A journey rooted in family and health care

Oak Valley Health’s new President and CEO, Mark Fam, has had a life-long connection to hospitals and health care. He is the son of immigrants from Egypt and England, and grew up in East Toronto. He’s also a dad, a chronic disease patient, and he is passionate about the role community hospitals play in improving the health of those we serve.

After coming to Canada, his father, an internationally trained medical graduate and rheumatologist, and mother, an X-ray secretary and later a health records secretary, worked at Toronto East General Hospital (now Michael Garron Hospital). Mark and his two brothers were all born there and in a full-circle moment, it’s also where Mark served as a Vice President of Programs.

After completing a health science undergraduate program, Mark realized his interest in health care lay not in practicing medicine but in shaping the systems that support it. His brothers also pursued careers in health care; his eldest brother is an interventional cardiologist, while his middle brother focuses on developing and supporting home care software solutions.

Collage image of oak valley health's new president and CEO, Mark Fam, interacting with staff members, going to different clinical areas and discussing with all type of staff.

“We’re a health care family. Everyone assumed I would be a doctor, but I was attracted to the administration side, finding ways to improve the system for both patients and providers,” says Mark. “I have never looked back, spending the first half of my career consulting, and the second half working in hospitals, government agencies, and here we are 25 years later.” 

Mark was also an Accreditation surveyor across the country and served in a number of hospital sector leadership roles, including most recently as President of St. Mary’s General Hospital. He has and continues to serve on various boards — from local community agencies to health supply chain and other for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Mark has had the privilege of teaching hundreds of learners on their own paths into health leadership, through regular coaching and mentoring, and through his work as a lecturer at both the Rotman School of Management, and the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, at the University of Toronto.

But Mark’s journey in health care hasn’t just been professional. As a life-long chronic kidney disease patient, he’s experienced the system from both sides. “In some way or another, we all experience hospital care from a patient lens,” he says. Whether as a child receiving care, an adult navigating the complexities of chronic disease, or as a family member supporting his father’s palliative journey, he understands firsthand what patients and families experience. This perspective is what drives his commitment to advancing access to services and delivering an extraordinary patient experience.

Collage image of oak valley health's new president and CEO, Mark Fam, interacting with staff members, going to different clinical areas and discussing with all type of staff.

Mark also speaks about his belief in the importance of investing in teams and creating a positive, supportive culture — essential to delivering exceptional care. He is committed to building strong connections within and across the communities we serve. He is looking forward to attending community events, hearing more about our team and patient experiences, and engaging with the people and places that make Markham, Stouffville, and Uxbridge richly unique.

In many aspects of life, Mark believes in the power of opportunity and embracing the unknown. His words of advice: “Take every stairway you can find. You never know where it might lead. Get lost so you can find your way.” It’s also a philosophy he is literally practicing daily as he has been touring and meeting teams across all of Oak Valley Health’s sites.

Collage image of oak valley health's new president and CEO, Mark Fam, interacting with staff members, going to different clinical areas and discussing with all type of staff.

When Mark isn’t immersed in the world of health care, he’s enjoying quality time with his two children. His 17-year-old son is currently exploring future career paths and post-secondary options. His 8-year-old daughter has recently developed an interest in drawing, a hobby she had dragged Mark into as well, although he says he has yet to locate his artistic talent. In the winter, you’ll find Mark on the ice, playing hockey, or trying to fit in some skiing. When the weather warms up, he tries to head out into the great outdoors for backcountry camping adventures.

To learn more about Mark and to read his latest messages to the community, visit the Oak Valley Health website.

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