Dr. David Kendler, MD FRCP(C), Director, Clinical Research Centre

Dr. David Kendler is the director of the Prohealth Clinical Research Centre and the Osteoporosis Program at Providence Health Care in Vancouver, British Columbia. He received his initial training at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, followed by training in Christchurch, New Zealand; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Vancouver, British Columbia; and New York, New York.

Dr. Kendler's primary clinical and research interests are autoimmune thyroid disease, thyroid orbitopathy and osteoporosis. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, is Medical Advisor to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada, and chairs the Western Osteoporosis Alliance. He is Past President of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry and the B.C. representative to the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Dr. Kendler has published and presented research on osteoporosis therapies, osteoporosis risk assessment technologies and autoimmune thyroid disease.

Dr. Larry Dian, MB BCH FRCP(C)

Dr. Larry Dian is a specialist in geriatric medicine. He received his training at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the University of British Columbia. He has a special research interest in osteoporosis and decreased mobility, and trains medical practitioners in rural areas. Currently, Dr. Dian is involved in the development of academic and clinical links for geriatric medicine in rural and remote areas of BC.

Dr. Chui Kin Yuen, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, MBA

Dr. Chui Kin Yuen has spent most of his adult life dealing with women's health issues. In recent years, he has focused on practice, education and research in menopausal health (including hormones, osteoporosis, incontinence and sexuality). He has published and presented research on osteoporosis therapies. With the assistance of his university colleagues, he co-chaired a large epidemiologic study on Osteoporosis: MOMM (Maximizing Osteoporosis Management in Manitoba). He established a Midlife Women's Learning Centre and a Women's Health Research Unit at Manitoba Clinic, a large multi-specialty clinic of 70-plus physicians. He served as Chairman of the Clinic for seven years. 

Dr. Yuen was trained in Winnipeg where he received his medical and business administration degrees (MD, MBA). He completed a Canadian Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FRCSC) and is board certified (ABOG) with an American Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology (FACOG). He is also a certified clinical densitometrist (CCD).

Dr. Yuen currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of Osteoporosis Canada and is a founding member and treasurer of Western Osteoporosis Alliance. He was a member of the Manitoba Drug Standards and Therapeutics Committee; a past Regional Chair of SOGC; a past councillor of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba; and a board member of the Manitoba Medical Association.

Steve Robertson, DXA Technologist

Steve Robertson operates and maintains Prohealth's DXA scan and therefore meets everyone who comes to the Research Centre for a bone density test. He is a Certified Densitometry Technologist and a member of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry Teaching Faculty. Steve has taught training courses for DXA technologists around the world. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1976 and joined Prohealth in 1996.

Joan Poon, Study Coordinator

Joan Poon meets with research volunteers to discuss the details of research studies, and is the lead study coordinator or backup study coordinator for all clinical trials. Joan graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2003 with a degree in science (psychology). Before joining Prohealth in 2004, she worked as a research assistant with neurologists. Joan has a certification in Good Clinical Practice and is fluent in Shanghainese.

Gloria Fan, Medical Office Assistant

Gloria Fan is a medical office assistant at the Research Centre, having graduated from Career College in Vancouver in 2006 with a Medical Office Assistant Certificate. Before coming to Prohealth in 2010, Gloria worked in a busy family practice in Vancouver. She speaks Mandarin and Cantonese.

Varinya (Sonia) Tungshusakul, Asian Community Liaison and Administrative Manager

Sonia Tungshusakul is Prohealth's Asian Community Liaison. She graduated from Siam University in Bangkok, Thailand, with a Bachelor of Arts (Business and Marketing) in 1995. In Thailand, she worked in customer service and administration. Sonia came to Canada and Prohealth in 2010. She speaks Thai.

Cherry Galorport, Study Assistant and SIGMA Canadian Menopause Society Administrative Assistant

Cherry Galorport is a study assistant for Prohealth and the administrative assistant for SIGMA. She graduated in 2001 with a Doctor of Medicine from St. Luke's College of Medicine in Manila, Philippines. Before joining Prohealth in 2010, she assisted with the administration of the Medical School of Antigua in the Caribbean. Cherry speaks Tagalog.

Dr. Laura Liao, MD, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant

Dr. Laura Liao is an endocrinologist. She graduated in 1987 from First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yatsen University in Guangzhou, China, and practised in China for twenty-one years. In 1996, she received a Ph.D. Dr. Liao has worked as a research assistant in endocrinology at UBC and recently joined Prohealth Clinical Research as a clinical assistant.

Mark Castillo, Clinical Assistant

Mark Castillo joined Prohealth in June 2011 as a clinical assistant. He has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Philippine Rehabilitation Institute, and trained at St. Vincent Hospital in the Philippines and at Dubai Health Authority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Kristine Buendia, Clinical Assistant

Kristine Buendia also recently joined Prohealth as a clinical assistant. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Philippines, and has worked in a surgical ward and operating theatre. She took her training in the Philippines and Dubai.

Devon Webster, Clinical Assistant

Devon Webster graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and biochemistry, with a special interest in health and immunology. She has volunteered in the VGH long-term care unit, the SFU Women’s Centre, and a transplant laboratory at SFU examining T cell vascular pathology.