Phone: 780-429-3991 | info@metrocitymedicalclinic.ca

Who we are.

About Metro City

Founded in 2008 to improve access to life-saving treatment for opioid addiction in a non-judgmental health care setting, early in a drug poisoning epidemic.

Why We Exist

Centered Around Patients.

In 2008, it was becoming clear that untreated opioid use disorder (opioid addiction) was having a major impact on individuals, families, communities and public health. At the same time, access to treatment was difficult. Long waiting lists, intimidating environments and weekday-only clinics made it hard for many people to seek care.

We established our first clinic in downtown Edmonton to provide a welcoming place for people to come talk to someone safe, without being made to feel judged or inferior and to start treatment the same day if indicated. Metro City was the first OAT program in the province to initiate treatment any day of the week, and the first to use telemedicine technology to provide access to care for Albertans living outside of major cities.

Working with communities across Alberta, we have grown to provide care in a number of First Nations, a true honour for our team. We now also have two sites in Calgary, four Edmonton locations, and we can connect to patients anywhere in the province. Call780-429-3991MessageSend us a message to talk about your options.

The Metro City Medical Clinic team

Care Team

The People You Talk to Every Day

Tasha
Tasha
Clinic Manager
Tasha developed a passion community involvement and helping people as a volunteer with an inner-city elementary school’s behaviour program. Combining many years of experience working in hospitality and customer service with an education in health service, Tasha was well prepared to lead the team in providing compassionate care for patients when she joined Metro City over eight years ago. It’s her priority to make sure our patients experience a truly caring environment. Tasha’s dedication to her community extends outside of work hours – she’s a fierce Edmonton Oilers fan. (You might see her in a jersey at work on game days.)
Becca
Becca
Sr. Care Coordinator
Becca graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Psychology. Having worked in customer service roles for over 10 years, she’s enthusiastic about helping people directly in a caring environment and making her community a more compassionate and healthy place. Outside of work, Becca loves spending time with friends and family, and traveling to experience other cultures. She’s an adventurous foodie, too. You can bet that Becca will usually have an exciting story about her last trip outside of the city (when she's not showing off pictures of the adorable children in her family)!
Nolan
Nolan
Care Coordinator Extraordinaire
Nolan brings a strong foundation in patient support shaped by his previous experience as a pharmacy assistant. He is dedicated to helping patients navigate their care with confidence and ensuring they feel supported every step of the way. When not at the clinic, Nolan enjoys connecting with friends, discovering new places, and finding small ways to brighten someone’s day.
Maryam
Maryam
Care Coordinator Extraordinaire
Maryam is a patient-focused professional who enjoys creating positive experiences for the people around her. With a background in patient care, customer service, administration, and operations, she brings warmth and organization to every interaction. She genuinely enjoys working with people and takes pride in making things run smoothly and efficiently. Outside of work, Maryam loves good food, meaningful conversations, and long car rides. She values connection, positivity, and finding joy in both the little and big moments of life
Rica
Rica
Care Coordinator Extraordinaire
Rica graduated from college with credentials in Health Unit and Medical Office Coordination. She has worked in special education and psychology where she worked as a pediatric behavioral aide and developed a passion for health and community care. Outside of work, Rica is a devoted military wife and mom, and she spends most of her days outdoors - whether it be a hike with the family, chasing her German shepherd, or mastering her green thumb!
Denise
Denise
Care Coordinator Extraordinaire
Denise graduated from the University of Alberta with degrees in Kinesiology Nursing. She is driven to provide compassionate, community-centered care in safe spaces where patients feel supported and respected, throughout their treatment. When Denise is not at work, she enjoys travelling, spending time with friends, and being physically active!
Mikaela
Mikaela
Care Coordinator Extraordinaire
Mikaela is currently completing her Master of Counselling Psychology degree and is passionate about providing mental health services that are accessible to all. In her free time, she enjoys crochet, pottery, and nature walks.

