Physician Chiefs
Charmaine van Schaik, MD
Chief of Staff
Charmaine van Schaik, MD trained in Paediatrics at McMaster University, after completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology and Master’s of Science in Kinesiology. Since joining Southlake Health in 2004, Charmaine has acted as a Physician Leader at Southlake Health in multiple capacities, as well as the previous Chief of Paediatrics and Medical Director of the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Satellite Clinic when it launched at Southlake in 2009. More recently, Charmaine served on Southlake’s COVID-19 Clinical Advisory Panel (CCAP) and is the Co-Medical Lead for Southlake’s COVID-19 Vaccination Committee, where she was instrumental in promoting community awareness through regular appearances in local media.
Charmaine advises Ontario’s Ministry of Health on pediatric cancer care as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at POGO and is a Lecturer with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto.
Charmaine is also a very proud mother of five children.
Tonya de Waal, MD
Chief of Anesthesia
Dr. de Waal has practiced at Southlake Health since 2003 providing anesthetic services to general surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, obstetrics, orthopedics and otolaryngology. She completed her medical degree, general surgery residency and anesthesia residency at McMaster University.
Christopher Overgaard, MD
Chief of Cardiac Health
Leading cardiologist, Dr. Overgaard, joined Southlake Health in 2019 and held various leadership positions before being named as the organization’s first Chief of Cardiac Health in 2024. His practice focuses on complex coronary interventional cardiology, a medical speciality that uses small tubes known as catheters to provide life-saving care without open-heart surgery. As a leader in his field, Dr. Overgaard is known for being the first physician in Canada to perform several procedures, some of which were done at Southlake. In 2017, Dr. Overgaard became the first doctor in Canada to successfully transplant a TandemHeart cardiac-assist device in a high-risk heart failure patient.
Dr. Overgaard studied at Queens University before training in internal medicine and cardiology at the University of Toronto.
Steven Segal, MD
Chief of Critical Care
Dr. Segal started his practice at Southlake in 2003 as medical staff in the Department of Anesthesia. He completed his medical degree at the University of Ottawa, anesthesia residency at the University of Western Ontario and a critical care fellowship at the University of Western Ontario.
Dr. Segal brings years of leadership experience as the previous Medical Director of the ICU from 2005 to 2011 and most recently Division Head of Critical Care within the Department of Medicine and Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT) Lead.
David Liu, MD
Chief of Complex Medical Rehabilitation
Dr. David Liu has been a member of the medical staff at Southlake Health since 2018 as a GP-Hospitalist in the Department of Complex Medical Rehabilitation, with a cross-appointment to the Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Liu received his medical degree from the University of Alberta and completed his family medicine residency at Western University.
Peter De Maio, MD
Chief of Diagnostic Imaging
Dr. Peter De Maio is Active Staff in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging in the capacity of a Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist since 2014. He received his medical degree from the University of Sydney, Australia, completed his diagnostic radiology residency and vascular and interventional radiology fellowship at the University of Toronto. He has experience across multiple major Ontario healthcare institutions, including Southlake, Mackenzie Health, London Health Sciences Centre, and University Health Network, as well as previously held academic appointments as both an Assistant and Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Ontario.
Gaurav Puri, MD
Chief of Emergency Medicine
Mina Moussa, MD
Chief of Family & Community Medicine
Syed Kazimi, MD
Chief of Laboratory Medicine
Dr. Kazimi studied medicine at the University of Karachi in Pakistan before completing his residency in pathology at Yale University. He then completed two fellowships – one in hematopathology at Wayne State University in Detroit and the other in cytopathology at Henry Ford Hospital. Dr. Kazimi joined Southlake Health in 2010 and was named Chief of Laboratory Medicine in 2019.
Dr. Kazimi is a member of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), the Ontario Association of Pathologist (OAP), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). He is licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and holds various board certifications.
Praveen Ranjit, MD
Chief of Medicine
Dr. Praveen Ranjit joined Southlake’s Division of Respirology in 2020 and is currently the Interim Deputy Chief of Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Medicine at Southampton University in the United Kingdom and completed residencies in internal medicine and respirology at the University of Alberta. He also completed a fellowship in sleep medicine through Western University. Over the past year, Dr. Ranjit has been successful as Interim Deputy Chief of Medicine, leading change initiatives within the department while gaining experience in patient complaints, quality meetings, and the operations of the Hospitalist group.
Anne Fortier, MD
Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dr. Anne Fortier has practiced at Southlake Health since 2009, first joining us as Locum staff. She trained in medicine at the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 2003, and then completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at McMaster University in 2008. Dr. Fortier completed the Southlake Rotman Leadership Academy through the Rotman School of Management in 2024 and also holds a Master of Science from Queen’s University. Academic appointments include Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) at McMaster University and a part-time Clinical appointment with the University of Toronto.
Navneet Binepal, MD
Chief of Paediatrics
Dr. Navneet Binepal joined Southlake as a paediatrician in 2019, after serving as a locum physician from 2016 to 2019. She has held several leadership roles at Southlake, including Medical Director of Paediatric Inpatients, Paediatric ICU Surge Lead, and Interim Medical Director of NICU Education.
Dr. Binepal completed her medical degree at the University of Toronto and her paediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario through the University of Ottawa.
