Fueling big ideas: How donor support helped a veteran pursue family medicine with a purpose

Ali Butt (MD ’25) has never shied away from service. He began in the Canadian Armed Forces and is now forging a bold path in family medicine, committed to enhancing health care at the community level. A recent graduate of the MD Program in the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Butt is forging a bold path in family medicine, guided by a deep commitment to equity and empowered by the support of U of T donors who believed in his potential.

He spoke with Emma Jones, sharing how donor support encouraged him to think big, lead with purpose and work toward building a more inclusive and effective health-care system for all.

How did donor support impact your journey through medical school?
Without donor funding, I wouldn’t have made it through medical school. It wasn’t just financial help — it was also validation. The scholarships recognized my past work and gave me the freedom to focus on becoming a better student and clinician. That support made a difficult path more manageable and reminded me that the work I was doing mattered.

What does “thinking big” mean to you, and how did U of T shape that mindset?
Thinking big means stepping back to see the whole system, identifying patterns and finding ways to improve it for everyone. U of T gave me the tools and the network to think beyond individual care and toward system-wide change. It also taught me that big ideas need collaboration and that, at times, leadership means pausing, listening, and finding the middle ground to move forward in a collective vision.

What bold vision are you pursuing in family medicine?
I’m focused on improving community health literacy and access to care. By helping people better understand their health, we can reduce unnecessary emergency visits and improve care at the local level. It’s about empowering patients and making the system more accessible and equitable.

On the community level, I lead the “Walk with a Doc” program in Mississauga, where we host monthly walks and health talks to fight misinformation and connect residents with local physicians. It’s a great way to build trust and improve access to care by bridging the gap between hospitals and the community.

On a systems level, at Trillium HealthPartners, I’m involved in quality improvement research aimed at improving rapid access of critical blood products to the bedside during massive hemorrhage protocol events. I am also part of the Canadian Medical Association’s Media Network and support our initiative Healthcare for Real. Through videos and articles, we combat misinformation and educate Canadians about predatory practices. It’s an initiative to demystify health care to make it better and easier for patients to access.

What assumptions or norms have you had to challenge to pursue this vision?
One big challenge is the belief that effective change is, by nature, complicated. I’ve learned that with the right mindset and the right people, it can be simple.

Another is the assumption that people need to understand you, when really, it’s more important that you understand them. Listening, validating and taking action is key to building trust and making change.

How has your background influenced your leadership style?
My time as a medical assistant in the Canadian Armed Forces taught me that leadership is about service. In the military, leaders support those at the ground level.

Our sergeants would be the ones serving us food first before they ate in the dining hall — this was an opportunity for them to show how much they valued the work their teams were doing and gave them an opportunity to connect with us informally.

That shaped how I lead in medicine: by showing appreciation, working alongside others and recognizing the value of diverse perspectives. The evidence is clear, diversity in leadership leads to better decisions and stronger teams.

What message would you like to share with U of T donors?
Thank you for believing in students who want to make a difference. Your generosity empowers us to think big and act boldly. I hope you know the impact you’ve had, and I’d encourage you to connect with the students you’ve supported. Your stories inspire us, just as your support has allowed our stories to be heard.