PBTSG TEAM
RESIDENTS & FELLOWS
Dr. Michelle Kameda-Smith

Academic Background
McMaster Neurosurgery Resident, Hon Co-op BSc (Waterloo), MSc (Western), MBChB (Glasgow), PhD (McMaster)
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Projects with PBTSG
Single center review MRI and operative factors associated with cerebellar mutism, national multi-center review MRI and operative factors associated with cerebellar mutism, salvage therapy for recurrent medulloblastoma, national multi-center review of salvage therapy for recurrent medulloblastoma, NF1-OPG Gadolinium study, and neuropsychhological outcomes in children after posterior fossa tumour treatment.
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Fun Fact
Completed 2x Ironman competitions
Dr. Leonard Verhey

Academic Background
Dr. Leonard Verhey is a resident in neurological surgery at Spectrum Health – Michigan State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He completed his Doctor of Medicine at Central Michigan University College of Medicine. Prior to relocating to Michigan, he completed a PhD in neuroscience and biophysics at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children.
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Projects with PBTSG
His clinical interests are in pediatric and skull base-vascular neurosurgery, and his current research focuses on pediatric neuroendoscopy and neuro-oncology as well as minimally-invasive subcortical approaches for hemorrhagic and mass lesions.
Dr. Chantal Cacciotti Dr. Rebecca Voth Dr. Majid Aljoghaiman
ASSOCIATED STAFF
Dr. Constantine Samaan
Dr. Forough Farrokhyar
Dr. Jeffrey Greenspoon
Joann Duckworth, RN
Dr. Blake Yarascavitch
Dr. Anthony Whitton
Dr. Olufemi Ajani
Dr. Nina Stein
Dr. Ali Yikilmaz
Dr. Cheryl Alyman
Shawde Campbell, CRA
COORDINATORS
MEMBERS
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Sheila Singh

Dr. Sheila Singh is a Pediatric Neurosurgeon at McMaster Children’s Hospital, Professor in the Department of Surgery (Division of Neurosurgery) at McMaster University, and Principal Investigator at the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute (SCC-RI). She is also the Founder and First Director of the McMaster Surgeon Scientist Program, and holds a Tier 1 (Senior) Canada Research Chair in Human Cancer Stem Cell Biology.
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As a pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Singh is acutely aware of the needs of patients and clinicians dealing with these diseases. Her unique perspective as a surgeon-scientist guides her research questions and areas of focus.
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Since 2007, Dr. Singh and her lab have focused their research around human brain tumours and brain tumour initiating cell (BTIC) activity. Through understanding molecular mechanisms that govern BTIC self-renewal, and applying a stem cell biology framework to the study of cancers, Dr. Singh is able to take more targeted and effective therapies back to the clinic.
Dr. Adam Fleming

Dr. Adam Fleming is a Pediatric Neuro-oncologist at McMaster Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology at McMaster University. After earning his undergraduate degree in Chemical/Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University, Dr. Fleming completed his M.A.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering and MD at the University of Toronto. Following a Pediatrics residency and Hematology-Oncology fellowship at BC Children’s Hospital (University of British Columbia), he developed a particular interest in childhood brain tumours. This led him to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children’s Hospital (Harvard University), where he completed sub-specialty training in Pediatric Neuro-oncology.
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With appointments at Montreal Children’s Hospital and McMaster Children’s Hospital, Dr. Fleming has been the site principal investigator for several industry and government-sponsored clinical trials in the field of brain tumour research.
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