FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATELINE: TORONTO
The Ontario Association of Gastroenterology (OAG), at its Annual General Meeting held in Toronto on October 25, 2026, elected Natasha Bollegala, Hon BSc., MD, MSc., FRCPC, as its President for the 2026-27 year.
Dr. Bollegala graduated from the University of Toronto (U of T) medical school in 2009, completed Internal Medicine residency at McMaster University, Gastroenterology residency at U of T, an Advanced Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto and an MSc. in Clinical Epidemiology and Healthcare Research at U of T in 2016. She is a graduate of the Eliot Phillipson Clinician Scientist Training, and the Clinician Investigator Program at the University of Toronto).
She is a staff gastroenterologist at Women’s College Hospital, and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, U of T. She is a clinician in Quality and Innovation.
Her primary clinical and research focus centers on IBD, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A key aspect of that research is studying and improving how adolescent and young adult IBD patients transition from pediatric care to adult medical care. She focuses on healthcare quality improvement and equitable care for vulnerable populations. She is co-principal investigator for the national transition arm of the Promoting Access to Care in IBD (PACE) quality improvement program of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC). She co-chairs the Canadian IBD Transition Network (CITE). She has published and presented on the topic of the impact of gender on the career experiences of gastroenterologists. She is Chair of the Quality Improvement Committee, Division of Gastroenterology, U of T. She is Chair of the Ontario Medical Association Section on Gastroenterology. Prior to her election as President of OAG, she served as Vice President and Conference Chair.
The following individuals were also elected to the OAG Board of Directors:
Dr. Daniel Green
Dr. Lee Roth
Dr. Mohammad Yaghoobi
Dr. Brian Chan
Dr. Nitasha Anand
Dr. Emily Ching
Dr. Morven Cunningham
Dr. Sam Elfassy
Dr. Kyle Flortinsky
Dr. Ilan Medad
Dr. Keith McIntosh
Dr. Scott Shulman
Dr. Laura Targownik
Dr. Harry Wu
Dr. Elaine Yeung
The Ontario Association of Gastroenterology is a non-profit association, incorporated, serving the practice of gastroenterology in Ontario, promoting, maintaining and improving its knowledge and standards. The Association represents Ontario gastroenterologists in discussions, meetings and communications with other groups including the Ontario Medical Association, the Government of Ontario and other health professionals. By representing the specialty of gastroenterology, it is the official voice of Ontario Gastroenterologists.
For further information, contact:
Ms. Melonie Hart, Director of Operations
Ontario Association of Gastroenterology
2800 – 14th Avenue, Suite 210
Markham, ON L3R 0E4
Tel: (416) 494-7233
Toll Free: 1-866-560-7585
E-mail: info@gastro.on.ca
