Each year, St. Joseph’s Health Centre welcomes chief medical residents (CMRs) to guide the experience we offer to incoming medical students. The CMR role honours the skills and abilities of stand-out residents and places them in a position to help formally train and mentor the next generation of students.

In July, four new CMRs joined our team: Dr. Yunni Jeong for General Surgery; Jessica Shih for Plastic Surgery; and Dr. Shoghi William Nikoo and Dr. Alexandra Wilson for Family Medicine.

We spoke with Dr. Nikoo to learn a little bit more about him and what he’s bringing to this role.

Why did you pursue a career in medicine and what keeps you inspired in the profession?
Family medicine offers the most versatile experience available in medicine. Managing chronic disease, suturing a laceration, investigating a potential cancer and delivering a baby all in the same day is my idea of fun. I also enjoy working with historically under-served populations – LGBTQ, First Nations and homeless care give some of the most rewarding experiences, and family medicine is the discipline that really allows me to impact these populations. With a broad set of interests and a passion for social and health justice, I couldn’t see myself in any other field.

How will this role allow you to mentor and train residents?
The CMR role gives a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on incoming residents’ experience. I’ve already had the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with this group during orientation and have started to impart my experience and advice about residency, studying and life in medicine. As chief resident, I also liaise with our program director and site administration, which gives me the opportunity to share feedback from residents and make tangible changes to how the program runs. I’m excited to see how my joint role as support and advocate progresses over the next year.

What draws you to the work and culture of our Health Centre?
Our network’s three sites serve some of the populations in the most need – from the homeless people in downtown Toronto to the new Canadian populations in Parkdale and Scarborough, each day is a humbling crash course in social determinants of health. During my first year in residency, St. Joe’s proved itself as a true community hospital situated near downtown Toronto, with direct community service and collegiality clearly present in everyday life. I could not ask for a better home base.