MEET THE TEAM
THE LIMB LENGTHENING AND RECONSTRUCTION TEAM CONSISTS OF AN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON (DR. ANTHONY COOPER), PHYSIOTHERAPIST, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT, AND RESEARCH STAFF.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
DR. ANTHONY COOPER, M.D. FRCSC
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Dr. Cooper graduated from the University of Leeds - School of Medicine (2003). He did his basic surgical training in Leeds and then moved to Sheffield for his higher surgical training. After completing his pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at BC Children's Hospital, Dr. Cooper joined BCCH as a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon in 2014 and a clinical investigator at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Dr. Cooper specializes in limb lengthening and reconstruction, hip deformities, and trauma. He runs the multidisciplinary Pediatric Limb Reconstruction clinic and research program. His research involves studies on patient reported outcomes, quality of life, complications of limb reconstruction, genetics of rare orthopaedic conditions, geometrical modelling and medical imaging studies. He has research collaborations with orthopaedic surgeons and researchers across Canada, Ethiopia, India, UK and USA.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
HANNAH LOCCO
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Hannah is an undergraduate student studying biology at The University of British Columbia. She is involved in patient recruitment, data collection, and data entry for various projects in the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. Hannah is also responsible for collecting and tracking patient-reported outcomes feedback project.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
JENNIFER LAW
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Jennifer is an undergraduate student studying Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience at The University of British Columbia. She is involved in patient recruitment, data collection, and data entry for various projects in the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. Jennifer is also responsible for collecting and tracking patient-reported outcomes feedback project.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
HARPREET CHHINA PH.D.
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Harpreet manages the limb lengthening and reconstruction research program and is responsible for developing and implementing various local and international research projects. She has a Master’s Degree in Human Anatomy (Panjab University, Chandigarh, India) and a Master’s Degree in Experimental Medicine (University of British Columbia). She has recently finished a Doctoral Degree in Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine UBC. During her PhD, Harpreet developed a new patient reported outcome measure for children with lower limb differences. She will be field testing this new outcome measure internationally over the course of next few years. This new outcome measure will be applicable internationally and will be used to assess the health related quality of life of children with lower limb differences.
MASTERS STUDENT
BRITTANY LIM
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Brittany is completing her Experimental Medicine Masters degree with the limb lengthening and reconstruction program, through The University of British Columbia. Her thesis is focussed on an analysis of the costs associated with treatment of pediatric fibular hemimelia in British Columbia. Brittany was also previously a co-op student and research coordinator with the team.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
GAEL HERNANDEZ-PALMER
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Gael is an undergraduate student studying Behavioural Neuroscience at The University of British Columbia. They assist with the team's artificial intelligence projects, such as Ortho Assistant. They are also leading our new patient engagement initiative.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
KAYLEE MCGEOUGH
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Kaylee is a research assistant for the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Team. She is involved with the development of the POISE-ILDR project, a database which will serve to encapsulate a multitude of orthopedic issues on an international scale.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
TAQDIR ALI, PH.D.
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Taqdir Ali is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Orthopaedics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia. He completed his Ph.D. in 2019 from Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, South Korea. He got his B.S Degree in Computer Science from Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Pakistan. He has more than six years industrial experience as a software engineer, software architect and a researcher in reputable UK-based software industry. Before joining his current position, he also worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia (2021 – 2023). During his research career, he worked on different projects of healthcare and wellness domain. His current research includes knowledge acquisition, Clinical Decision Support Systems, Knowledge Standardization, Applications of Machine Learning, Text Processing, and e-Health standardization.
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
DIBA TORJANI
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Diba is the research coordinator for the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Team. She supports many research projects and helps to coordinate and organize events or conferences hosted by the research team, such as the Canadian Pediatric Orthopaedic Trauma Course (CPOT).
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
MICHELLE JACOBS, P.T.
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Michelle is a physiotherapist who is experienced in treating and assessing function of patients undergoing limb reconstruction surgery.
RESEARCH CO-ORDINATOR
SOPHIE DAVIDSON
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Sophie is the research coordinator for the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Team. She supports many research projects and is involved in The International Limb Differences Network as well as POISE - two ongoing projects focusing on gathering data internationally for orthopaedic conditions. She also helps to coordinate and organize events or conferences hosted by the research team.
STUDENT RESEARCHERS
STUDENT RESEARCHER
RENITHA REDDIBATHUNI
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Renitha is a second-year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. She is a returning student to the team and is working on a scoping review looking at congenital limb reduction deficits(CLRDs). The goal of this study is to describe the prevalence of CLRDs that has been reported in the literature to date in order to potentially discover areas with significantly higher rates. Renitha has been working with the team since May 2021.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
NOOPUR RANGANATHAN
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Noopur Ranganathan is a first year medical student at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) in Michigan. She completed her undergrad at MIT with a major in biology and minor in anthropology. She addresses the treatment and management of Genu Valgum while working at the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. Noopur has been working with the team since May 2022.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
VARUN MUDDALURU
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Varun recently graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - School of Medicine in May 2022. He is working on projects related to Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Genu Valgum as part of the research team. Varun has been working with the team since May 2022.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
CHARLENE HARASYM
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Charlene is an undergraduate co-op student studying Biomedical Engineering, with a focus on Biomechanics and Biomaterials, at the University of British Columbia. She is working with our team on developing a protocol for Standing MRI scanning for patients with Fibular Hemimelia. She has been working with the team since May 2022.
