Our Team

Dr. Kevan Jacobson

Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Head and Clinical Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Associate Member, Department of Physiology, University of British Columbia

Dr. Kevan Jacobson is a Senior Clinician Scientist and Director of the Pediatric GI IBD program. Dr. Jacobson is involved in clinical care of children with IBD and in clinical and basic research in the field of IBD. He oversees the Pediatric GI IBD database, which currently has data on 1,200 children. Dr. Jacobson’s clinical areas of interest include the epidemiology of IBD, identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and improving clinical outcomes for children with IBD.

Dr. Collin Barker

Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Dr. Collin Barker’s research interests focus on celiac disease, GI complications in oncology patients and quality assessment and quality improvement projects within the division of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.

Dr. Vishal Avinashi

Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Dr. Vishal Avinashi is interested in clinical characteristics of patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). He is keen to study biomarkers to hopefully decrease the need for endoscopy in follow up for patients with EoE. He is collaborating with Dr. Edmond Chan (Allergist) to see patients and build the EoE patient registry. 

Dr. Orlee Guttman

Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Orlee Guttman is interested in education and in clinical research. Dr. Guttman studies the role of Fibroscan (transient elastography) in evaluating the extent of liver fibrosis in children with primary liver disease and other disorders. She also has an interest in the presence of liver disease and abnormal liver biochemistry in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Sally Lawrence

Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Sally Lawrence is involved with clinical research involving patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She has been part of the development of Canadian consensus guidelines for patients with IBD. She is also involved with European collaborators for nutritional studies for the treatment of IBD, and several quality improvement projects related to IBD.

Dr. Alice Foster

Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Alice Foster is involved with clinical studies involving patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She has a particular interest in, and is leading projects related to, the successful transition of IBD patients from pediatric to adult care.

Dr. Andy Skinn

Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Andy Skinn is involved with quality improvement projects related to providing pediatric GI care outside of BC Children’s hospital, including outreach and telehealth.

Dr. Jocelyn Jeong

Pediatric Gastroenterologist, BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Jocelyn Jeong’s research interests include Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and particularly, using bedside ultrasound as an aid in following patients with IBD. 

Dr. Bruce Vallance

Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital
CH.I.L.D. Foundation Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology
Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Dr. Bruce Vallance’s research is focused on intestinal microbes and understanding how pathogenic as well as commensal bacteria cause inflammation and disease in the mammalian intestinal tract.  He is the C.H.I.L.D. Foundation Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology and the Director for Gut4Health Microbiome Core.