Transplant coordinator (BScN, RN)
jahuja@cw.bc.ca
Jessie has been working at BC Children's since 1997 starting in bedside care of medical and surgical patients, and then moving over to ambulatory care positions in gastroenterology and endoscopy. She has been in the role of Transplant Nurse Coordinator since 2007. Jessie assists in the coordination of care for all patients who require solid organ transplant (heart, liver, kidney or lung) in both the pre-transplant phase and the post-transplant phase.
Transplant coordinator (BScN, RN)
sfay@cw.bc.ca
Sarah has worked at BC Children's Hospital in various nursing roles since 2006, before joining the Multi Organ Transplant Team as one of the transplant nurse coordinators in 2016. Sarah assists in the overall coordination of care of solid organ transplant (heart, kidney, liver and lung) patients and their families.
Transplant coordinator (BScN, RN, MSN)
MKraljevic@cw.bc.ca
Marijana has been working at BC Children's hospital since 1999. She has worked in various capacities in Cardiology and Medical programs, including bedside nursing, Clinical Nurse leader roles, and as a UBC Clinical Instructor.
She has been working in the Multi Organ Transplant program since 2015 and began a permanent position in 2022.
Marijana assists in the coordination of care for all patients who require solid organ transplant (heart, liver, kidney or lung) and their families.
Pharmacist (BSc Pharm, PharmD)
Kathryn.Haubrich@cw.bc.ca
In her role as the clinical pharmacy specialist for nephrology and solid organ transplant, Katie cares for children with chronic kidney disease, and those with kidney, liver, heart and lung transplants to optimize medication therapy, and educate patients and their families about their medications. Her current research areas include immunosuppressant pharmacokinetics (how your body deals with the immune-suppressing drugs you need after a transplant) and monitoring for adverse effects of medications in transplant recipients. She is also a clinical instructor at the University of British Columbia and mentors students and pharmacy residents training in hospital clinical practice. She completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at the University of Alberta, and has been with BC Children's Hospital since 2014, and in her current role with the MOT team since 2016.
Pharmacist (BSc Pharm, PharmD)
laura.beresford@cw.bc.ca
In her shared role as Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for Nephrology and Multi-Organ Transplant, Laura cares for children & youth with chronic kidney disease, and those with kidney, liver, heart and lung transplants to optimize medication therapy, and educate patients and their families about their medications. Her research areas of interest are optimization of adherence, and pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressive therapy. She is also a Clinical Instructor at the University of British Columbia and teaches/mentors Pharmacy students and residents training in the hospital setting. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador, and a post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of British Columbia. Laura previously worked at BC Children's from 2018-2020 before moving to the Okanagan Valley to work in Interior Health and has re-joined the BC Children's Hospital Nephrology/MOT team in 2024.
Psychologist (PhD, R Psych)
Dr. Anisha Varghese is a registered psychologist who completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. Since moving to Vancouver for her residency training at BC Children’s Hospital, she has worked at a number of clinics and areas, which has included developmental disabilities (Sunny Hill Health Centre, Complex Developmental and Behaviour Conditions Program), mental health, and medical psychology. Dr. Varghese has a particular passion for medical psychology. She enjoys working alongside youth with a wide array of chronic health conditions and their families in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She uses evidence-based strategies (cognitive behavioural, emotion focused, acceptance and commitment) to help build upon inherent strengths and resiliencies.
Dietitian (RD)
Natalie.Sousa@cw.bc.ca
Natalie is a registered dietitian who has been working within various areas of pediatrics at BC Children's Hospital. Natalie joined the MOT team in February 2022 and is excited to be working with the team. Her role within the team is to develop nutrition care plans that meet the nutritional, medical and cultural needs of the patient and family during all stages of the transplant process. She is passionate about working with children and their families to optimize growth, improve nutrition status and provide education on healthy lifestyle choices.
Social worker (MSW, RSW)
rachel.chui@cw.bc.ca
Rachel uses she/her/hers pronouns and is a registered social worker who completed her Bachelors of Social Work and Masters of Social Work at the University of British Columbia. Rachel has worked as a social worker since 2017 in a number of clinics and hospital settings, which has included Surrey Memorial Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital, and BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre. Rachel volunteers as a committee member for the BC College of Social Workers. Her role on the team is to support patients and families with their psychosocial needs in their transplant journey, provide supportive counselling, resource navigation and liaise with community partners to enhance coping.
Child life therapist (BA, CCLS)
rmarchildon@cw.bc.ca
Rita has been a child life specialist at BC Children's Hospital since 1989, and is certified with the Association of Child Life Professionals. She has been a part of the MOT program since 2015, and has often worked with families in the Renal Dialysis Unit.
Child life specialists promote effective coping with health care experiences through play, preparation, education, and self-expression activities. They provide emotional support for families, and encourage optimum development of children and youth facing a broad range of challenging experiences. Working collaboratively with the health care team, child life specialists address the psychosocial and emotional needs to make hospital experiences more positive for patients and their families.
Physiotherapist (PT)
jfairbairn@cw.bc.ca
Julie has worked at BC Children's Hospital since 2005. She works in a variety of clinical areas and joined the MOT team in 2015. Physiotherapists work with children and their families in hospital after transplant to facilitate and support early mobilisation. Julie assists in the rehab process by collaborating with the MOT team, patient and family to set individual goals that support motor development, physical activity, exercise and participation.
Art Therapist (MA, RCC, D-Vati)
nicola.elischer@cw.bc.ca
Nicki is a professional art therapist and registered clinical counsellor, and is a member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. Her approach to art therapy is client-centered, trauma-informed, somatic, and informed by developmental and attachment theories. Nicki has twenty years of experience in the field of child development and family support, and is also trained as a child life specialist. She is knowledgeable about children's responses to hospitalization, medical trauma, and supporting children and teens with chronic or long-term medical needs, and their siblings. She offers individual art therapy sessions to patients of the multi-organ transplant team, and art therapy groups for the whole family.
