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Where did you complete medical school and residency?
After an undergraduate degree in physics in Germany (where I was born) and graduate school in the USA, I immigrated to Canada. I completed medical school and a residency in family medicine at the University of Toronto, where I practised for close to two decades before moving to Victoria.
Why did you choose your field of specialty?
I enjoy taking care of every age group and the different challenges that come with it, whether it's delivering babies (which I did in my first seven years as a family physician) to taking care of the whole family over decades. I have also had the honour of palliating at home and following my sickest patients in the hospital as a hospitalist (also part of my earlier career). Almost 20 years later, I am still excited about the many different opportunities offered to us in family medicine and am moved personally by the long-term relationships across generations of families.
What is most meaningful to you about practicing medicine?
Three things continue to excite me about medicine daily - firstly, the power of relationships, both when caring for patients and families and when creating and designing better care programs with inspiring colleagues. Secondly, making a difference at an individual level and a population level. Thirdly, teaching is a great passion of mine. I am very grateful for the many amazing students and learners that I have worked with, both in Toronto and through international teaching opportunities.
What are your professional interests and notable achievements?
As a graduate student back in the days, I envisioned one day being an academic, travelling the world and lecturing internationally - and that dream came full circle in the last decade. I had the exciting opportunity to lecture on the importance of team-based primary care, particularly for elderly and immigrant neighbourhoods in China and Germany.
As I am now leaving Toronto, I am amazed at how many of the family residents that I personally trained and mentored have taken on academic leadership positions all across Toronto and beyond. Again, it speaks to the importance of role-modelling in preparing the next generation of healthcare providers.
In the last weeks, I had an opportunity to connect with Victoria's research and quality improvement community. I am looking forward to continuing using a QI lens and working together with a curious and driven team that aims to improve access to primary care, ensure the right care at the right place through better integrated care and use a team approach.
What are your hopes for the future of healthcare?
Equitable access to care is a theme that is very important to me, and I like taking a community approach in envisioning opportunities for improvement. How do we create healthier communities through better urban design and city planning, more citizen involvement and education, stronger public health, and integrating social services into the definition of health? We need to be creative and open to learning from our global community in creating a sustainable system that reflects the values of our Canadian society.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love to soak in the ocean, lakes, and nature, be it through biking, paddle boarding, meditation, or practicing yoga by the beach. I also have this clarinet that I hope to dig out and become proficient at one day before I turn 60 since I love jazz and classical music.
Is there anything else you would like us to share?
While only meeting most colleagues by zoom over the past two months, I am impressed by everyone. I am excited to work together with a group that seems to care deeply about improving access to quality healthcare in Victoria over the next decade despite the reality of ongoing health human resource challenges across our whole country.
Welcome Dr. Pham!