Dr. Charles Lekic
DDM (Hons), MSc, PhD, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Charles Lekic teaches pediatric dentistry and is the recipient of major national and international teaching awards for excellence in dental education. At the same time his research work on cell transplantation has been internationally recognized and supported by provincial and federal grants.
For over 30 years, Dr. Lekic has successfully practiced pediatric dentistry in Europe and in North America. He believes that the essential role of a pediatric dentist is to increase the awareness in a child-patient for the lifetime care of his/her teeth and to build the relationship between the child-patient, parent, and the dental team.
Dr. Julie Maniate
BSc, DMD, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Julie Maniate, a native of Winnipeg, is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg, where she received her Bachelor of Science (4-year) degree. She received her dental degree from the University of Manitoba. Following her graduation from dental school, Dr. Maniate completed a one-year General Practice Residency program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. She then returned to Winnipeg to serve as the Clinical Director of the Undergraduate Pediatric Dentistry program at the University of Manitoba and to work in private practice.
Following this, Dr. Maniate decided to pursue post-graduate training. She completed her two-year specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.
Dr. Maniate is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
In addition to providing dental care for her patients, Dr. Maniate enjoys teaching at the University of Manitoba, playing the piano, painting and traveling.
Dr. Milos Lekic
BSc (Dent), DMD, MSc, FRCD(C) – Orthodontist
Dr. Milos Lekic completed his dental and orthodontic education in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba. As both a clinical practitioner and an educator, he enjoys being exposed to both aspects of the vibrant and ever changing field of orthodontics.
Dr. Lekic’s research interests are in the field of biomechanics. Because of this he is employing passive-self ligating bracket technologies through the use of Smart Clip brackets.
He enjoys spending time with his wife Erin and son Luka, listening to music, wakeboarding and writing in his spare time.
Dr. Chris Yue
BSc, DMD, MSc, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Yue was born in Winnipeg, where he completed his undergraduate dental training at the University of Manitoba. After 4 fulfilling years of practicing general dentistry in the private practice setting, Dr. Yue moved to Minnesota to focus his dental career on treating children. He attended the University of Minnesota obtaining a certificate of pediatric dentistry. During his time there he was able to earn his Masters of Science degree for his research on curing characteristics of dental sealant. This research was later published in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Dr. Yue is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Board certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He also spends his time as a board examiner for the RCDC as well as working with under privileged children at Smile Plus dental clinic. He is also happily married with 3 growing children.
Dr. Jay Biber
DMD, MPH, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Biber completed his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree at the University of Manitoba in 1999. In 2002 he completed his specialty training in pediatric dentistry (Cert.Ped.Dent.) at the University of Minnesota, where he also a completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. Dr. Biber is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCD(C)) in Pediatric Dentistry.
Committed to caring for the children he sees, Dr. Biber provides excellence in clinical care while respecting the importance of developing a positive attitude towards future dental care. He maintains a special interest in the prevention of dental disease and treating medically compromised children.
Dr. Biber lives in Winnipeg with his wife, Melanie, and their three children. When time permits, he enjoys kite boarding, mountain biking, scuba diving, and photography. He is conversationally fluent in German and is currently learning Spanish.
Dr. Robert Pesun
BSc, DMD, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Robert Pesun was born and raised in Winnipeg. He completed a BSc. in Biochemistry at the University of Winnipeg before acquiring his dental degree at the University of Manitoba.
After graduation Dr. Pesun spent 2 years as an intern at the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital and then completed a specialty program in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Minnesota.
He currently works with special needs patients at the Winnipeg Children‘s Hospital, teaches Pediatric Dentistry part time at the University of Manitoba and practices with us here at Children’s Dental World.
Dr. Nick Lekic
DMD, M.Dent, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
In 2014, Dr. Lekic completed his specialty training in pediatric dentistry (M.Dent) at the University of Manitoba and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCD(C)) in Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Christina Chan
BSc, DDS, MDent, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Christina Chan is originally from Toronto, Ontario. After graduating from University of Western Ontario and obtaining her Doctor of Dental Surgery, she arrived in Winnipeg for her hospital internship at the Health Science Center where she specialize in treating medically compromised and special needs patients. After working 3 years as a general dentist both in private practice and on hospital service, she decided to specialize and focus her work on children because she is a strong believer in prevention rather than intervention and what better way to prevent than helping children and their family manage the whole dental experience!
Dr. Chan completed her certificate in pediatric dentistry and Masters in Dental Science at University of Manitoba. She moved to Vancouver, BC after she obtained her Canadian and American Board certifications in 2015 to be with her husband while working in and out with Children’s Dental World in Regina, SK. In 2018, she moved back to Winnipeg and started working at Children’s Dental World. Having 2 young children herself, Dr. Chan knows the difficulties parents face to instill good brushing and eating habits in the home and loves to provide ideas to overcome these challenges and help kids and parents have gentle and positive dental experiences.
