Our Doctors
Thoracic Surgeons
At the MGH Chest Centre, we strive to provide prompt access to referring physicians through our offices and various clinics. Whether it is our nurse navigator or office assistants, our goal is to see referrals within one week. We recognize the importance of communication, surgeon accessibility to referring physicians and prompt communication with patients so we are all readily available and our notes are promptly communicated back.
DR. SAYF GAZALA
Dr. Gazala is a Thoracic Surgeon and assistant professor in the department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Gazala joined the surgical staff of Michael Garron Hospital in 2017. Dr. Gazala’s interests include thoracic oncology, Esophageal and Gastric Oncology, minimally invasive thoracic surgery (VATS) and benign esophageal diseases.
Dr. Gazala graduated from the Al-Mustansiriya University medical school in 2004, Completed a master’s degree in clinical Epidemiology from the University of Alberta in 2012, then finished General Surgery Residency training program in 2015 at the University of Alberta, followed by a Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated in 2017. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.
Dr. Gazala sees patients in consultation and follow up on patients in clinics at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, at the Oncology Clinic at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie and in the Chest Centre at the Michael Garron Hospital.
DR. NEGAR AHMADI
Dr. Ahmadi is a Thoracic and Foregut surgeon at Michael Garron Hospital. Her primary focus is all diseases of the chest with a particular interest in lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and benign esophageal diseases.
Dr. Ahmadi obtained her medical school degree at University of Toronto and completed her General Surgery residency at University of Ottawa. During residency, she attended Harvard University and obtained a Master of Public Health and Epidemiology. After general surgery training, Dr. Ahmadi completed a fellowship in Thoracic Surgery at McMaster University. She went on to complete advance fellowship training in minimally invasive thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston before returning to Canada.
Dr. Ahmadi has a particular research interest in population health and improving surgical outcomes in thoracic patients.
Dr. Ahmadi sees patients in consultation and follow up in clinics at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, at the Oncology Clinic at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie and in the Chest Centre at the Michael Garron Hospital.
DR. NAJIB SAFIEDDINE
Dr. Safieddine is a Thoracic Surgeon and the Division Head of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Michael Garron Hospital. He joined the surgical staff of Michael Garron Hospital in 2011 and is currently an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Equity and Diversity in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Safieddine’s clinical areas of focus include thoracic oncology, minimally invasive thoracic surgery (VATS), and quality improvement in surgical care.
He graduated from the University of Western Ontario medical school in 2002 and completed the General Surgery Residency training program in 2007 followed by a Thoracic Surgery fellowship in 2009, both at the University of Toronto. He then completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre/UCLA in California in 2010. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.
He sees new patients at the Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Oncology Clinic at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie and in the Chest Centre at the Michael Garron Hospital.
DR. CARMINE SIMONE
Dr. Simone completed his undergraduate university education at the University of Toronto in 1995. He graduated from McMaster University Faculty of Medicine in 1998.
He completed his fellowship training in thoracic surgery and adult critical care at the University of Toronto.
He joined the surgery team at Michael Garron Hospital in 2004 as a thoracic surgeon and the Medical Director of the Intensive CareUnit (ICU) and the Head of the Division of Critical Care. He has participated in many provincial best practice and quality improvement committees for both critical care and thoracic surgery. He is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Toronto and is currently the Chief of Surgery at MGH and the Medical Co-Director of the Surgery Health Service. He continues to participate in quality improvement committees for Cancer Care Ontario and at various hospitals. He is on staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, North York General Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital and Lakeridge Health.