James Maskalyk practices emergency medicine at St. Michael’s, Toronto’s downtown, inner-city hospital. He is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, and divides his academic time teaching, being an editor at the open access medical journal Open Medicine , and advocating for global health issues at the University. Currently, he is working with Ethiopian partners at Addis Ababa University to develop a program that will train the country’s first emergency physicians.
His work has lead him to several countries throughout Asia, South America, and Africa. He has worked with MSF twice, first as a journalist writing a blog about neglected diseases, and most recently as a physician in Sudan.
James lives in Toronto’s Kensington Market, and still only cooks half the time. He is looking forward to his second book with DoubleDay, and though a topic as serious Sudan cannot be ruled out, after months of recalling the truths from a difficult experience, he is considering making the next one up. He owes all of his successes to not having a singing voice, because if he did, he would be living in a basement somewhere, wondering where the last 15 years went.
I’m thanking for those who are working for human who are suffering, example Dr.James Maskalyk especially in Somalia!! thanks very much, help them always. you’ll get best from God
Found your blog when making my yearly donation to MSF. I knew you were a great doc when you looked after my physiologist husband with the kidney stone at St. Mike’s, and your work with MSF multiplies the impression. Wish this old internist could go, too.
Hi James,
I was wondering if you’d heard of the film “Living in Emergency.” It’s an award-winning documentary on MSF volunteers and follows several, documenting their experiences and everyday life. It’s a really great documentary, and MSF even has a page on their website for the film: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/events/public/2010-livinginemergency/.
If you’re curious about the film, we could probably get a copy out to you if you’d like to see it or write about it. Here’s the page for the DVD on our website:
http://firstrunfeatures.com/livinginemergencydvd.html
Thanks!
Linnea Goderstad
First Run Features
hi James..
thanks for writing such a good story, it give me a valuable lesson, such a very inspiring, and makes me even eager to join MSF.
my dad who’s suffering DM type2 become my reason to join medical school in 2007 while continuing my study in public health 2006. public health really open my eyes, what’s going on with my people’s health. since that i decide want to join WHO for helping people in and out of my country.
i was born in developing country,Indonesia, where health is so poor, i always cry inside when i see how many children with malnourished and how high the mother mortality rate, and how people ignored health because they’re very very poor.
being more lucky than those people, i decide to join with MSF after finishing my medical school. its not easy i know, but thats my dream.
thank for your shared story
sincerely
D.J
Hello James,
I am very fascinated with your story. Your story is very inspiring. It reminds me why I chose health care as my profession at a very young age.
Growing up in a developing country, Vietnam, I saw all types of unfortunate lives. The images of sick, old, malnourished people dragging their bodies on every street corner of the city of Sai Gon to beg for money are unforgettable. Children there are often hungry; some of them are disabled or handicapped due to the lack of medical help and long periods of war. To be able to go to school only exists in their dreams. Some of them even work labor-intensive jobs to provide food for themselves and their families. My memories are remarkable, but they are also the continual realities for many Vietnamese. This truism has inspired me to make genuine differences in the lives of others. As a young child, I began to realize that the only way for me to help them was to study abroad in a well-developed country. September 1st, 2000, marked my arrival in the United States. Since that day, I have been taking advantage of all the educational opportunities that I have had to make my dream come true. In May 2011, I finished my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. My ultimate goal is to work for WHO, UN, or participate in different missions of Doctors Without Borders . I devote a portion of my time to join social activities for the purpose of bringing social justice and healthcare to the unfortunates
Knowing I am more fortunate than most people in my country, I cannot hold my tears when I see children with Kwashiorkor syndrome in Africa or people in East Asia and South America with no access to medical facilities to cure their often easily-treated diseases. Besides working in a hospital as a nurse, I do not mind going to dangerous areas or refugee camps where medical care is needed. My intention to be a nurse is to help everyone around the world, especially children, who are neglected by society and live without hope for the next day.
I am very interested in what you are doing. Please let me know how I can be part of the Doctors Without Borders team. [Kimmie, I removed your email address and sent it on to James by email - didn't want it public for all to see. Hope you don't mind... Pete, MSF Editor]
Sincerely,
K.H
Hello James,
I’m glad there is a way to contact you and express my appreciation! I tapped ‘msf’ into the library catalogue in Canberra (capital of Australia) and borrowed your book. Such great timing as I then got a call from MSF for a first mission in Chad as a md for a malaria project. Your book was interesting, funny, insightful and comforting to read. I’m an urban GP so I know I am going out of my comfort zone. But thats okay. MSF has been a longterm dream. I’m prepared to be unprepared and certain that there will be uncertainty. But I’m sure along the way, there will be times in my six months where I will go ‘So now I know what James means…..’ Thank you for sharing your story.
Cheers,
Rachel
such beautiful writing. I hope one day I am doing something of similar nature too. I mean work, and writing both. Bravo!!!
Dear doctor
I would like to contact a doctor that works in Al Mazraq camp in Yemen. Do you anyone that worked or is going there? I know the all from Spain. Is urgent. Thank you very much
Hey,
I read some of your posts, not all of them, but the last two and then skimmed through some more. I just wanted to say, although you probably already know, don’t lose sight of what you are doing for these people. It’s absolutely amazing and not many people can do it.
I went to Kenya this summer, and I fell deeply in love, the people, the continuous laughter – regardless of the pain, all of it. I can relate to a lot of your posts and they are heart-warming.
Right now I am doing a double honours in Biology and Environmental Resource Studies, as well as minors in German, Spanish and writing my undergraduate thesis and next year I am applying to do my masters, so perhaps I have a long way to go, but one day I hope to get into med school and do what you are doing. Its inspiring :)
All the best,
Nevena Savija