The Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program is staffed by a team of dedicated and experienced physicians. The Leukemia/BMT Program currently has 17 senior staff. Click our links to the left to learn more about each doctor.

Medical Director, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Kevin Song is the Medical Director of the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He earned his medical degree from McGill University in 1995 and completed his hematology sub-specialization at the University of British Columbia. He then pursued fellowships with the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia and the University of Toronto’s Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Princess Margaret Hospital. Dr. Song has been a key member of the Leukemia/BMT Program since 2002. His primary areas of interest include therapies for myeloma and lymphomas. He previously served as Vice-Chair of the Board for the Canada Myeloma Research Group and remains actively involved in CAR T-cell therapies. He serves as the local principal investigator for CAR T-cell studies and contributes to national committees focused on integrating CAR T-cells into standard treatment protocols.

Beyond his medical practice, Dr. Song enjoys a good squash match and improving his game skills.

Associate Medical Director, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Donna Forrest joined the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC in September 2002. She was previously a Hematologist at Dalhousie University in Halifax and member of the BMT Program of Atlantic Canada (1998-2002). Her current research endeavours include the management of chronic myeloid leukemia as well as late effects following bone marrow transplant, particularly the development of second malignancies.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC, Head of Division of Hematology

Dr. Yasser Abou Mourad trained in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology/Hematology at the American University of Beirut before joining the Leukemia/BMT Program of British Columbia in 2004. Dr. Abou Mourad assumed the role of Head of the Division, UBC Hematology in 2025. As a former Program Director of the L/BMT Fellowship and Training, Dr. Abou Mourad has a particular interest in education and the development of future clinicians. His clinical and research focus includes transplantation, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment and the application of pediatric protocols and novel therapies to adult ALL patients.

Dr. Abou Mourad is an active NCI and NCIC researcher taking part in multiple prospective national and international trials. He is an author of more than seventy publications in peer reviewed respected journals. Dr. Abou Mourad has published on adult ALL therapy and been invited to speak on this topic regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Outside of his medical practice, Dr. Abou Mourad enjoys spending quality time with his family through travel and cultural exploration. He has a keen interest in ornithology, particularly birdwatching and reading about avian life. Additionally, he finds enjoyment in documentary films that explore natural history, science, and global cultures.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

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Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Hannah Cherniawsky completed her residency in general hematology and leukemia/BMT fellowship at the University of British Columbia. She subsequently trained in cellular therapy, lymphoma and myeloma at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. Dr. Cherniawsky holds a graduate degree in translational medicine from the University of Alberta. Her primary interests include CAR T-cell therapy and lymphoid malignancies. Her primary interests include CAR T-cell therapy and lymphoid malignancies, and she is actively involved in the CLIC (Canadian-Led Immunotherapies in Cancer) research program.

Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Cherniawsky enjoys running through Vancouver’s trails.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Shanee Chung received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from University of Auckland in New Zealand in 2010. She subsequently completed conjoint training in clinical hematology and hematopathology and gained entrance to the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. She undertook additional training as a clinical and research fellow in the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of B.C. in Vancouver from 2018 to 2020, before joining the faculty. She became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada in 2023. Her main research interests include treatment for myelofibrosis and acute leukemia and management of infectious complications of stem cell transplantation.

Dr. Chung draws inspiration from the tenacity, courage, and humility of her patients, which fuels her commitment to supporting them with compassion and excellence throughout their care journey. Outside of pursuing medicine, Dr. Chung is most likely to be found in pursuit of the great outdoors, as she enjoys hiking, skiing, and travelling.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Florian Kuchenbauer received his M.D. education at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and trained at the Department of Hematology/Oncology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Munich at the university hospital in Ulm, Germany. In addition, he obtained a PhD degree at the Terry Fox Laboratory, BC Cancer and Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia where he work as clinician-scientist with a special clinical interest in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and stem cell transplantation. His research group as part of the Terry Fox Laboratory focuses on establishing novel treatments for AML and multiple myeloma.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Deepesh Lad completed his medical training at the Seth GS Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India. He then pursued an Internal Medicine and Clinical Hematology residency at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India. From 2014 to 2016, he undertook a fellowship in Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) at the program in British Columbia. Dr. Lad served as a tenure-track faculty member at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research for seven years before returning to Vancouver.

He has received accolades, including the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Global Research Award, the Visitor Training Program at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Clinical Research Training in Hematology Award. His research interests are diverse, focusing on patient-oriented clinical research to improve outcomes for leukemia/ BMT patients. Recently, he has been exploring the role of meditation in understanding life and investigating aspects of transplantation immunology.

As an advocate for meditation, Dr. Lad aims to inspire his patients and colleagues to integrate the practice into their lives for enhanced well-being.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Stephen Nantel joined the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program in 1991 and served as Division Head, UBC Hematology from 2013 to 2025. His research interests have included the development of multi-agent chemotherapy regimens for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Dr. Nantel also has a general hematology practice and, as a former Training Program Director and Chief Examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, has a special interest in Hematology education and certification.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Sujaatha Narayanan trained as a hematologist and completed a Bone Marrow Transplant Fellowship in the United Kingdom before moving to Canada in 2006. She then pursued a second fellowship in Leukemia and Stem Cell Transplantation in Vancouver before joining the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC as an attending physician in December 2007.