PREVIOUS TEAM MEMBERS
NURSE PRACTITIONER
JEN DUNLOP, RN MSN, NP (P), ONC (C)
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Jen is a Pediatric Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner, who is experienced in limb reconstruction surgery and serves as the liaison between surgeons and families.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
JAKE HARRIS
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Jake graduated from Camosun college with a bachelor degree in sports and fitness leadership. He went on to complete a masters in occupational therapy at the University of British Columbia in 2019. He started work at Richmond Hospital in the acute orthopaedics unit and then transitioned to neurology. In 2021, he moved to Vancouver General Hospital on the hospitalist medicine unit before getting a float position. In this position, Jake spent time on many different units including ICU/burns, orthopaedics and trauma, plastics, medicine, neurology and vascular surgery.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
SUSAN GARRET, B.S.R./O.T.
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Susan is the Professional Practice Leader of Occupational Therapy and has worked in Paediatric O.T. for 36 years. Susan has now retired — we are extremely grateful for all the work she has done and wish her the best in her retirement!
STUDENT RESEARCHER
AIDAN LOH
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Aidan has completed his first year at Western University for kinesiology and his research project is focused on the gait analysis of pediatric limb deformities.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
CAMERON LEONG
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Cameron is an undergraduate co-op student studying Integrated Science, with a focus on Immunology and Neuroscience, at the University of British Columbia. He is involved with data collection, data entry, and participant recruitment for studies conducted as part of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. He is also involved in the development of the International Limb Differences Network and website design. Cameron joined the team in September 2021.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
JOSH DYCE
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Josh is an undergraduate student studying pharmacology at The University of British Columbia. He is involved in patient recruitment, data collection and data entry for various projects in the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. Josh is also responsible for tracking patient-reported outcomes feedback for the projects.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
MAITRI PANCHAL
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Maitri is an undergraduate co-op student majoring in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of British Columbia. She is involved in patient recruitment, data collection, and data entry for various research projects in the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
TARA GHOLAMIAN
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Tara is a first-year medical student at the University of Ottawa and she will be embarking on a case report focused on the orthopaedic treatment of Morquio B Disease. The purpose of the case study is to outline all aspects of care that a patient with MBD receives; from their diagnosis to late adolescence in order to offer clinical guidance and improve care. There has yet to be such a study of MBD treatment from an orthopedic and biochemical standpoint.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
MINA HAN
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Mina is an undergraduate co-op student studying Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia. She is involved with data collection, data entry, and participant recruitment for studies conducted as part of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. Mina joined the team in September 2021.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
KEITH O’CONNOR, O.T.
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Keith is an Occupational Therapist who completed his OT degree in Trinity College Dublin in 2012 and is now completing his Master’s in Rehabilitation at UBC. Keith works in both the inpatient surgical unit and the limb lengthening clinic.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
MARISA WONG
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Marisa is a research assistant for the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Team. Marisa supports many research projects and leads our patient engagement which includes events such as our focus groups. She also pioneers the creation of our knowledge translation pieces that you can find in the clinic and on our social media outlets. She works very closely with some of our patient partners to ensure that our research efforts always include their voices.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
GILBERT LEE
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Gilbert is an undergraduate co-op student studying Food Nutrition and Health at the University of British Columbia. He is involved with data collection, data entry, and participant recruitment for studies conducted as part of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
EMILY DUNNION
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Emily has finished her BAS of biomechanical engineering at Queen’s University. She will take research questions proposed by orthopedic surgeons from different practice settings and rank them against identified criteria. A consensus meeting will then be held to determine top research priorities, which benefits the field by helping direct future research and funding allocation. She will also take on a pilot project to develop a custom foot prosthesis for children that have an unilateral foot deformity due to fibular hemimelia. The prosthesis will aim to improve comfort, confidence, and participation in patients.
MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT
SUSAN RAMISCAL
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Susan manages Dr. Cooper’s medical practice and schedules all appointments and surgeries.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
THOMAS THORDARSON
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Thomas is an undergraduate co-op student studying Cellular, Anatomical, and Physiological Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He is involved in patient recruitment, data collection, and data entry for various research projects in the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. Thomas is also responsible for collecting and tracking patient-reported outcomes feedback for the new QI project.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
MAPLE LEI
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Maple is an undergraduate co-op student studying biochemistry at The University of British Columbia. She is involved in website creation, social media management, database entry, and limb difference research within the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. She is also responsible for the website for the International Limb Deformity Network.
STUDENT RESEARCHER
JERO ABAD
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Jero is a fifth-year integrated sciences student at UBC. He is a returning student to the team and will assist with various studies and databases including the Limb Deformity Database and International CPT Registry. Additionally, he will help the team use their platform to spread awareness about pediatric limb deformities and share patient stories and victories
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
RYANNE YU
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Ryanne is an undergraduate co-op student studying Cellular, Anatomical, and Physiological Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He is mainly involved with the development of the Fibular Hemimelia Registry and recruitment for the weight-bearing MRI in Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease pilot study. He also manages the social media for the research program. He joined the team in May 2022.
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
TUGULDUR LKHAGVA
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Tugu is a research coordinator for the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Team. She is developing a new prosthesis focused patient-reported outcomes measure. Tugu also supports the general coordination of all the active projects with the research program.
RESEARCH COORDINATOR
DHANASHREE SANGAOKAR
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Shree is a research coordinator for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Team. She has completed her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) from KLE University, India and Master in Administrative Sciences from Fairleigh Dickinson University, BC. She is dealing with the administrative and research side of the program. She is involved with the development of the International Limb Differences Registry (ILDR) and supports the database management.