Our Team
Sasha High MD FRCPC ABOM
Dr. Sasha High is the Founder and CEO of the High Metabolic Clinic. She was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada. She first undertook a Bachelor of Sciences from the University of Ottawa then completed her medical doctorate (MD) and Internal Medicine residency (FRCPC) at the University of Toronto. She is certified as an American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) diplomate and holds a Lecturer appointment with the University of Toronto. Dr. High has been practicing bariatric medicine since 2013.
Dr. High has a special interest in nutrition and mindset. She is a huge proponent of personal development and loves empowering people to thrive in their life by transforming from the inside out. She is a certified Life Coach and Weight Loss Coach, and has additional training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
You can find her on Instagram or the High on Life Podcast.
Dr. High is a wife and mother of three young children. In her spare time, she enjoys marathon running, veggie gardening, and kitesurfing with her husband.
Navreet Deol MD FRCPC
Dr. Deol is a board certified Endocrinologist with an interest in managing metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Ottawa and her Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellowship at Dalhousie University.
She devotes her work to preventing chronic disease, and minimizing chronic disease complications through identifying and encouraging healthy behaviours for her patients to adopt. She has undertaken additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help patients embark upon behavioural changes so they can achieve their best weight. Her goal is to support patients on their journey to achieve their healthiest and happiest version of themselves.
Dr. Deol passionately educates other health care professionals, including family physicians, through speaking engagements and presentations. She also enjoys mentoring medical students, and currently provides mentorship through the Ontario Medical Students Association.
In her free time, she’s happiest when spending quality time with her family and friends. She also loves the Canadian outdoors. You can find her exploring and hiking new trails and biking in her spare time.
Nathalie Ranger MD CCFP (AM) ABOM
Dr. Nathalie Ranger is a primary care physician providing psychotherapy to support sustained lifestyle change in treatment of obesity and related metabolic conditions. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Western University, and subsequently earned her medical doctorate (MD) at McMaster University. She completed her family medicine residency at Queen’s University, followed by an addiction medicine fellowship at the University of Toronto.
Following her passion for mental health, goal-oriented behaviour change, and pursuit of a meaningful, healthy lifestyle, Dr. Ranger has expanded her practice to utilize psychotherapeutic techniques to support sustainable lifestyle change. She has gained valuable knowledge through obesity medicine mentorships and ongoing medical education. She is certified as an American Board of Obesity Medicine diplomate.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, and experimenting with nutritious baking recipes.
Sheliza Lalani MD MPH ABIM
Dr. Sheliza Lalani is a board certified Endocrinologist and Internist with an interest in diabetes, obesity and nutrition.
She completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. She has a Masters of Public Health from Boston University where her thesis focused on the impact of nutrition on chronic disease and food security. She was born and raised in Toronto and is excited to be practicing back at home.
She has taken additional courses including the Yale Happiness Course and training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help her patients achieve their best life.
She enjoys spending her free time with family and close friends. You can also find Sheliza out for a run, slowing down with her yoga practice or curled up on the couch catching up with her latest book club selection.
Catherine Barrett MD FRCPC
Dr. Barrett is a board-certified Endocrinologist. Originally from Ottawa, Dr. Barrett completed her undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences at Western University. She met her husband, now a practicing family physician, while completing her medical doctorate (MD) at the University of Ottawa. She happily moved back to London, Ontario to complete her Internal medicine training (FRCPC) and fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at Western University.
Dr. Barrett has been seeing patients in her community Endocrine practice since 2017 where she discovered a passion for helping patients make meaningful and sustainable behavior changes. Early on she realized that many of her patient referrals were experiencing symptoms and/or complications from untreated obesity as a chronic disease. In order to support her patients better, Dr. Barrett has pursued additional training in the area of Acceptance Commitment Therapy.
In her spare time, she is busy with her two young children exploring new parks and trails. With two picky eaters, Dr. Barrett understands the challenge of meal time. She enjoys physical fitness and aims to incorporate movement into her daily schedule.
Dr. Barrett is excited to join the High Metabolic Clinic where she will be providing virtual care to patients with elevated weight and obesity.
Michael Beyaert MD FRCPC
Dr. Michael Beyaert is a General Internist who completed his MD, Internal Medicine Residency, and General Internal Medicine Fellowship at the University of Toronto, with a special interest in cardiovascular disease. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Western University and a Master's degree in Neuroscience from McMaster University, giving him a unique perspective on metabolic health. He is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to the High Metabolic Clinic to provide personalized treatment plans and empower patients to improve their overall health and quality of life.
Dr. Beyaert's professional interests include medical education and interprofessional collaboration. He serves as a Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor for the University of Toronto’s MD and Internal Medicine training programs, and created a course on collaborating with Registered Dietitians, which he teaches as part of the University of Toronto’s Interprofessional Education curriculum.
