Our Team
The Thrombosis Program takes a team approach to patient care. Our team includes hematologists, nurses, receptionists and research associates.
Our hematologists are all members of the Division of Hematology, in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. We are active in clinical practice, medical education and research.
Our incredible support staff ensures that our patients receive the best care possible. The nurses in the Thrombosis Program work closely with our patients to deliver comprehensive care and to improve the quality and safety of all patients receiving anticoagulation.
Our nursing staff performs a wide range of important tasks which include: triaging referrals to the Thrombosis Clinic; providing anticoagulation counseling to patients and their family members; teaching self-injection techniques; helping patients to manage warfarin dosing and the use of a point-of-care device; offering post-operative follow-up; and providing telephone advice about commonly asked questions regarding anticoagulant therapy.
Our nurses and research staff also ensure patients are given opportunities to take part in cutting-edge clinical research in thrombosis. To make all of this possible, our reception coordinates clinical appointments and diagnostic testing, and welcomes our patients with a smile.
Finally, we believe patients and their families are an important part of the team, and their contribution to the care plan is extremely important.
Meet the members of our team.
Dr. Lee is the Medical Director of the Thrombosis Program. She is a Professor of Medicine at University of British Columbia (UBC) and holds a
Masters in Health Research Methodology from McMaster University. She completed her medical degree and Internal Medicine training at UBC and her Hematology specialization at McMaster University. Her research interest is in cancer-associated thrombosis and venous thromboembolism in other high-risk populations.
Dr. Ambler obtained a Bachelor of Science, Honours degree from Queen’s University and her medical degree at Dalhousie University. She completed
her Internal Medicine residency and Hematology specialization at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She is a Clinical Hematologist and clinical instructor at UBC in General Hematology and Apheresis.
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Amy Chu is a nurse on the Thrombosis Clinic team. Amy completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Langara College in 2014. She began
working at Vancouver General Hospital shortly thereafter, in a variety of areas including urology, gynecology, plastics, general medicine, cardiology, orthopedics, and perioperative care. She obtained her High Acuity Nursing Specialty from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2016. Amy has been with the Thrombosis Clinic team since 2018.
Leanna Korns-Arida is a nurse on the Thrombosis Clinic team. Leanna completed her nursing diploma from Calgary’s Foothill’s School of Nursing
in 1993. She also obtained the High Acuity Nursing Specialty at BCIT in 2001. Right after graduating she joined the VGH Leukemia/BMT program where she worked in both the inpatient and outpatient areas for the last 29 years.
Dr. Lai is a staff hematologist at Vancouver General Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
He obtained a PhD in Genetics at UBC and a MD at the University of Toronto. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency, Hematology Fellowship, and Thrombosis Fellowship training at UBC. His research interests include antiphospholipid syndrome and other acquired thrombophilias.
Dr. Li is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. He finished his Royal College training in Hematology in 1998 and has been
in full time clinical practice since then. Dr. Li is a staff hematologist at Vancouver General Hospital and is a Consultant in Hematology at the BC Women’s Hospital and the BC Cancer Agency. His interest in the field is broad and includes both malignant and nonmalignant conditions. In addition to direct patient care he enjoys teaching students and residents and taking part in clinical research.
Dr. Parkin is a staff hematologist at Vancouver General Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
He attended medical school at the University of Calgary before completing his Internal Medicine Residency and Hematology Fellowship at UBC. He completed additional training in the areas of multiple myeloma and bone marrow transplant at UBC and the University of Toronto. He has a broad general hematology practice with interests in both malignant and benign hematology, particularly multiple myeloma and related disorders.
Dr. Peterson is a staff hematologist at Vancouver General Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
She completed her medical degree at the University of Ottawa and her both Internal Medicine and Hematology Training at UBC. Dr. Peterson continued her studies with a research Fellowship in Thrombosis at the UBC Centre for Blood Research. Dr. Peterson also holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa and a Master's in Health Science from the University of British Columbia.
Karen Schmidt is a nurse on the Thrombosis Clinic team. Karen completed her Nursing Diploma from the British Columbia Institute of
Technology in 1994. She joined the Hematology Program at Vancouver General Hospital shortly thereafter, and has worked in both the inpatient and outpatient Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant units since that time. Karen’s nursing interests since graduating have also led her to work with BC Woman’s Hospital in their Sexual Assault Services Program, as a Licensed Practical Nurse instructor at a private college, and as a volunteer nurse with “Camp Goodtimes”. She has been with the Thrombosis Clinic since 2012.
Jill Scott is a nurse on the Thrombosis Clinic team. Jill has worked in the field of hematology for 30 years, mostly at Vancouver General Hospital
(VGH). She completed her nursing diploma at the VGH School of Nursing in 1984, and has worked on the inpatient bone marrow transplant ward, apheresis and research units before joining the Thrombosis Program team in 2009. Jill’s professional interests include helping patients manage their warfarin using a point-of-care device.
Dr. Sreenivasan is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), staff hematologist
at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and Medical Director of the Apheresis Program of BC. Dr. Sreenivasan received her medical degree in 1996, and completed Internal Medicine, then Hematology training at UBC in 2001. She became a staff hematologist at VGH in 2001 and Medical Director of the Apheresis Program of BC in 2008. Dr. Sreenivasan has an active clinical practice covering the spectrum of hematologic disorders, including benign and malignant disease. Particular areas of interest include apheresis medicine, venous thromboembolic disease and myeloproliferative disorders.
Dr. Tsang is a staff hematologist at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). He obtained his medical degree at the University of Western Ontario in 1986
and finished his Internal Medicine training and received certification in 1990. Dr. Tsang did his Hematology Fellowship at the University of British Columbia (UBC) from 1990 to 1992, followed by an additional year of training in Transfusion Medicine in Vancouver. Dr. Tsang is involved in the training programs in Hematology, Internal Medicine and Maternal Fetal Medicine at UBC. He has an interest in hematological conditions in pregnancy. In addition of being on staff at VGH, he is also on staff at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Care and Richmond Hospital.
Dr Varghese is a staff hematologist at Vancouver General Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Following the completion of her medical degree through UBC's Northern Medical Program she completed her Internal medicine residency and hematology training at UBC. Dr Varghese continued her studies with additional training in Myeloma and Lymphoma at the British Columbia Cancer Agency. She has a broad general hematology practice, with a particular interest in myeloma and related disorders.
Dr. Yenson is a Clinical Hematologist, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology at the
University of British Columbia (UBC). After receiving his medical degree in 2002 at UBC, he completed Internal Medicine and Adult Hematology training at UBC. This was followed by a Fellowship in Hereditary Bleeding and Red Blood Cell Disorders at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Dr. Yenson is an active staff member in the VGH Thrombosis Clinic, the Apheresis Program of British Columbia and the Provincial Adult Bleeding Disorders Program located at St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver and the Program Medical Director, Provincial Malignant Hematology with BC Cancer.
Dr. Zypchen is hematologist at the Thrombosis Clinic and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology at the University of
British Columbia (UBC). After receiving her medical degree at the University of Ottawa in 1997, she continued her studies with Internal Medicine training at McMaster University, a Hematology Fellowship at UBC and a Thrombosis Fellowship at the University of Ottawa. She has a broad practice in General Hematology including both benign and malignant blood disorders, with special interests in venous thromboembolism, obstetrical hematology, immune cytopenias and apheresis medicine.