Her clinical interests include caring for medically complex children, paediatric asthma, and newborn care, including newborns requiring treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Gaurav Mehta, MD
Chief of Psychiatry
Dr. Gaurav Mehta has been a psychiatrist at Southlake since 2013 and has served as the Physician Leader of the Mental Health Program since December 2024. He is also the Clinical Director for the Assertive Community Treatment Team and the Clinical Lead for ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy). He received his MBBS from University College of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India, followed by a Diploma in Clinical Psychiatry from the Conjoint Board of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland. In 2014, he became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Mehta also holds an appointment as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. His strong commitment to ongoing learning is reflected in the numerous certifications and fellowships he has obtained in psychiatric disciplines over the past 10 years.
Morrie Liquornik, MD
Interim Chief of Surgery
Dr. Morrie Liquornik has agreed to serve as an Interim term as Chief of Surgery. Dr. Liquornik previously served as Chief of Surgery from 2015 to 2021, Division Head of Urology, Chair of Ambulatory Services and numerous other committees during his 25-year tenure at Southlake. Dr. Liquornik is a graduate of McGill University and completed a fellowship in neuro-urology, urodynamics, and voiding dysfunction with the University of Toronto.
Physician Leaders
Alisha Kassam, MD
Physician Leader, Regional Cancer Program
Dr. Alisha Kassam brings extensive experience in paediatric oncology and palliative care. She serves as Physician Leader of the Southlake Regional Cancer Program, providing strategic leadership for the planning and delivery of high-quality cancer care. Her research focuses on improving outcomes for children and young adults with advanced cancer, and she is the Founder and Medical Lead of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program at Southlake Health’s Regional Cancer Centre.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Dr. Kassam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto and serves as Palliative Care Undergraduate Education Lead for the University of Toronto MD Program. She is also a Palliative Care Clinical Lead for Ontario Health. She has been widely recognized for her leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing patient-centered cancer care, as well as for mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Kassam earned her MD from the University of Ottawa before completing a paediatric residency and oncology fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, a palliative medicine fellowship at the University Health Network, and a Master of Public Health at Harvard University. She began her academic career with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from McMaster University.
In 2023, Dr. Kassam received Southlake Health’s President’s Award in recognition of her dedication, compassion, and excellence in patient care. In 2025, she received the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Visionary Award for advancing equitable, age-appropriate cancer care for adolescents and young adults and inspiring system-wide change across Ontario.
Kyle Goldberger, MD
Physician Leader, Medicine Program
Dr. Goldberger has been a neurologist at Southlake Health since 2022 and has served as Neurology Division Head since October 2023. He also practices in the Epilepsy Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital and holds an Adjunct Lecturer appointment at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Goldberger completed a Clinical Fellowship in Epilepsy and Electroencephalography (EEG) at the University of Toronto (UHN) and his Neurology Residency at Queen’s University, with interests in epilepsy, leadership, and cross-disciplinary education. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Business from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. Dr. Goldberger earned his medical degree from McMaster University and an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Western University.
Ian Mak, MD
Physician Leader, Emergency Medicine Program
Dr. Ian Mak is a full time emergency physician and was previously the Deputy Chief of Emergency Medicine at Southlake. He has been part of the medical staff since June 2013. Dr. Mak earned his medical degree at the University of Western Ontario and completed his family medicine residency at the University of Toronto – Mount Sinai site. Dr. Mak held the title of Education Lead in the Emergency Department from 2019-2023. In this role he reshaped the postgraduate education program within the ER department, implementing simulation days, hands on point of care ultrasound teaching, and even career advice. He remains passionate about teaching, but is excited to embrace his new leadership role.
Mahdi Memarpour, MD
Dr. Memarpour is Southlake’s former Chief of Psychiatry, having successfully completed a 10-year term in the role. He has been a member of Southlake Health’s Department of Psychiatry since 2015. Dr. Memarpour has a strong interest in leadership, education, and mentorship and is eager to continue contributing to physician engagement, program evaluation, and the advancement of department goals.
Dr. Memarpour received his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. He completed residency training in psychiatry and orthopaedic surgery at Western University.
Peter Watt, MD
Physician Leader, Maternal Child Program
Dr. Watt has been a constant at Southlake Health for over 30 years, having joined the organization in 1992 as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Throughout his time at Southlake, Dr. Watt has been instrumental in building a successful and well-rounded Women’s Health Program. His interest in reproductive medicine stems from the ability to combine medical and surgical specialties that make a difference for families.
Dr. Watt originally studied pharmacy and was a Licensed Pharmacist from 1984 to 2015. He earned his MD at the University of Toronto and then trained as a Fellow of Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada and a Fellow of American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Beyond his work at Southlake, Dr. Watt is a lecturer at the University of Toronto and an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University. He has been an active in the Ontario Medical Association and was honoured by his local MP as Community Volunteer of the Year in 2013.
John Randle, MD
Physician Leader, Surgical and Perioperative Services
Dr. Randle, an innovator and pioneer in shoulder repair and reconstruction, joined Southlake Health in 2001. Since then, he has held various leadership roles at Southlake, including Division Head of Orthopaedics, Vice-President of Medical Staff, President of Medical Staff, and Physician Leader of Quality. Currently, he serves as the Physician Leader for Surgery.
Dr. Randle focuses on improving patient outcomes through surgical innovation and physician mentoring. As part of this mission, he has designed surgical arthroscopy tools and has taught his techniques to orthopaedic surgeons in more than 70 countries.