Dr. Paul Chan

For forty-five years, I have begun most mornings the same way. I arrive early at my family practice in Scarborough, unlock the door, and prepare for a full day of patients. My name is Dr. Paul Chan, and I have spent my entire career caring for the people of this community. When people ask why I never left, the answer always comes easily. I love my work, and I care deeply for the people who trust me with their health.

Family medicine has always felt like the right place for me. It allows me to treat the whole person, not a single system or symptom. Over the decades, I have watched patients grow up, start families, age, and struggle, overcome, and persist. Many of them feel like extended family to me. That is why, even now, I work four days a week. It’s been so hard to retire because so many of my patients would have nowhere to go.

In Scarborough, 100,000 people do not have a family doctor. Family medicine has become increasingly complex, and the cost of running a practice has risen. There is also more paperwork and administrative work than ever before. Younger doctors often look for team-based models and more balance in their lives compared to the traditional setup I started in. At the same time, our population is aging, which increases the demand for care. Every week, I meet people who have waited too long to see specialists or who use the emergency department for routine needs simply because they cannot find a doctor.

This is why the work of the SHN Foundation is so important. They are focused on training and attracting more physicians to Scarborough. Our hospitals need better resources in order to support patients properly. When people support the hospital, they are investing in their own access to care.

I have personally experienced how critical SHN’s care is. Not long ago I faced a sudden heart problem. Thanks to the quick response from the team, I saw a cardiologist, had the necessary tests, and received treatment all in a single day. The timely intervention improved my health and may have changed the course of my life. I am grateful every day for the care I received.

One of my greatest sources of pride is my daughter, Dr. Caroline Chan, who is an emergency physician at SHN. Watching her follow a similar path reminds me why I chose medicine in the first place. Seeing her compassion and dedication makes me feel that I have set a good example. It also gives us a shared language and a deeper connection as father and daughter.

If I had to describe Scarborough in one word, I would choose diversity. This community welcomed me when I arrived from Hong Kong at twenty years old, and it has shaped my entire life. After four and a half decades of service, I am still grateful for the chance to continue giving back to the place I call home.