Outside of medicine Dr. Beyaert enjoys fitness, cycling, golf, hiking, cooking, and playing guitar.
Olivia Cook MD FRCPC
Dr Cook completed her medical doctorate at the University of Ottawa. She then went on to complete a residency in Internal Medicine as well as a fellowship in Endocrinology and Metabolism at McMaster University.
Tedi Nikova MPH, Registered Dietitian
Tedi obtained her Master’s of Public Health in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Toronto. During her internship, she had the opportunity to work at North York Generals’-Centre for Complex Diabetes Care, where she applied her skills in nutrition therapy for patients diagnosed with diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic diseases. Tedi began her dietetics career in the Obesity field, where she applied nutrition therapy combined with behavioural techniques to motivate her patients in achieving a dietary pattern, and lifestyle, that is sustainable and aligned with her patients’ values.
Tedi, additionally, obtained her Specialization in Women’s Health from the Women’s College Hospital, during her master’s degree. Tedi has a passion, and commitment in educating women on the large role of nutrition in common conditions including PCOS, and hypothyroidism. Tedi’s goal is to aid women in gaining their energy, confidence, and ambition, so her patients can show up to life as their best self!
Tedi works collaboratively with patients utilizing motivational counselling, and cognitive behavioural techniques. Tedi is a certified Craving Change Facilitator.
Tedi is additionally a recipe developer, with a niche in creating lower carbohydrate sweet treats! She has a huge passion, and commitment to make healthier desserts taste great!
Ina Benkova Registered Dietitian
Ina is a Registered Dietitian (RD) in Ontario, specializing in emotional eating and binge eating disorder, nutrition management for menopause, fitness nutrition, and family meal planning.
Ina has additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for emotional eating and binge-eating disorder.
Her approach is warm, non-judgmental and direct. She strives to offer a new perspective on eating patterns, lifestyle choices, and mental health challenges that are standing in the way of achieving lasting weight loss and a healed relationship with food.
Deanna Barlow Deutsch Registered Psychotherapist
Deanna is a registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and a Certified Canadian Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Deanna has her undergraduate degree as a special education teacher, her Masters in Counselling and is currently working on her Doctoral degree in Behavioral Health. Deanna has been a Psychotherapist since 2006.
Deanna underwent her own lifelong health journey with chronic obesity and at the age of 41 years of age she began an 8 year long journey (ultimately a life long journey) to release 118 lbs and find and maintain her best weight. Deanna knows how challenging it can be to work through the desire for an instant fix and struggles with body image, ADHD, realigning your focus on self care (in the face of the autopilot to put service to others ahead of yourself) and creating daily healthy habits that become the new normal. Making choices that create a sustainable, enjoyable and fulfilling life takes experiencing setbacks and failing forward Deanna is all too familiar with. Deanna was determined to make these healthy changes for life with the skills she has had as a psychotherapist and by accessing any and all support she needed from other health providers along the way. Deanna is skilled at supporting each unique individual's needs for Cognitive restructuring when habitual thoughts do not support our long term health goals
Having been a support to many over Deanna's career as a therapist, specializing in ADHD, body image issues, teaching healthy behavioral change strategies, helping others develop their voice for healthy communication, conflict resolution skills, providing support for others to navigate healthy boundary setting and providing psychotherapy with best practice tools to support those struggling with anxiety, depression and addictive behaviors, Deanna has had the honor of helping many through the inevitable ups and downs of life.
Deanna believes we all hit the limit of our resources to cope, at times, physically, mentally and emotionally and need some support. She is always honored to take that sacred path with another human through the dark times to see more bright and hopeful times ahead. Teaching skills to self soothe, move through tough emotional states, understand our own inner workings, needs and challenges is something she believes is a privilege to be able to do in her work. Deanna has felt very blessed to be there with those seeking her support in their vulnerable time and help them see their own brilliance beyond the disillusionment they may experience in the struggle of the moment. Deanna believes that remembering our strengths and seeing our own capacity to heal, grow and overcome challenges is such a beautiful journey.
Andrea Florez Office Administrator
Andrea is responsible for overseeing and managing the overall administrative tasks at High Metabolic Clinic. She is passionate about empowering women to take control of their health and well-being. She believes that the combination of medical and coaching programs is an innovative
approach to addressing women's healthcare needs, and she is excited to be part of this mission.
Andrea is deeply passionate about all aspects of human health and finds the brain extremely interesting, so much so that she went back to school to pursue her psychology degree. She sees this field as a vehicle that she can use to help others. Andrea has a background in CBT coaching and extensive customer service experience. She is excited to be part of a team that empowers individuals through comprehensive wellness support because it resonates with her enthusiasm for delivering exceptional service, building meaningful relationships, and promoting overall well-being.
In her spare time, Andrea enjoys exercising, reading about personal growth, hiking with her golden doodle and playing pickle ball.