Meet the Team

Dr. Tasso Irinakis

Dr. Tasso Irinakis is a certified specialist in Periodontics and one of the current leaders in comprehensive Implant Patient Care and in Implant Education for dental professionals. He serves the community in his clinics in Courtenay, Nanaimo & Vancouver, BC. He is the former Director of Graduate Periodontics & Implant Surgery at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and currently continues to serve the Faculty of Dentistry as a Clinical Associate Professor.

Dr. Irinakis was recognized for his clinical and academic skills and served for several years as an international faculty member of the prestigious “PAADI” dental institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Prince Abdul Rahman Advance Dental Institute). He visited Riadh numerous times over the years to teach graduate residents and to treat VIP patients of the Kingdom.

He is a co-founder of WCI (West Coast Institute for Dental Education), which is dedicated to teaching dentists and other dental professionals, every aspect of Implant Dentistry, Bone Grafting and Periodontal Surgery.

Dr. Irinakis has been honored twice by the American Academy of Periodontology with the “2005 Educator Award” for outstanding mentoring & teaching in Periodontics and with the “2010 Educator Award” for excellence in teaching and mentoring in the field of Periodontics. He continues to serve his profession as a Reviewer of several scientific journals and has authored several papers in scientific journals on Bone Grafting, Sinus Grafting and Dental Implant Research in general. Dr. Tasso Irinakis lectures actively in study clubs, conferences and hands-on courses for dental professionals, nationally and internationally.

Tasso is known for his caring personality and enjoying his time with his wife and three children. He plays soccer, tennis and loves skiing in the winter.

Dr. Les Campbell

Dr. Les Campbell started his career in the Canadian Armed Forces, which saw him deployed twice. He completed the 2-year Advanced General Dentistry program in Fort Hood, Texas with the United States Army Dental Corps, graduating as valedictorian of his class in 2004. After becoming board-certified with the American Board of General Dentistry in 2005, he remained actively involved with the organization, serving as an instructor and examiner, and eventually President.

Dr. Campbell completed his Master of Science in Craniofacial Science with a specialty diploma in Endodontics from the University of British Columbia. He is board-certified as an endodontist by the Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Dr. Campbell currently serves as the Endodontics Division Head at the University of Alberta. He was awarded the 2017 Excellence in Clincal Teaching Award, voted by the U of A dental students in Oct 2017, and is the 2018 Honary Grad Class President.

Dr. Campbell has co-authored numerous articles that have been published in the Journal of Endodontics and in the International Endodontic Journal. Dr. Campbell also enjoys volunteering his dental services to less-privileged populations in the third world, having completed mission trips to both Venezuela and Cambodia.

Dr. Jonathan Bouwer

Dr. Jonathan Bouwer is a Board Certified Specialist in Periodontics. He completed his dental surgery degree in 2007 at the University of Western Cape in his native South Africa. The year after graduation, Jonathan started his career volunteering his services in remote rural communities of South Africa and completed a postgraduate diploma in implantology. He continued to work for nearly a decade in Cape Town and Johannesburg as a general practitioner providing a wide range of care, from complex restorative rehabilitation, to laser dentistry, oral surgery and implants.

Jonathan moved to Canada and completed the Graduate Periodontics Program at the University of Manitoba under the mentorship of world renowned instructors. He not only excelled in his studies, but he designed and completed his Masters research in the field of Growth Factors and Alveolar Ridge Preservation, making him one of the few experts on this topic in Western Canada.

Jonathan is currently partnered in two multi-speciality practices where he performs full spectrum periodontics on upper and central Vancouver Island and is also a part time clinical assistant professor at the postgraduate periodontics department of the University of British Columbia.

Jonathan has a special interest in skiing, biking, fishing and camping on Vancouver Island and prides himself on entertaining and cooking for his family and friends.

Dr. Simon Abbey

Dr. Simon Abbey spent most of his childhood in Rossland, BC and as an adult has lived longer in Vancouver than any other city, but he’s also lived in several other BC cities as well as spending portions of his life in the UK, Ontario, and Quebec. He’s had a varied career as a dentist and endodontist, both with the Canadian Forces Dental Services (at CFB/BFC Esquimalt, St. Jean, Ottawa, Valcartier, Kandahar, Petawawa) and in private practice in Fernie, Duncan, Ottawa, Vancouver, Burnaby, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo and now in Courtenay. He went to Queen’s University at Kingston before his dental studies at UBC, returning to UBC years later to complete his endodontic residency. His Zen moments are on the ski hill in the wintertime (on one board or two), and on a paddleboard in the summer, preferably with his three children, who live in Ontario but visit him regularly.

