The MuscleMD Doctors
Dr. Ravi Dhanoa (Medical Director)
The MuscleMD clinic was opened in 2014 by Dr Ravi Dhanoa, a Canadian Family Physician with a special interest in Trigger Point Injection therapy. Dr Dhanoa received his medical degree from Imperial College London (UK) in 2006. He has been practicing medicine in British Columbia since 2009. He initially had a full service Family Practice on Vancouver Island, where he trained in Trigger Point Injection therapy and developed his skills further through working as a pain clinic physician in Vancouver. As well as establishing the MuscleMD Clinic Dr Dhanoa is Clinical Faculty at St Paul’s Hospital, for the Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of British Columbia. He is involved in the training and assessment of International Medical Graduates, Family Practice residents and medical students. He has been invited to speak on myofascial pain and trigger point injection therapy at many pain conferences at a regional and national level.
Dr. Aniz Khalfan
Dr Aniz Khalfan is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Aniz is an Anesthesiologist and has been in medical practice for the past 35 years. Over the past 4 years she has a focused practice in Chronic Pain. Aniz was awarded a grant by the Royal College toward further study of myofascial pain and Trigger Point Injections. Her practice with chronic pain includes treatment of myofascial pain, infusion therapy and patient education classes for fibromyalgia, chronic headaches and other chronic pain conditions. She is an examiner for the Medical Council of Canada.
Dr. Jerome Yang
Dr. Yang is a physician with certification in Family Medicine through the College of Family Physicians of Canada and in Addiction Medicine through the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He completed medical school and residency through the University of British Columbia and completed a Master of Health Science degree through the UBC Faculty of Medicine School of Population and Public Health. Dr Yang has extensive experience working in the field of addictions medicine and views Trigger Point Injection therapy as an important treatment modality for pain and a means of reducing reliance on prescription drugs for pain, which is a rapidly growing problem in Canada.
Dr. Bogdan Dascalu
Dr. Dascalu completed his medical training through the University of British Columbia, and his residency training in Family and Community Medicine through Women’s College Hospital and the University of Toronto. He has been practicing medicine in the community as a family physician and has taken an interest in trigger point injections as an effective way of managing acute, subacute, and chronic pain.
Dr. Sid Bhattacharyya
Sid is an Ontario-trained GP with experience doing full-service family medicine along with pain treatment for his patients. He has recently joined the team at MuscleMD to hone his skills while helping those struggling with pain regain control of their lives. After clocking out, he is home in his PJs watching Netflix… because COVID.
Dr. Natalia Konovalova
Dr. Natalia Konovalova is a Family Physician in Coquitlam, BC. She grew up in Kyrgyzstan and has lived in British Columbia since 2006.She completed her Medical Degree in Pediatrics at the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy and graduated from the Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of British Columbia/ St. Paul Hospital in 2013.
Her philosophy of care based on open communication and working together with her
patients. She is very passionate of treating acute and chronic pain with trigger point
injections which helps to reduce suffering and minimize use of unnecessary
medications.
Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Hardy
Dr. Liz Hardy completed her medical school at the University of Calgary and Family Medicine residency in Victoria through the University of British Columbia. Over the past 5 years, she has been working in a variety of roles including family practice clinics, in-patient medicine and rural emergency work. Her interest in trigger point injection stems from her background in kinesiology, which she studied before medicine, completing a Bachelors and Master’s degree. She is excited to join the team at MuscleMD and will be working more regularly after welcoming her second child this spring. When not at work or chasing her toddler, she can be found doing anything outside, active, or competitive.
Allied Health Professionals
Taj Dhanoa (Registered Clinical Counsellor)
Taj is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), she is a member of the BCACC (British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors). Taj has 2 degrees in psychology, as well as a background in neuroscience and has published several research papers in the world’s top scientific journals. Taj has worked both independently and as a member of several inter-disciplinary mental health teams within the health authorities, including the UBC Mood Disorders centre for over 8 years.
She provides a range of evidence-based psychotherapy and counselling services from a person-centred and strengths-based perspective. She understands the importance of respecting the uniqueness of her clients and will customise therapeutic interventions to the needs of each client.
Chronic illness can be very difficult to navigate alone. Taj assists her clients in developing effective skills to navigate the unique challenges that chronic illness can pose. She works with clients experiencing chronic pain, mood changes, anxiety, bipolar disorder, problems with emotion regulation and the many issues affecting quality of life.
Please visit www.mindmatterstherapy.ca for more information or contact:info@mindmatterstherapy.ca
Tel: 604-690-6463