Dr. Fadi Kass
BSc, DMD, MSc, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr Kass is a local Manitoban, at least that’s what he tells us. Although he spent his early childhood years in Nigeria and grew up in Ontario, he has been here most of his life. He attended the University of Manitoba receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, followed by 4 years at the Faculty of Dentistry earning his Dental degree.
Because of his enthusiasm for treating kids, Dr Kass spent one year as a resident at Children‘s Hospital in Winnipeg working with a large majority of children with special needs. After that Dr Kass chose to pursue yet more advanced training spending another 2 years in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota in conjunction with Hennepin County Hospital and Fairview Hospital earning his master’s degree as a specialist in pediatric dentistry.
When not caring for his patients Dr Kass enjoys soccer, tennis, and some quiet time reading. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife and two children.
Dr. Robert Drummond
BChD, DipOdont(Ortho), MChD(Ortho), FDC(SA), FRCD(C)- Orthodontist
Dr. Robert Drummond is a specialist orthodontist who came to Canada in 2014 to join us here at Children’s Dental World to provide excellent orthodontic care to our patients. He is also an Assistant Professor and Director of the Graduate Orthodontic Clinic at the University of Manitoba. He enjoys spending time with his family and travelling together. Dr. Drummond qualified as a dentist at the University of Pretoria and received the South African Dental Association Gold Medal in Orthodontics, Periodontics and Oral Medicine. He practised as a dentist in the United Kingdom for four years before returning to the University of Pretoria to pursue his interest in orthodontics. Here he first completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Orthodontics (Cum Laude) and then the 4-year full-time specialty Master’s degree in Orthodontics. Dr. Drummond practised as an orthodontist for ten years in Pretoria before coming to Canada. He has a Fellowship in Orthodontics with The College of Dentistry of South Africa and a Fellowship in Orthodontics with The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Dr. Tara Kennedy
BSc, DDS, MDent, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Tara Kennedy completed a BSc. In Food and Nutrition at Western University before completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the same school in London, Ontario. Following graduation, Dr. Kennedy completed a General Practice Residency at the IWK Children’s Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This year confirmed her interest in treating children, so she moved to Winnipeg for a three-year specialty training in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Manitoba.
Deciding that there was no such thing as too much education, Dr. Kennedy chose to spend a year in Australia serving as the Senior Registrar of the dental department at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Here she focused on treating children with complex medical conditions and those with traumatic injuries. Loving to travel and learn from others around the world, Dr. Kennedy spent a year in Galway, Ireland practicing in a Pediatric dental office before returning home to Canada. Dr. Kennedy is excited to now call Winnipeg home and to be part of the CDW family. When not at CDW, she works with the SMILE plus children’s dental program and is a sessional instructor at the University of Manitoba, College of Dentistry. She loves spending time with friends and family, either exploring outside or testing out new recipes!
Dr. Carmen Cymbalisty
DDM (Hons), MSc, PhD, FRCD(C) – Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Cymbalisty was born right here in Winnipeg and raised in the rural community of Fisher Branch, Manitoba. She remained there until the age of thirteen when she was accepted into a private boarding school right here in Winnipeg. Knowing from a very young age that she wanted to help people, it was natural that she would pursue a career in health care. After achieving her Bachelor of Sciences at the University of Manitoba (Honors) with a Major in Microbiology and Zoology, she was accepted into the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba to eventually achieve her Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD).
As a General Dentist for almost a decade, Dr. Cymbalisty worked for First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) flying-in, driving on dirt and ice roads, sledding, and boating into remote Manitoba Communities to provide dental services. She has also worked in the private sector in Winnipeg, The Pas, and Grande Prairie (Alberta).
After surviving a battle with Breast Cancer, Dr. Cymbalisty was matched with a Graduate Residency Program in Pediatric and Special Needs Dentistry at New York University in Manhattan, New York. She has practiced as a Pediatric Dentist for nearly a decade in Calgary, Alberta and is now back in Winnipeg to be closer to family. Since newly moved back here with her husband and son, she is committed to providing oral care and education to children and adolescents.
Dr. Akash Patel
BSc, DDS – General Dentist
Dr. Akash Patel was born in India, moving to Brandon, Manitoba when he was 6 years old, where he lived until leaving for dental school. His university journey included completing a Bachelor Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Brandon University before moving to Toronto to pursue his dream of becoming a dentist. A dream realized in 2022 when he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree with Honours.
Upon graduation, he was excited to discover an opportunity that would combine his passion for dentistry and working with children, right here in Manitoba. Dr. Patel joined the Children’s Dental World shortly afterwards and has been a valued part of the CDW family ever since.
Outside of dentistry, Dr. Patel enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors , playing various sports and video games, and of course spending time with friends and family!
Dr. Bradley Klus
Pediatric Dentist
Biography