Dr. Aminder Singh Verraich

BSc, DDS, Dip Endo FRCD(C)

Dr. Aminder Singh Verraich is a certified endodontist with a strong commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centered care. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 2009, followed by a Diploma in Endodontics at the University of Pittsburgh, which he completed in 2011.

Shortly after, Dr. Verraich established a thriving private practice in Guelph, Ontario which he ran for a decade. He was also an active member of the Ontario Dental Association and served as President of the Waterloo Wellington Dental Society in 2019.

In 2021, Dr. Verraich and his family made the decision to relocate to Vancouver Island, where he has contributed to the dental community and continued to deliver high-quality endodontic care. Known for his gentle chairside manner and compassionate approach, Dr. Verraich is dedicated to ensuring his patients feel comfortable and respected throughout their treatment.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Verraich enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two children, exploring the natural beauty of the Island.

Dr. Rashi Chaturvedi

Dr. Rashi Chaturvedi is a board certified specialist in Periodontics, a Fellow of The Royal College of Dentists of Canada and a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. She received her dental degree and a Master’s in Periodontology from India and worked as a specialist for 8 years. In 2014, she moved to Canada and further completed a 3 yrs. Master’s in Craniofacial Sciences and Diploma in Periodontics from the University of British Columbia. During her residency, she was was recognized for both her academic and clinical excellence and received the prestigious ‘Nobel Bio-care Achievement award in Osseointegration’. She ranked in the top 4% of the North American Residents in the American Academy of Periodontology in-service examination in the years 2016 and 2017. Her keen interest in research has led to several contributions in peer-reviewed journals. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC Dental School. In her leisure time she enjoys cooking, reading and travelling with her husband and son.

Dr. Ethan Struthers-Lavoie

Dr. Ethan Struthers-Lavoie, or Dr. TEETHan to his patients, grew up in the forest of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Dr. Ethan’s passion for dentistry started when he was three, when he asked to have his birthday party at the dental office. Unfortunately, he never was able to celebrate in the clinic because his mom said, “Ethan, I don’t think anyone will show up.”

Dr. Ethan has always worked with his hands, working most of his life in the construction industry. His entry into dentistry started with his employment as a dental technician during his undergraduate degree.

Dr. Ethan attended the University of British Columbia, where he earned his BSc (2016), DMD (2022), and MSc, with a diploma in Periodontics (2025). Dr. Ethan has won numerous clinical and leadership awards during his time at UBC. Dr. Ethan’s proudest achievement was being presented with two clinical teaching awards, voted by the Doctor of Dental Medicine students he instructed.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Ethan likes to spend time with his family, walk his dog, skateboard, ride bikes, cook, and bake.

Following graduation, Dr. Ethan, his wife Lauren (who is a dental hygienist), and their poodle Rowynn are excited to make the Comox Valley their new home.

Dr. Amr Farrag

Dr. Amr Farrag is a Board-certified prosthodontist with over 19 years of experience, recognized for his expertise in advanced dental care and his commitment to both patients and education. He graduated with honors in 2006 and began his career combining clinical practice with an academic role.

After relocating to Canada, Dr. Farrag successfully completed the Canadian equivalency process and earned his dental license in British Columbia. He went on to pursue a Master’s degree and a Diploma in Prosthodontics at the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he now serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor, mentoring future dentists.

Dr. Farrag is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada and is affiliated with the BC Cancer Agency.

His commitment to research and innovation has been recognized with several awards, including:

Association of Prosthodontics of Canada Award for Academic Achievement (2022)
American College of Prosthodontics Education Foundation Research Fellowship Grant (2023)
Dr. Christopher Wyatt Graduate Award in Dentistry (2024)
Faculty of Dentistry Graduate Award (2024)

With a strong background in advanced dental care, teaching, and research, Dr. Farrag is dedicated to offering his patients the highest standard of treatment and care.

Outside of dentistry, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.