Ali Abbass, Fellow

Dr. Syed Ali Akbar Abbass (FRCPC), is an Anaesthesiologist at St. Joseph’s Health Centre (SJHC), Unity Health Toronto. He is fellowship-trained in regional anaesthesia and is a lecturer at the University of Toronto. He has been an avid sustainability champion and began his stewardship role over a decade ago when he introduced a recycling program in the operating rooms. Since then, he has undertaken many initiatives at his institution and helped many others as well. This has included the installation of an 80-bicycle secure locker to encourage staff to use this mode of transport, having had his own bicycle stolen on-site, twice. He also led the first medical PVC recycling program in North America which was formally launched in 2020 in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Vinyl Institute of Canada.

He has served as Chief, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability at St. Joseph’s Health Centre since 2016 and is always looking for new opportunities to make a difference.