Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Welcomes New Physicians
CHATHAM-KENT: July 12, 2022 – Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is pleased to announce the addition of four new physicians to the organization. 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.
“We are so pleased to welcome Drs. Epp, VanTil, Milkovic and Shaarbaf to CKHA and the community of Chatham-Kent,” said Dr. Pervez Faruqi, Chief of Staff, CKHA. “Their skills, and knowledge will make a positive impact on the delivery of safe, high quality care.”
Dr. Elyse 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. She 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 (CCFP-EM). The CCFP-EM program provides an enhanced skills experience to Family Medicine graduates through training in higher acuity Emergency Medicine.
“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. 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.”
Dr. Matthew VanTil earned his Doctor of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine Residency in Chatham-Kent through the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University. He furthered his career by completing an additional year of training in Emergency Medicine through The University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Enhanced Skills.
Originally from Blenheim, Ontario, Dr. VanTil is excited to be back and working at CKHA in the Emergency Department and with the Hospitalist program.
“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. I am happy to be back” said Dr. VanTil.
Dr. Matt Milkovic earned a Bachelor of Medicine, from Graduate Entry Medical School at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland in 2020. He completed his Family Medicine Residency in Chatham-Kent through the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University. Originally from Chatham, Dr. Milkovic is 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. I’d like to thank my preceptors and the Family and Emergency Medicine teams for their guidance and support during my Residency,” said Dr. Milkovic.
In June 2022, Dr. Milkovic received the Leonora Sheppard Award in Family Medicine. This prestigious award presented at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 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, in particular Southwestern Ontario.
Dr. Raid Shaarbaf [SHAR-buff] started his medical education earning his medical degree in Baghdad, Iraq. He then completed his Internal Medicine Residency Program at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Dr. 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 Dr. Shaarbaf. “There are a lot of challenges, and I am excited about that”. Dr. Shaarbaf and his family reside in Southern Ontario where he enjoys technology, and playing the guitar.
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About CKHA
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is a 200 bed community hospital, serving the residents of Chatham and rural Kent including Walpole Island and Delaware First Nations. Formed in 2018, CKHA is committed to delivering quality and safe care at its two sites in Chatham and Wallaceburg. CKHA collaborates with other partners to deliver care across its community. CKHA’s dedicated team is comprised of approximately 1,400 staff, 200 physicians and 300 volunteers. CKHA provides a full range of programs, services and specialties from internal medicine and surgery to women & children’s and critical care; it is designated a schedule one facility under the Ministry of Health and cares for tens of thousands of inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients annually. CKHA is equipped with state of the art diagnostics and technology to support its varied programs. CKHA’s vision: Together, growing a healthier community, underscores a movement to improving the population’s health. Grounded by its values “CKHA CARES” (Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, Safety), CKHA commits to continuously improve the patient experience in partnership with patients, families and caregivers.
For more information, please contact:
Brian Vandooren, Director, Medical Affairs & Medical Recruitment
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
519.352.6400 x 6053