Our Physicians

Dr. Hakique Virani
Dr. Hakique Virani
MD FRCPC DABAM · Medical Director
Dr. Hakique Virani is a specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine, and has written about critical health issues in the Globe and Mail, Calgary Herald, Boston Globe’s STAT News, CBC, Huffington Post, and VICE News. He is a committed advocate for First Nations health, healthy public policy, social equity, and compassionate care for people who use substances.
Dr. Sajida Afridi
Dr. Sajida Afridi
MBBS MBA MPH FRCPC DABAM ABPM
Dr. Sajida Afridi is a specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine, having completed her residency training at the University of Ottawa. She is a passionate advocate for human rights, health equity for indigenous people, and harm reduction. Fluent in multiple languages (Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashtun, and English), Dr. Afridi is regularly involved in outreach to diverse communities across Alberta and Ontario.
Dr. Lorne Clearsky
Dr. Lorne Clearsky
MD CCFP FRCPC DABAM
Dr. Lorne Clearsky is a specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He has worked at Metro City Medical Clinics since 2012. Dr. Clearsky served as the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the Northwest Territories. He was born in the Waywayseecappo First Nation in Manitoba.
Dr. Shainoor Ismail
Dr. Shainoor Ismail
MD MSc FRCPC
Dr. Shainoor Ismail is a Royal College specialist in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. In addition to her work at Metro City, Dr. Ismail is a national leader in immunization and vaccine preventable diseases with the Public Health Agency of Canada. She has also been the Associate Provincial Health Officer and acted as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province of Alberta.
Dr. Karine Meador
Dr. Karine Meador
MD CCFP DABAM
Dr. Karine Meador is a family physician who completed a fellowship in addiction medicine through the University of Toronto. She is also a Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine. In 2014, as the assistant director of the Inner City Health and Wellness program, she helped launch the Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH) Team at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. This multidisciplinary team brings compassionate and evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders, stabilization of social inequities, and harm reduction to acute care medicine. Dr. Meador is also a clinical lecturer with the University of Alberta, an avid educator, and the incoming President of the Alberta Medical Association Section of Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Zeenat Patel
Dr. Zeenat Patel
MD MPH MBA CCFP FRCPC
Dr. Zeenat Patel is a public health and preventive medicine specialist and a family doctor. She completed medical school in Calgary, her residencies at the University of Toronto, and graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University. While she has spent many years of her career working abroad to address health and social inequities at a population level, Dr. Patel finds her clinical practice with patients at Metro City to be equally rewarding.
Dr. Jeffrey Pugh
Dr. Jeffrey Pugh
MD MSc FRCSC
Dr. Jeff Pugh is a neurosurgeon. Outside of the operating room, Dr. Pugh’s work at Metro City is an opportunity to provide preventative care and treatment for people who use substances, a clinical practice he finds to be very rewarding.
Dr. Rizwan Qureshi
Dr. Rizwan Qureshi
MD CCFP
Dr. Qureshi has worked with Metro City since 2020 and has been a key member of the team advancing treatment access for Indigenous communities. Outside of his work with Metro City, he works in primary care oncology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary.
Dr. Nureen Sumar
Dr. Nureen Sumar
MD MSc CCFP
Dr. Nureen Sumar is a primary care oncologist who also works in palliative care and addiction medicine. For her leadership and community service, Dr. Sumar has received several awards including the Murray Stalker award for leadership in primary care and the Terry Fox Humanitarian award. Outside of her work at Metro City and in global health initiatives, she is a widely recorded musician and singer in many languages.
Dr. Rajdeep Kandola
Dr. Rajdeep Kandola
MD CCFP
Dr. Rajdeep Kandola is a family doctor and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary School of Medicine. Between his work at Metro City Medical Clinic and his role as the physician lead at the East Calgary Family Care Clinic, Dr. Kandola has devoted much of his career to providing and teaching about integrated patient-centred care with a focus on people with complex health needs.
Dr. Steven Persaud
Dr. Steven Persaud
MD CCFP
Dr. Steven Persaud is a family physician who completed medical school in Calgary and residency training in Vancouver. He spent the last several years practicing inner-city medicine in Vancouver’s Downtown eastside with a focus on the treatment of substance use conditions and hepatitis C infection. He splits his time between Metro City and various family practice clinics. When not at work, he enjoys all things outdoors.
Dr. Clark Schommer
Dr. Clark Schommer
MD CCFP
Originally from Saskatchewan, Dr. Schommer attended medical school in Edmonton and then moved to Calgary for residency training in family medicine. He splits his professional time between Metro City and various family medicine clinics, and also teaches students of the University of Calgary School of Medicine. He loves heading to the mountains, ideally with a bicycle or two.
Dr. Shakeel Qazi
Dr. Shakeel Qazi
MD CCFP
Dr. Shakeel Qazi is a Calgary-raised physician and University of Alberta graduate with a clinical focus in mental health and addiction medicine. He is committed to providing accessible, patient-centred care through innovative community and virtual healthcare models.
Dr. Aman Haji
Dr. Aman Haji
MD MSc LLM CCFP CISAM
Dr. Aman Haji is an addiction medicine and family physician. With a broad educational background spanning healthcare law and ethics, chiropractic and acupuncture, and health promotion, Dr. Haji primarily practices in Alberta and British Columbia supporting patients who struggle with addiction. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and the University of Calgary where he teaches medical residents and students about topics relating to addiction.
Dr. Ingrid Vicas
Dr. Ingrid Vicas
MSc MDCM CCFP(EM) DABMT FACMT FRCPC
Dr. Ingrid Vicas is a Medical Toxicologist and specialist in Emergency Medicine. She is an enthusiastic faculty member at both the University of Calgary and University of Alberta Schools of Medicine. In addition to her work with Metro City Medical Clinic, Dr. Vicas serves as a physician member of the Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team (CSART). She previously served as the Director and Medical Director of the Alberta and Saskatchewan Poison Centre (PADIS). Dr. Vicas has also been actively involved with Scouts Canada and Girl Guides of Canada. She is fluent in English, French, and Romanian, and is able to understand German and Italian.

COME TALK WITH US

No referral needed. No out-of-pocket cost. Walk in, message or call any day we are open.

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In crisis? Call 211 (Alberta) or 911 in an emergency.
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