About

Dr. Darren J. Holub, MD, BSc, FRCPC, FASAM, DABAM, CCSAM

Addiction Medicine Physician and Medical Director

Dr. Darren Holub was initially trained in biochemistry, he obtained his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 2001, and completed his psychiatry residency through McMaster University.  Through his experiences, Dr. Holub developed a keen interest in the field of addiction, along with a strong passion, empathy, and desire to serve those individuals and families affected by this devastating disease.  For ten years he served as the Lead Psychiatrist of the Concurrent Disorders Program (combined mental health and substance use disorders) at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.  He has taught medical students and residents, and has trained staff and consulted at ADAPT and CMHA in Halton.  He was board certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine in 2012, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and a Certificant of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine.  Dr. Holub co-founded the Halton & Mississauga Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic in 2019, where he continues to serve as Medical Director and practices community-based Addiction Medicine.

Nino Parunashvili, BScPA, CCPA

Physician Assistant

Nino obtained her Physician Assistant Degree from the University of Toronto in 2018 and has been working in addiction medicine since then.  Prior to her PA training, Nino graduated from medical school in Eastern Europe and has served in numerous areas of medicine in Canada.  While working in pain management, she developed a special interest in Addiction Medicine.  Nino additionally holds a part-time position in Fertility Medicine.  She is actively involved in teaching and has a major interest in research and medical outreach programs for those in need.  Nino is a valued foundational member of our RAAM Clinic team.

Lana Phemister, BSc (Hon), BHSc (PA), CCPA

Physician Assistant

Lana completed the Physician Assistant Education Program at McMaster University. She is a member and Certificant of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA). Prior to becoming a PA, she studied Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. Lana’s interest in the field of addiction medicine stems from her background in psychology, as well as from witnessing the prevalence of the disease in our communities – from growing up in Toronto to living in a small town on the East Coast. Her great sense of humour and empathy make her a valuable addition to our clinical team.

Satinder Sandhu, BHSc (PA), CCPA

Lead Physician Assistant

Satinder obtained his Physician Assistant Degree from McMaster University.  Prior to attending McMaster, Satinder studied psychology at York University which laid the foundation for his interest in addiction medicine.  Prior to joining the Halton and Mississauga RAAM Clinic, Satinder worked in general surgery.  

Lauren Venturato, BSc (Hon), MSc, BHSc (PA), CCPA

Physician Assistant

Lauren completed the Physician Assistant Education Program at McMaster University. She is a member and certificant of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA). Prior to becoming a Physician Assistant, Lauren competed a Bachelor of Science at McMaster University in Life Science with a minor in Psychology. She then went on to complete a Master of Science in Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, and later worked in clinical trials in surgical oncology and urology. Lauren is passionate about bringing evidence based and compassionate care to all patients.

Matt McAllister, BSc (Hon), BHSc (PA), CCPA

Physician Assistant

Matt completed his Physician Assistant training at McMaster University. Prior to this, he studied Biology and Physiology at McMaster. After completing his undergraduate education, Matt worked for two years in University recruitment and admissions, travelling the province to speak to high school students about post-secondary opportunities. During PA school, he developed a passion for addiction medicine during his clerkship rotations in complex general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. In his spare time, you can find him officiating football at the local and provincial levels.

Devon Miller-Scott, BA (Hon)

Clinic & HR Manager

Devon holds dual positions as Clinic and HR Manager at the Halton & Mississauga RAAM Clinic. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from McMaster University, and has twelve years’ experience working in the addiction field in administrative and counselling roles, along with previous work in criminal justice. Her positivity and friendly nature make every patient feel welcome and valued, and her organizational skills and substantial experience strongly benefit our clinic’s operations.

Emily Stitsky, BA (Hon)

Clinic Coordinator

Emily earned her Honours Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Toronto with a major in Criminology and a double minor in French language and Ethics. During university, she served as the events coordinator for an opioid use awareness group, and coordinated naloxone training sessions for students across multiple universities in Ontario. She is currently hoping to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work. Emily is passionate about mental health, and is excited to learn and grow in the field.

Beyonce Forrest, BSc

Clinic Coordinator

Beyonce obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and Mental Health from Carleton University. She is very passionate about the field of Addiction and Mental Health. Beyonce is eager to learn more and gain more practical experience, allowing her to help patients navigate such an important time in their lives. With her experience in the healthcare industry and her educational background, Beyonce is ready to contribute to the HM RAAM Clinic team, and make sure that each patient has a great experience.

Evita Jayathilake 

Clinic Coordinator

Evita began her career in health care in 2018 as an optometric/ophthalmic technician, and through experience discovered her passion for addiction medicine.  She gained over two years of addiction experience working in Hamilton, Ontario, where she continues to support homeless individuals in the community.  Evita is hoping to pursue her nursing degree through McMaster University in the future.

Noor-Kiran Dhillon, BSc

Clinic Coordinator 

Noor-Kiran graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from York University, where she developed a solid understanding of human movement, physical activity, and health promotion. Her passion for enhancing patient outcomes drives her diverse skill set. She is committed to the clinic’s mission of delivering outstanding patient care and dedicated to empowering individuals to live healthier, more active lives.

Waleed Riaz, BSc (Hon), MACP

IT Consultant

Waleed earned his Bachelor’s Degree with Double Majors in Biology for Health Sciences and Psychology from University of Toronto, and completed his Master’s Degree in the field of Counselling Psychology. Waleed has been entrusted with various roles in the healthcare industry, including residential counselling, neurofeedback training, and implementation of Health Information System (HIS) in hospitals. 

Louisa Holub, BASc, MEng

Executive Director and President of Dove Medical Services

Louisa is the President and Co-Founder of Dove Medical Services, the parent company which operates Halton & Mississauga RAAM Clinic, and Executive Director of the clinic. An engineer by training, Louisa worked in the fast-paced software industry as a User Experience Designer/Researcher, Team Lead, and Project Manager for multi-national high-tech companies prior to entering the medical field.  She has a passion for helping others, and is committed to creating clinic environments and processes that optimize care and make patients feel comfortable and valued.