Dr. Elan Ambalavanar

Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Elan Ambalavanar as Chief and Medical Director of Emergency Medicine. Joining him in leadership is Dr. Mayoorendra (Mayo) Ravichandiran, who has been named Deputy Chief. Together, they are leading a bold transformation of emergency care across SHN’s three hospitals, which collectively handle over 176,000 visits each year. 

Dr. Ambalavanar brings a wealth of experience in clinical operations, quality improvement, and emergency department design. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a pivotal role in expanding care spaces and implementing innovative solutions to meet growing demand. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping emergency medicine and setting higher standards of care. 

Dr. Mayoorendra Ravichandiran

Dr. Ravichandiran, a familiar face from the Love, Scarborough campaign, has been a tireless advocate for patient safety, staff wellness, and community health initiatives. His journey at SHN began as a volunteer 20 years ago, reflecting his steadfast commitment to the people of Scarborough. 

This announcement is particularly significant as SHN celebrates Tamil Heritage Month. Both Dr. Ambalavanar and Dr. Ravichandiran’s leadership highlight the contributions of Scarborough’s Tamil community and the strength of diversity in shaping better healthcare outcomes. 

The pair are driving SHN’s innovative front-end model of care, which is cutting wait times and enhancing emergency department efficiency. Already showing success at Birchmount and General Hospitals, the model will anchor Canada’s first ED built entirely around this approach at Centenary Hospital, set to break ground in spring 2025 

With leadership rooted in expertise, community, and innovation, Dr. Ambalavanar and Dr. Ravichandiran are reshaping emergency care to better serve Scarborough’s diverse and dynamic population.