Guyana’s Dr. Doobay champions next generation of doctors at Toronto Metropolitan University

Dr. Doobay, a Guyanese who has distinguished himself in the medical field and through his philanthropic endeavours, is helping to support the next generation of doctors at the Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine.

See below the full article shared by the University’s School of Medicine on Dr. Doobay’s support: 

For Dr. Budhendra Doobay, supporting the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine is an extension of a lifetime in medicine—and a belief that future physicians should be trained in close connection with the communities they will serve.

As founder and chairman of VOV Cultural Sabha Inc., Dr. Doobay is guiding the organization’s support as one of the founding donors of TMU’s Brampton campus. In recognition of his support, a Case-Based Learning Room will be named in honour of the Vishnu Temple, supporting collaborative, team-based learning for future physicians.

Dr. Doobay, a retired cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, professor emeritus at McMaster University and a Member of the Order of Canada, said the decision to support the School was rooted in what he has witnessed throughout his career in medicine.

“I see the challenges patients face in accessing care,” he said. “The TMU School of Medicine is taking an approach that is grounded in the community and focused on preparing physicians to meet those needs. I am proud to support that vision.”

VOV Cultural Sabha Inc. has long played a central role in fostering community well-being through the Vishnu Temple, and this contribution reflects a continuation of that mandate—this time through medical education and system-level impact.

“By building our medical school with community at its core, we are preparing future doctors to care for diverse populations and to help strengthen the healthcare system,” said Dr. Teresa Chan, Dean and Vice President, Medical Affairs at TMU School of Medicine. “Support from community partners like VOV Cultural Sabha Inc. plays an important role in enabling these opportunities for our students.”

The gift underscores a broader theme increasingly shaping medical education: that training physicians is not solely the work of universities and hospitals, but also of the communities they serve.