Our Team

Dr Leather began his medical training in Ontario at Queen’s University in 1980; he has since established himself as a distinguished cardiologist, with appreciable contributions to the progression of the field of Electrophysiology.  He completed his medical residency in London, Ontario, and his cardiology residency in Vancouver, British Columbia, with subsequent research fellowships in both BC and Ontario.  Since 1995, Dr Leather has been affiliated with Island Health and the Royal Jubilee Hospital, where he served as Head of the Pacemaker Clinic as well as Electrophysiology for several years.  He also has worked with the BC Inherited Arrhythmia Program (BCIAP) as the Adult Heart Rhythm Specialist alongside Dr Laura Arbour (Medical Geneticist) since 2016.  Research has always been a central focus in Dr Leather’s career, leading him to found Victoria Cardiac Arrhythmia Trials (VCAT) in 2005 along with Dr Laurence Sterns.

Throughout his career, Dr Leather has been involved with over 100 multi-centre trials and registries focused on cardiac abnormalities and conditions and has more than 100 publications to his name.  Results from these studies have had profound impacts on Canadian and international cardiac care.  Dr Leather has also been a member of multiple provincial and national cardiac committees both in the past and currently, including the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society, Cardiac Services BC, and the BC Cardiac Registry: Steering Committee.  From 2005-2008, he was Chief of the Division of Cardiology at the Royal Jubilee Hospital; from 2006-2008 he was Acting Medical Director of the Heart Health Program for the Vancouver Island Health Authority.  Dr Leather has been a recipient of a number of awards and grants for his work during this time, including the Magdy Basta Award from the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society in September 2021, granted to a CHRS member who has made great efforts to support the research of others.

Specific research certifications include Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects), and Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2).

Credentials and Affiliations:

1973-1974 – Bachelor of Science Program, University of British Columbia

1974-1977 – Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Guelph, Ontario

1984 – Doctor of Medicine, Queen’s University, Ontario

1984 – Licensure Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)

1984 – College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

1984-1985 – Medicine Internship, University of Western Ontario

1986 – Max Walters Prize in Cardiology

1987 – Max Walters Prize in Cardiology (shared)

1987 – American Board of Internal Medicine – Internal Medicine

1987 – College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia

1987-1989 – Cardiology Resident, University of British Columbia

1988 – Joseph J Diamond Memorial Prize

1988 – Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Division of Medicine, Internal Medicine

1989 – American Board of Internal Medicine – Cardiovascular Disease

1989 – Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Division of Cardiology

1989 – Certificate of Competence Cardiology, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

1989-1990 – Clinical Research Fellow Cardiology, British Columbia and Yukon Heart Foundation, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of British Columbia

1990-1991 – Clinical Research Fellow Cardiology, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of Western Ontario

1991-1994 – Clinical Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia

1991-1994 – Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology; Medical Director, Pacemaker Clinic; Assistant Director, Coronary Care Unit; Vancouver General Hospital

1995-2005 – Head, Pacemaker Clinic Royal Jubilee Hospital

1997 – UBC (Victoria) Department of Family Practice – Postgraduate Teaching Award (Teacher of the Year)

2001-2005 – Section Head, Electrophysiology, Royal Jubilee Hospital

2002-2003 – Professional Exchange with Dr Glenn Young, Adelaide, Australia

2004 – Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Vancouver Island Health Authority

2005 – Director, Western Cardiology Associates

2005 – Director, Victoria Cardiac Arrhythmia Trials

2005-2008 – Chief Division of Cardiology, Royal Jubilee Hospital – Vancouver Island Health Authority

2006-2008 – Acting Medical Director, Heart Health, Vancouver Island Health Authority

2007 – UBC (Victoria) Department of Family Practice – Postgraduate Teaching Award (Teacher of the Year)

2009 – UBC Postgraduate Program in Cardiology – Best Presentation at Academic Half Day by a Guest Speaker

July 2016 – Affiliate Associate Professor, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria

2016 – Fellow of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society

2016 – British Columbia Inherited Arrhythmia Program, Adult Heart Rhythm Specialist

2021 - Magdy Basta Award, Canadian Heart Rhythm Society

Dr Sikkel graduated from the Imperial College School of Medicine in 2004 with a distinction in clinical practice and prizes in medicine, surgery, pharmacology, ophthalmology, and public health.  He attained 1^st class honours in his intercalated BSc in Pharmacology and Toxicology.

His postgraduate medical training included comprehensive surgical and medical training with full MRCS qualifications achieved in 2006 and MRCP in 2008.  He began cardiology-specific specialty registrar training in 2009 as an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow.  This allowed him to attain a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship which he took up within the myocardial function section at Imperial College.  During the course of this fellowship and subsequent research he was awarded several prizes, culminating in the HRS Young Investigator Award in 2017.

Dr Sikkel completed his clinical academic training as a Walport Clinical Lecturer and Devices and Electrophysiology Fellow at Imperial College London in 2017.  He began his Electrophysiology Fellowship with VCAT in 2017, after which he joined both Western Cardiology Associates and the VCAT team as an Investigator.

Dr Sikkel has over 50 PubMed listed publications. He has adjunct appointments at the University of Victoria, UBC and Imperial College London and continues to participate in and lead research studies alongside a busy clinical practice.

Specific research certifications include Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects), and Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2).

