Leading the way in system reform

Hopefully by now, you will have seen my address at the spring annual general meeting and messages in OMA News detailing exactly how proud I am to represent you and how grateful I am for your sacrifices over the past year. This time I wanted to share a little more about me, not as president, but as a colleague.  

Born and raised in Toronto as the son of East African immigrants, I am the first in my immediate family to graduate from university. After nearly 15 years of undergraduate and postgraduate training, I am thrilled to have settled down in my hometown with my wife, Naila, a family doctor, and our recently adopted rescue dog, Lucy. 

I am a physiatrist and clinical associate at Runnymede Healthcare Centre, and serve as a faculty lecturer in the Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto. My clinical work involves treating some of the most impaired and marginalized patients in our society; patients who have had strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations and other muscle, bone and nerve injuries. Every day, I work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, and allied health partners to improve the quality of life of my patients, and I bring this expertise to my work as OMA president. 

The remarkable pace of vaccine administration, dovetailed with decreasing case numbers and improved ICU capacity shows that we are beginning to round the corner on this pandemic. As we work to rehabilitate our health-care system, we know that physicians will be relied upon to work through the backlog of care and help our patients manage the effects of delayed care. This additional burden must come with adequate and sustainable support and resourcing. I am highly motivated to champion our cause at the highest levels of government and with other stakeholders. I do this knowing that Ontario’s doctors have the skills and expertise to lead the charge and build back smarter and am excited to stand with you. Your tireless work throughout COVID-19 has only been matched by your innovation to transform our health-care system, practically overnight. It is this ingenuity that gives me confidence in our collective ability to rise to the myriad of challenges we face.   

We also know the challenges experienced were not equal. The pandemic exposed inequities faced by diverse communities across the province. Despite this, I have been inspired by the advocacy of so many physicians working to make our system better for all and providing a blueprint for the OMA as we continue to apply the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion to our work. 

I first engaged with the OMA as the youngest chair of the Section on Physiatry, and I continue it now as the youngest and first Ismaili Muslim president of our 140-year-old organization. Being your president is a responsibility I take very seriously, and I am committed to working my hardest every single day to serve you. Thank you, once again, for all that you do, and I look forward to working alongside you to make our organization a better one. 

With gratitude, 

Adam