Dr. Narayanan has held several leadership roles within the program, including Quality Director and Program Fellowship Director. She has successfully led multiple quality initiatives aimed at enhancing various aspects of patient care. From December 2018 to May 2021, she served as the Medical Director of the program.

Her clinical and research interests focus on acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and cellular therapy.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Thomas Nevill founded the Bone Marrow Transplant Program of Atlantic Canada in 1991 and served as its Director for five years. In 1996, he joined the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia, where he has played a central role in advancing clinical care and research in hematopoietic cell transplantation. His research interests include prognostic factors and novel therapies for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and efforts to mitigate the psychological impact of bone marrow transplantation on patients and their families.

Dr. Nevill is also actively involved in the development and clinical application of haploidentical and cord blood transplantation, contributing to expanded donor options and improved outcomes in allogeneic transplant.

Beyond his medical practice, Dr. Nevill enjoys traveling, sports, and discovering new music.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Judith Rodrigo completed her undergraduate studies at McGill University in Montreal and medical training at University of Alberta and University of British Columbia. She has been a part of a the Leukemia/BMT program since 2010 and is the current Quality Director for the Program. Dr. Rodrigo has a broad practice in Hematologic Malignancies, stem cell transplant and cellular therapy.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Claudie Roy completed her training in Hematology at Université de Montréal in 2019.  She subsequently undertook a fellowship at the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC from 2019-2021 and joined as Faculty in September 2021. Her main research interests are related to allogeneic stem cell transplantation, notably graft failure and alternative donors.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. David Sanford joined the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC in September 2015. He previously completed training in Hematology at the University of Western Ontario. Following this, he undertook a Leukemia Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He has interests in clinical research in acute myeloid leukemia, including the development of molecularly targeted therapies as well as the role of minimal residual disease in guiding treatment.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Ryan Stubbins completed his medical degree, residency training, MSc, and hematology/BMT fellowship at the Universities of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. He subsequently undertook advanced research training at the BC Cancer Genome Sciences Centre and the University of Chicago. Dr. Stubbins’ clinical and research interests include transplant and cell therapy, as well as myeloid malignancies. Recent work looking at new germline syndromes and AML relapse.

Beyond his medical practice, Dr. Stubbins maintains an interest in travel, with a particular appreciation for exploration of cultures and global contexts.

Link to Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=e98Z7vsAAAAJ&hl=en

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Cynthia Toze was born in Newfoundland, grew up in Ontario, attended Queen’s University for medical school, followed by postgraduate internal medicine studies at McGill at the Royal Victoria Hospital and then at the University of Ottawa.

She came to the University of British Columbia in 1991, for hematology and Leukemia/BMT Fellowship, followed by a Master’s of Epidemiology at UBC, then accepted a Senior Staff position with the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC.

Initial academic interests included Decision analysis and modeling for lymphoid malignancies and investigation of the impact of inherited gene mutations on myeloid malignancies, including seminal early publications on the role of germline RUNX1.

Her focus then shifted to clinical trials, including stem cell source and quality of life trials, with what was then the Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Group, now Cell Therapy Transplant Canada (CTTC).

She has been active throughout her career in research and teaching, with invited presentations given to local, national and international groups, including the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the International Conference for Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) and community and patient interest groups, such as the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and the CLL Patient Advisory Group. She has actively participated in meetings, including chairing sessions at the national and international level. She has also provided relevant interviews for the media on important topics in malignant hematology.

She has analyzed and published around types of stem cell transplant for lymphoid malignancies including collaborations within BC and Canada.

Research publications have included those in high impact journals Blood, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology and Nature Communications. She has 93 publications, over 160 peer reviewed abstracts, over 4500 citations, an H Index of 37 and an i10 index of 76.

Dr. Toze has been instrumental to assist with bringing test availability, funding for and research around fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and IgHV mutation status testing for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia patients (CLL) in BC.

Through building collaborations with colleagues in hematology, medical oncology, cytogenetics and pathology – involving multiple academic and community centers in British Columbia, Dr. Toze was instrumental in developing the largest research database for CLL, in Canada. The ongoing impact of this database has been significant. We now have clinical, pathologic and outcome data for over 5600 patients. This database has been an important source of real-world research, providing the patients of British Columbia with ongoing outcome analysis to assist health care providers with policy development for best care. The database has enhanced the research experience for trainees at multiple levels, from medical students to post-graduates. The presentation and publication record originating from the BC Provincial CLL Database and group is strong. Collaboration has been fostered province wide and has spanned all health regions and the academic and community setting.

On a personal note, Dr. Toze is the proud mother of four adult sons. She is very involved in blues and bluegrass music in B.C. and beyond, including performance, and is active outdoors with a deep love for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

Dr. Jennifer White joined the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC as an attending physician in July 2017. She completed her Master of Science in Epidemiology from Queen’s University and her medical training at McMaster University and the University of British Columbia. Dr. White then completed the Leukemia/BMT Program of BC fellowship from 2015-2017 with additional training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle in Chronic Graft vs Host Disease management and late effects post allogeneic transplant. Her clinical and research interests include the prevention and treatment of Graft vs Host Disease, including clinical trials, as well as health service delivery in leukemia and allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Dr. White finds inspiration in witnessing her patients reclaim their lives following a blood cancer diagnosis.

Hematologist, Leukemia/BMT Program of BC

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