Learn for Life - Speaker Bios

Dr. Rachel Carson

Dr. Carson arrived in Nanaimo from London, England’s Royal Free Hospital where she was a Research Fellow. She completed her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at McGill University, her MD at Queens, her Family Practice Residency at UBC’s Victoria Site, her Internal Medicine Residency at UBC, and her Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Western Ontario.

Dr. Carson specifically chose the Central Vancouver Island due to the need for a Renal Unit. Together, Nephrologists  Dr. Mike Kenyon of Nanoose Bay, Dr. Suvi Rasaiah of Qualicum, and Dr. Rachel Carson of Nanaimo have created a united front and are eager to open the doors to the new Renal Dialysis Unit this Fall.

Dr. Drew Digney

Dr. Drew Digney moved to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital in 2000, from Prince George.  Practicing medicine in Prince George from 1993 to 2000, he had an independent family practice as well as being half-time staff physician at Prince George Regional General Hospital.  He was appointed Head of Emergency Medicine at NRGH in 2001.

Drew obtained his B.Sc. (honours) in Biology, from Queens University in 1986.  He received his MD from the University of British Columbia in 1992.  He did his internship at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Drew has been closely involved in teaching emergency medicine.  Since 1994, he has supervised Residents and medical students during their rotations in Emergency Departments.  He serves on numerous professional committees. He is also a member of several societies, including the BC Medical Association, the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians.

Drew is married, with children.  He and his family enjoyed living in Prince George and now greatly enjoying living here.

Dr. Michael Dunne

Dr. Michel Dunne graduated from University College Dublin in 1979. He completed a Family Medicine Residency in Saskatoon followed by a Residency in Emergency Medicine in Ottawa.

Dr. Dunne then worked as an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatchewan for five years before moving to Nanaimo. He worked Emergency Medicine in Nanaimo and then returned to Family Medicine. In February 2006 he undertook training with the B.C Cancer Agency and now works full time as a G.P. Oncologist at the Cancer Clinic in Nanaimo.

Darcy O'Toole

Darcy has been a Community Pharmacist for 15 years. She grew up in Nanaimo, BC and graduated from UBC Pharmacy in 1992.

Darcy completed a Diploma in Asthma Care in 1999 after which she became the owner of Qualicum Medicine Centre Pharmacy.

She opened Memorial Compounding Medicine Centre Pharmacy in 2004 and Nanoose Medicine Centre Pharmacy in 2006.

Currently Darcy is married with two children, Seamus and Delaney.