Naheed Dosani

Dosani is the son of two refugee parents, who came to Canada from Uganda in the 1970s, fleeing persecution and war.[2][3]

In 2008, Dosani completed a Bachelor of Science degree in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology's (UOIT).[4] He completed a family medicine residency at St. Michael’s Hospital, at the University of Toronto.[5]

In July 2014, Dosani founded and still leads the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) program to provide mobile community-based hospice palliative care to vulnerable individuals living in shelters, rooming houses or on the streets.[1][6][7][8][9] PEACH is now a 24/7 program, supported by four palliative care physicians, a home care coordinator, and a community care team.[2] PEACH is supported through provincial healthcare funding and philanthropic funding, and has inspired similar models in various jurisdictions, including Edmonton, Toronto (Journey Home Hospice), Calgary, and Seattle.[2][4] The PEACH Good Wishes program (supported by donations) has granted about 40 wishes to individuals who are homeless and facing life-limiting illness.[9]

Currently, Dosani is a physician at William Osler Health System in Brampton, an Assistant Clinical Professor in Family Medicine at McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences, and a lecturer in the Division of Palliative Care, at the University of Toronto's Department of Family and Community Medicine.[4][6][10][8]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dosani served as the medical director of the Region Of Peel’s isolation housing system, which was set up in partnership with community organizations.[11] He has also used social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, to share credible medical information.[6][12][13] He has spoken about different aspects of medicine and the COVID-19 pandemic for multiple media outlets about various topics, including medically assisted death, unique COVID-19 challenges for individuals who are homeless, and public health practices.[9][14][2][3][11][12][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Dosani's efforts have been recognized by a Meritorious Service Cross (Civil Division) from the Governor General of Canada (2017), a humanitarian award from the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians (2019), and a Canadian Medical Association Award for Young Leaders (Early Career, 2020).[1][3][8][7][15] He created the Dr. Naheed Dosani Entrance Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) student who demonstrates the impact of involvement and growth through humanitarian action.[4]

• Minding the gap: access to palliative care and the homeless. Lise Huynh, Blair Henry and Naheed Dosani. BMC Palliative Care. Volume 14, Article number: 62 (2015).
• COVID-19 and people experiencing homelessness: challenges and mitigation strategies. Melissa Perri, Naheed Dosani and Stephen W. Hwang. Canadian Medical Association Journal. June 29, 2020 192 (26) E716-E719.
• Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Homeless Adults With Mental Illness in Toronto. Samantha Young, Naheed Dosani, Adam Whisler, Stephen Hwang. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. 2014.
• Perceptions of palliative care in a South Asian community: findings from an observational study. Naheed Dosani, Ravi Bhargava, Amit Arya, Celeste Pang, Pavinder Tut, Achal Sharma & Martin Chasen. BMC Palliative Care. Volume 19, Article number: 141 (2020).