the needs of each individual. Sometimes that will involve only psychotherapy or talk therapy. Sometimes that will primarily involve medication suggestions and management. Often, talk therapy and medications are used in combination.
Please speak with a doctor (e.g. oncologist, family doctor), nurse practitioner, or BC Cancer counsellor about a referral to the BC Cancer Psychiatry Service. Referral forms can be obtained by your doctor or nurse practitioner by calling your nearest BC Cancer centre and asking for Psychiatry and Patient and Family Counseling.
Dr. Alan Bates finished a PhD focused on neuroimaging at the University of Nottingham before completing his MD and Psychiatry residency at the University of British Columbia. He then completed a fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosocial Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. Dr. Bates has published peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from brain imaging and artificial intelligence to psychotherapy and palliative care. He received the 2018 Canadian Psychiatric Association Early Career Achievement in Psychiatry Award and his volunteer work has been recognized through a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and participation in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. He is the Program Medical Director for Supportive Care at BC Cancer, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UBC, and a past President of the BC Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Hannah Burton completed medical school and psychiatry residency at the University of British Columbia. She has an interest psycho-oncology, particularly psychotherapy. Dr. Burton also works at a Mental Health Team for Vancouver Coastal Health and has a small private practice.
Dr. Nadeesha Fernando completed medical school at the University of Alberta before completing her Psychiatry Residency and a Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry at UBC. She has a special interest in Psycho-oncology and works with adults of all ages at BC Cancer but is often called on by her colleagues for her special expertise in working with older adults. In addition to her work at BC Cancer, she works on the Geriatric Psychiatry Consult Liaison Service at Vancouver General Hospital. She is a Clinical Instructor in the UBC Department of Psychiatry and is involved in post-graduate education for geriatric medicine and psychiatry fellows. She currently is the Provincial Medical Director for Psychiatry at BC Cancer.
Dr. Jasmina Kobiljski completed medical school and Psychiatry residency training at the University of British Columbia. Before she entered medicine, Dr. Kobiljski completed a Biochemistry degree at UBC. Dr. Kobiljski has a special interest in mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy and psycho-oncology. She has additional training in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. Dr. Kobiljski is fluent in Serbian.
Dr. Jennifer Laidlaw completed her MD at the University of British Columbia (UBC) before completing her residency in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. During residency she was avidly involved in medical education including presenting at international conferences and publishing on the topics of delirium screening as well as social media and professionalism. She has spent the beginning of her career as the Head of Consultation Liaison (CL) Psychiatry at Surrey Memorial Hospital where she focused on building a thriving and highly collaborative CL service that provides psychiatric care to patients on the medical and surgical wards including the oncology and palliative care units. She received a Facilities Engagement grant to develop guidelines for management of vulnerable patients in hospital. Dr. Laidlaw continues to teach medical students and residents and is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at UBC Department of Psychiatry.
Dr. Theresa Lo completed medical school and psychiatry residency at the University of British Columbia. In addition to the BC Cancer Agency, she has worked at Surrey Mental Health, and UBC Sleep Disorders. She has a special interest in sleep medicine, and in various psychotherapeutic modalities including dialectical behavioural therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy. She is fluent in Cantonese.
Dr. Stefanie Montgomery completed her medical and residency training in Vancouver and Victoria through the University of British Columbia. Her interests are in psycho-oncology, perinatal psychiatry, and as well as psychotherapy where she runs groups and individual therapy. She lives on Vancouver Island with her family.
Dr. John-Jose Nunez obtained his MD at the University of British Columbia, and there went on to simultaneously complete his psychiatry residency and MSc in computer science. He then pursued a joint fellowship at UBC Mood Disorders Centre and BC Cancer. His clinical interests are in psycho-oncology and difficult-to-treat depressive and bipolar disorders. His research interests are in applying computational techniques such as artificial intelligence to improve mental health and cancer care. He has published his scientific work in high-impact journals such as JAMA Network Open, and his research has also elicited national and international news coverage including in the Toronto Star, Medscape, and Forbes.
Dr. Carole Richford started her career in Nursing before switching to Medicine and obtaining her MD and then Psychiatry training from the University of British Columbia in 2001. She has worked in many areas of Psychiatry and has a keen interest in Psycho-oncology, Addiction Psychiatry, Cardiac Psychiatry and General Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. She is currently on staff at Providence Health Care, Vancouver General Hospital and BC Cancer - Vancouver. She previously held the role of Division Head of Consultation-Liaison at St. Paul’s Hospital and was active in research. Dr. Richford is active in teaching all levels of medical professionals and is a Clinical Associate Professor with the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine. She is also a Diplomate with the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the President of the BC Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Matthew Ta completed medical school at Dalhousie University before doing his psychiatry residency at the University of Toronto and has won teaching awards during his time there. In addition to his interests in psychosocial oncology and CALM therapy, he has a psychotherapy practice with interests in psychodynamic therapy, emotion focused therapy, and interpersonal group therapy. He also has a clinical interest in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.
Dr. Clara Westwell-Roper completed an MD/PhD in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine followed by Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry subspecialty training at the University of British Columbia. She has a special interest in psychotherapy with adolescents and young adults (AYA) as well as families impacted by cancer across the lifespan. In addition to her work at BC Cancer, she leads the Outpatient Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Clinic at BC Children's Hospital and works with youth and families through the Coastal Early Psychosis Intervention Program. She has received national and international awards for contributions to research focused on better understanding relationships between physical and psychiatric symptoms, as well as family experiences of comorbidity. She also enjoys teaching medical students and residents through the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
Dr. Christian Wiens
Dr. Margaret Wong completed her residency training at the University of British Columbia where she was also recognized for excellence through the 2014 Undergraduate Teaching Award. Prior to her medical training, Dr. Wong also completed a Master’s degree in Neuroscience at UBC. In addition, she brings much-needed language skills in Cantonese and Mandarin to our Psychiatry service.
