Our Team

Zenny Gepilano is an Operating Room RN at St. Michael’s Hospital. She is the heart of the organization and has actively participated in every medical mission since her initial conception of the organization in 2004.

As the UA Mission Organiser, Zenny Gepilano oversees every aspect of the organization’s operations both in Canada and the Philippines to ensure consistent success. With a background in commerce and medicine Zenny Gepilano’s decision to guide an eclectic team of medical and non-medical personnel half-way across the globe has led to the successful treatment of thousands of patients on a yearly basis, and a life changing experience for all.

Dr. Dan Cass graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School in 1988. After completing his internship at Toronto General Hospital, he entered the Royal College Residency Program in Emergency Medicine in Toronto, which he completed in 1993. He is an Associate Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Dan worked as a staff Emergency Physician at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto for 16 years, from 1993 to 2009, for 10 of which he was Chief of Emergency Medicine. He became an Investigating Coroner in 2007, and in November, 2009, he became the Regional Supervising Coroner for Toronto West. In 2010, he was appointed Chair of the Patient Safety Review Committee of the Office of the Chief Coroner.

This 2012 was Dan’s first participation in the Urban Angels Philippines Mission. He looks forward to working with the team (and his wife, Lianne Jeffs) in making a positive contribution to the Mission and to the Philippine people.

A classically trained and practising architect for 15 years, Ike Palacios has designed and managed the construction of various properties in his native province of Negros Occidental, Philippines and has been working in the State of Qatar for years,and is now currently back on private practice in his province.

He has been with the UA since its conception in 2005 and has lent his managerial experience in securing safe and workable sites for team members to facilitate medical and surgical services. He, recently, along with a few other members of the UA, created and installed rows of hanging curtain tracks to afford CLMMRH patients some form of privacy in open wards.

Gordon Squires has been with the UA since its’ first mission in 2005. A practicing Ophthalmologist since 1986, Gordon Squires practiced his craft at Wellesley Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital. A recipient of various honours and awards, Gordon Squires is also a lecturer at the University of Toronto Department of Ophthalmology and Director of Surgical Teaching at the same department.

Gordon Squires is almost always found with surgical team sequestered inside the OR. The UA has provided a unique opportunity for the Ophthalmology team to observe and repair cases that they would otherwise not see within the Canadian context.

Jim Hilton has specialized in paediatric care for over 30 years, and has been a member of the UA since 2009. As the primary paediatrician on the mission, Jim Hilton’s role is not only critical but essential to addressing the needs of a large portion of the population that the UA sees on an annual basis.

Throughout Jim’s three years with the UA, his capability as a physician and as an educator has provided an interesting learning opportunity for many medical students who have experienced a trip with him.

Joanne Wilson has been a practicing nurse for over 40 years and has been part of various hospitals within the GTA since graduating from the University of Toronto. She currently resides in Mississauga’s Trillium Hospital, just west of Toronto.

During the missions she is often inside the operating room with the surgical staff assisting in the plethora of surgeries every day. Mission 2011 will be her 5th year with the Urban Angels.

This Registered Nurse and Educator from St. Michael’s Hospital has been a part of the Urban Angels since their first abroad Mission to the Philippines in 2005.

A graduate from St. Francis University in Canada, Joyce Grandy is almost always in the OR assisting in ophthalmic surgeries during the Mission.

Kevin has participated in four medical missions as of 2011. He lends his skills in the recovery room, post surgery. In Toronto Kevin works in the therapeutic endoscopy unit and is a deacon when not working in nursing.

Lori Giovannetti has been a practising nurse for 16 years and has undertaken a myriad of specialities such as: Clitical Care, Peri-operative Nursing, Paediatrics, Oncology and Pain Management to name a few. Presently working at Princess Margaret Hospital in the Post Aesthetic Care Unit and St. Michael’s Hospital within the Therapeutic Endoscopy Unit. Giovannetti lends her skills in Medical Outreach Programmes during the mission where she can usually be found with Jim Hilton assisting in paediatric assessments.

She has been with the UA since 2010 and will be participating in her fourth mission as of 2013 and taking on the role of Team Leader for Paediatrics and Medical.

Mark Kataoka has been an anaesthesiologist at St. Michael’s Hospital for a decade and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anaesthesia at the University of Toronto. As a critical part of the UA medical team, Mark works in the OR with the rest of the perioperative team ensuring safe and successful operations on a yearly basis.

He has participated in three missions as of Dec 2010 and will be embarking on this trip come February 2013.

A classically trained photographer from Seneca College, Robert Danielsen has been at St. Michael’s Hospital for just over a decade and had joined the Urban Angels family in 2008.

Since then, Robert has become one of the UA’s designated photographers and doubles as part of the logistical staff, doing everything possible to ensure successful missions on an annual basis.

After receiving his medical degree in 1973 at the University of Toronto, Robert Hyland became a practicing Respirologist and Internist at St. Michael’s Hospital and Wellesley Hospital until its merger with St. Michael’s Hospital in 1998. Robert Hyland is a published MD, educator and has held various positions which include Physician-in-chief and past President of the Ontario Thoracic Society and the Canadian Thoracic Society.

He is often found with the Outreach team, leading a group of Internists to every outreach programme the UA has undertaken since 2008.

Sarah Fernandes studied photography at Sheridan College in Oakville.  She continues to “capture life” photographing many families and a select few weddings each year as a hobby.  She works part time as a financial advisor with TD Canada Trust.

Her career in philanthropy is where her real work has been since becoming a mother.  She started as a member of the board at her eldest daughter’s nursery school and has never looked back.  She has spent over a decade on the parent council of the elementary school that both of her children attend/ed with the scope of her work ranging from running their major fundraiser to chairing the healthy snack program.  She also chairs the holiday hamper program for the bank branch where she works each year.

Sarah Fernandes joined the UA with her sister Patricia in 2011 and has lent her skills in various departments of the outreach programmes whist taking beautiful pictures when she can. Currently Sarah is assisting in the troubleshooting of various logistical challenges that face the UA for it’s annual missions.

Sarah Fernandes studied photography at Sheridan College in Oakville.  She continues to “capture life” photographing many families and a select few weddings each year as a hobby.  She works part time as a financial advisor with TD Canada Trust.

Her career in philanthropy is where her real work has been since becoming a mother.  She started as a member of the board at her eldest daughter’s nursery school and has never looked back.  She has spent over a decade on the parent council of the elementary school that both of her children attend/ed with the scope of her work ranging from running their major fundraiser to chairing the healthy snack program.  She also chairs the holiday hamper program for the bank branch where she works each year.

Sarah Fernandes joined the UA with her sister Patricia in 2011 and has lent her skills in various departments of the outreach programmes whist taking beautiful pictures when she can. Currently Sarah is assisting in the troubleshooting of various logistical challenges that face the UA in it’s annual missions.