Dr. Jason Conrad Smith
By: Dr. Jason Conrad Smith, Orthopaedic Surgeon at SHN & Consulting Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Toronto Blue Jays
When I came to Toronto, I was working with the Blue Jays as a consulting orthopaedic surgeon while also working with the community here at Scarborough Health Network. The contrast was striking: with the Jays, injured athletes have a multimillion-dollar team and the latest resources at their side. But here in Scarborough, I’d meet kids just as passionate, young athletes with huge dreams—like the high school soccer player who came in with his single mom. He had the same determination but none of the same resources. Watching him grind through that injury, relying solely on grit and support from his family, I knew I’d found something special here.
I didn’t grow up here—I didn’t even know anyone here—but I fell in love with what Scarborough had to offer. It’s the kind of place where people are very humble. People are real. Scarborough had a real community vibe, filled with people working hard, and it has a diversity that I feel privileged to be around. I loved working here, loved hanging out here, to the point that I eventually moved to Scarborough. Now, I live 15 minutes from the hospital. My life is here, and I am 100% Scarborough.
In my work here, I’ve had the chance to help incredible young athletes, from high school players to Olympians, treating everything from rotator cuff tears to ACL injuries and even elbow ligament repairs.
I’ll always remember a nurse who worked at Scarborough General and came to me about treating her daughter, a national-level swimmer who needed shoulder surgery. She was preparing to qualify for the Olympics, and I knew what that meant for her. We mapped out a rigorous recovery plan, got her through surgery, and, in the end, she not only made it to the Olympics but won a medal that year.
It’s inspiring, honestly. Scarborough is full of real people dealing with real problems, people without all the resources in the world. Yet, they make it through, and they thrive. After 18 years, what stays with me is exactly what our campaign says: I’m amazed at what people do, with how little they have. Their spirit, resilience, and determination make me proud every day to be here, working with people who find a way to achieve the impossible, no matter what they’re up against.
Dr. Jason Conrad Smith is one of the new faces of our Love, Scarborough campaign.
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For 18 months, Shabana and Adriana visited SHN weekly for chemotherapy. “The incredible doctors and staff became part of our family,” says Shabana. “Nurse Lynn and Nurse Practitioner Kirsty didn’t just treat Adriana’s medical needs—they comforted and encouraged us. Her tumour shrank, and hospital visits became something she looked forward to.”
Shabana expresses hope for the future: “Adriana’s journey is far from over, but the care at SHN has given us renewed faith. My holiday wish is simple: I want every family in Scarborough to have access to the exceptional care that has made such a difference in Adriana’s life.”
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