Meet Our Team

Meet Our Team

Our Paediatricians

Dr. Syed Tariq Ahmed
Dr. Syed Tariq Ahmed, Paediatrician
Dr. Ahmed is a Consultant Paediatrician providing consulting services to family physicians, nurse practitioners and midwives in the community, for a wide range of paediatric and neonatal medical conditions. Dr. Ahmed joined the Paediatric team at STEGH in 2007, after completing his residency at Western University. He provides on-call services for paediatric inpatients, Labour and Delivery, Special Care Nursery and consulting services for the Emergency Department. Dr. Ahmed is also a consultant at the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre for paediatric inpatients and the Mother and Baby Care Unit. Dr. Ahmed is an Adjunct Professor and Head of the Division Community Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. He is actively involved in the teaching of medical students and residents at the hospitals and in his community clinic. He is also a clinical preceptor for Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant students from Western University and the University of Toronto.
Dr. Paul Kerr
Dr. Paul Kerr, Paediatrician
Dr. Kerr has been a community consultant Paediatrician in St. Thomas since 2000 after completing his paediatric training at the University of Saskatchewan and Western University. He was the former Chief of Paediatrics at STEGH (2007 - 2023). Dr. Kerr provides consulting services to regional family physicians for a wide variety of medical conditions, and provides on-call services at STEGH for the paediatric ward, Labour and Delivery, the Special Care Nursery, and consulting services for the Emergency Department. He has also provided on-call services at LHSC's Children’s Hospital CTU since 2001. Dr. Kerr is involved in teaching medical students and residents in hospital and in his community clinic (Elgin Paediatric Group).
Dr. Asmaa Hussain
Dr. Asmaa Hussain, Paediatrician
Dr. Hussain is the Chief of Paediatrics at STEGH and a general Paediatrician who looks after a wide variety of medical conditions. After finishing her Paediatric training in London, Ontario in 2013, she joined STEGH's Paediatric Department. Dr. Hussain teaches medical students and residents in the community and at the hospital. Occasionally, she covers paediatric inpatients and the newborn nursery at Children’s Hospital located at London Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Hussain also has a special interest in paediatric obesity. Dr. Hussain may be part of the medical team caring for your child or newborn while in hospital.
Dr. Meagan O’Brien

Dr. Meagan O’Brien, Obstetrician/Gynecologist 
Dr. O'Brien has been practicing in St Thomas since 2011. She completed her residency training at the University of Manitoba in 2008 and first practiced at Women’s Hospital in Winnipeg. She moved back to Southern Ontario in 2011 with her family to join the team at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital and fell in love with the community. She is active in teaching medical students and residents as Adjunct Professor with the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Dr. O’Brien provides comprehensive obstetrical care to women with low and high risk pregnancies as well as obstetrical and gynecological consultations to the local family physicians and midwifery group.

Dr. Natalie Reddy
Dr. Natalie Reddy, Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Dr. Natalie Reddy has been practicing Obstetrics and Gynecology in St. Thomas since completing her residency training at Western University in 2011. She is the Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at STEGH. Dr. Reddy provides care to women with low and high risk pregnancies, and sees women with general gynecological concerns. She has two young daughters and enjoys spending time with her family. Outside of medicine, she loves music, travel, and is learning to knit and crochet.
Dr. Ramona Urian
Dr. Ramona Urian, Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Dr Urian is a general Obstetrician/Gynecologist who joined the Department of Obstetrics at STEGH in July 2015. She completed her residency training in Family Medicine in 2010, and then completed her second residency training in Obstetrics/Gynecology in 2015, both at Western University. Dr. Urian provides consulting services to regional family physicians, midwives and nurse practitioners for a wide variety of medical conditions. She has a profound interest in low risk and high risk Obstetrics and Surgical Gynecology. She is a hard worker and team-oriented physician, practicing patient centered medicine. Dr. Urian aims at promoting optimal wellness for women in a professional atmosphere. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, dancing and spending time with her husband and four kids.
At STEGH, Paediatricians are available 24/7 to make sure your child is safe and well cared for.

Our Nursing Team

Left to right: Megan Graves (Registered Nurse), Shannon Belanger (Registered Nurse), Jo-Ann Mittleholtz (Registered Nurse), Cathy Roesner (Registered Nurse), Ermira Bllaca (Registered Practical Nurse)

Our Midwives

Laura Parizeau
Laura has been working as a midwife in St. Thomas and London since 2009. She holds a honours degree in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo, in addition to a BHSc in Midwifery from McMaster University. Before becoming a midwife, she worked for LHSC/SJHC supporting system integration and the SWO Perinatal Partnership. She is passionate about evidence based care, informed choice, and inter professional collaboration.
Jill Portelance
Jill is the Chief of Midwifery here at STEGH and has been a midwife in Elgin County at Elgin County Midwives since graduating with a BHSc in Midwifery from Laurentian University in 2010. She is currently working closely with other community organizations to improve access to prenatal and newborn care to women without OHIP and to newcomers/non English speaking families. She sits on the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) at STEGH, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Committee (BFI) and the Clinical Care Team for the Women and Children’s Unit at STEGH. In her spare time she enjoys crocheting, reading and spending time with her husband and three kids.
Cassidy Van Dyk
Cassidy was born and raised in the West Elgin area. She has been a midwife in the community since the spring of 2019, after graduating from Laurentian University with a BHSc in Midwifery. Cassidy is very enthusiatic about being able to practice Midwifery in her home community. Cassidy has three young sons; therefore, does not have any spare time!
Erin Laver
Erin has been a midwife in the community since 2014 when she graduated with a BHSc in Midwifery from McMaster University. When she is not in the Labour and Delivery Unit or visiting families in the community, you can find her riding her bike in Elgin County.
Natalie Piche
Natalie completed her BHSc in Midwifery from Laurentian University in 2009. She has previously worked for the Midwives of Windsor from 2009 to 2014, after which she moved to St. Thomas and has been with Elgin County Midwives ever since.
Taylor VanDuzer
Taylor began working at Elgin County Midwives in spring 2020 after completing her BHSc in Midwifery at McMaster University. She previously completed a Bachelor’s of Science at the University of Guelph followed by a Master’s of Science at McMaster University in Reproductive Biology. Taylor is passionate about reproductive health and informed choice. In her spare time Taylor enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors.
Sarah Pellegrino
Sarah joined Elgin County Midwives in 2022 after graduating with her BHSc in Midwifery from McMaster University, where she completed training in the Cambridge, KW, and Guelph areas. She previously completed a BScH in Life Sciences at Queen’s University which ignited her passion for reproductive healthcare. Sarah is excited to practice in Elgin County and support the community. In her spare time, you can find Sarah backcountry camping, cooking, and doing yoga.
Jasmine Allan
Jasmine was born and raised in London and is happy to be back in South Western Ontario serving her community. She started her university education at the University of Waterloo in Social Development Studies, but that was cut short when she began her BHSc in Midwifery at Ryerson University where she did most of her training in the Toronto area. She started working with Elgin County Midwives in 2021. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her son, partner and dog, particularly visiting the beach, hiking, and watching movies.