Credentials and Affiliations:

2002 – Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Medical Sciences with Pharmacology and Toxicology, Imperial College, UK

2003 – A.H. Bygott Scholarship for Public Health Medicine – awarded by the trustees of the University of London, UK

2004 – Bachelor of Medicine-Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS Honours) with Distinction, Imperial College, UK

2004 – Faculty of Medicine Award (one of eight) for best overall performance in finals, Imperial College, UK

2004 – Duke Elder Prize Examination for Opthamology

2004 – Victor Ludorum Llewellyn Prize for Clinical Pharmacology

2006 – Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS), UK

2008 – Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP), UK

2010-2013 – Imperial College Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellow, UK

2013 – Best Poster Prize, Basic Science Category (European Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology) at EHRA/Europace Annual Meeting

2013 – Best Poster Prize, Basic Science Category (BAS/BSCR), British Cardiovascular Society Annual Meeting, London, UK

2013 – Best Poster Prize, Imperial College Academic Trainees Annual Event, UK

2015 – NHLI Thesis Prize, European Cardiac Arrhythmia Society Annual Meeting

2015 – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Imperial College, UK

2017 – Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) in Cardiology, General Medical Council, UK

2017 – Imperial College Clinical Academic Trainee Conference Oral Presentation First Prize, UK

2017 – Heart Rhythm Society Young Investigator Award, Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Sessions, Chicago

2017-2018 – Electrophysiology Fellowship, Victoria Cardiac Arrhythmia Trials Inc.

2019 – Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Division of Cardiology

Dr Sterns has a longstanding history of excellence in research, starting with his early work as an Electrophysiology Fellow in 1991 in Vancouver, BC, and in Heidelberg, Germany in 1992 and 1993.  This ongoing commitment to research and education has led him to different roles across Canada, including as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University (NS), Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (BC), President of the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society, Head of the Electrophysiology Program and Pacemaker Clinic at the Royal Jubilee Hospital (BC), and the founding of Victoria Cardiac Arrhythmia Trials (VCAT) in 2005.

During his time as Director with VCAT, Dr Sterns has participated in over 100 clinical trials as both Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator; he also has had many other independent publications in his 30-year research career.  His work has focused directly on the management of cardiac arrhythmias as well as cardiac implantable devices.  Results from these studies have directly helped shape patient care both in Canada as well as internationally.

Specific research certifications include Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects), and Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2).

Credentials and Affiliations:

1983 – Bachelor of Medical Science with Distinction, University of Alberta

1986 – Doctor of Medicine with Distinction, University of Alberta

1991 – Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians of Canada, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Internal Medicine and Cardiology

1991-1993 – Electrophysiology Fellowship, Vancouver, BC and Heidelberg, Germany

1994-1997 – Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dalhousie University

1997 – Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia

1997 – Royal Jubilee Hospital

1997 – Director, Western Cardiology Associates

2005 – Director, Victoria Cardiac Arrhythmia Trials

2016 – Chair, Canadian Heart Rhythm Society Device Committee

2020 – President of Canadian Heart Rhythm Society

Dr. Ojas Mehta is a Cardiologist from Melbourne, Australia.  He completed medical school at the University of Melbourne and was a visiting research student at the University of Oxford, where he undertook laboratory research in vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group.  Dr. Mehta completed his Basic Physician training and subsequent Cardiology training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.  Since, he has undertaken a fellowship in Pacing and Electrophysiology at Alfred and Monash Health.

Dr. Mehta has a strong interest in the use of advanced analytical methods, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to advance medical diagnostics and therapeutics.  He is simultaneously pursuing an advanced degree in this field through the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dr. Mehta has published several peer reviewed articles and presented his work at national and international conferences.  Prior to his relocation to Canada, he was also a board member of a peer support not-for-profit organization in cardiac health in Australia. 

Specific research certifications include Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects), and Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2).

May Woodburn is the office manager at VCAT.  She has received training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects), and Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2).

Jake graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science in 2022 with a research focus in organic chemistry, and the synthesis of stable-radical compounds.  Upon graduation he began working at a long-term care facility doing on site COVID-19 testing and screening, before joining VCAT in April of 2022.  His interest in science and the human condition have led him to aspire to a career in medicine.  Jake enjoys cooking, hiking the scenic trails of Vancouver Island, weightlifting, and training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  He has received training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects), and Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2).

Matthew graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Science in 2019 with a focus in organic chemistry, specifically in the synthesis of calixarene molecules to combat cancer.  Matthew also completed a Minor in Applied Ethics and has a keen interest in the ethics of healthcare and how best to support patients in a safe and ethical manner.  Upon graduation, he later went on to pursue his Master of Science with a focus on observing health behaviors among adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  Combining his background and his interest in healthcare, Matthew hopes to provide exceptional care to patients in need.  Matthew enjoys walks and hikes with his dog, biking throughout Victoria, and playing and watching soccer.  Joining VCAT in July 2022 as a Clinical Research Coordinator, he has received training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 – Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects, and Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans Course on Research Ethics (TCPS 2: CORE).

Jonathan graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Science in 2022 with a focus in neuroscience. During his degree, Jonathan was involved in research studying the gut-brain axis in mice at the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience. Upon graduation, he began working at a hospital in Calgary as an inpatient pharmacy assistant before joining VCAT in August of 2022. Jonathan’s interest in healthcare and research has encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine.  Outside of work, he enjoys playing volleyball, weightlifting, and volunteering with his grandpa at a local charity warehouse. Utilizing his background and his desire to become a physician, Jonathan hopes to deliver excellent patient centered care. Jonathan has received training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Health Canada Division 5 (Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects), and Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2).

Andrea is currently trained in: Good Clinical Practice (GCP); Ethical Conduct for Research involving Humans Course on Research Ethics (TCPS2: CORE); Part C Div 5 of the Canadian Food & Drug Regulations, and Health Canada Division 5 – Drugs for Clinical Trials Involving Human Subjects.  She is also a registered nurse with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives.