James is a physician, author and activist. He practices emergency medicine and trauma at St. Michael’s, Toronto’s inner-city hospital and is Associate Professor and award-winning teacher and academic at the University of Toronto. He has written two books so far, the international bestseller “Six Months in Sudan” and more recently, “Life on the Ground Floor“, winner of Canada’s largest non-fiction literary prize. He is finishing a third. He has been an editor for both the Canadian Medical Association Journal and Open Medicine.
He is a founding and strategic director of a program that supports partners at Addis Ababa University to grow emergency medicine systems in Ethiopia and is a member of Medecins Sans Frontieres, an organization for which he has worked as journalist and physician. He practices and teaches mindfulness in Toronto, and is passionate about its potential to encourage personal and social change. He is currently Wellness Director for the University of Toronto’s Divisions of Emergency Medicine, and was voted in the “Top 50 Most Influential Torontonians” in 2023.
You can follow him here:
https://jamesmaskalykmd.substack.com
twitter.com/jamesmaskalyk
www.facebook.com/jamesmaskalyk
www.instagram.com/doctorhealthyself/
22 replies on “About.”
Hi,
I read your book an thought it was really good, alot rang true to some of my own experiences in Tanzinia this summer. When ever people ask me what it was like I tell them to get your book out from the library.
I’m doing a project for school about international aid and wondered what extra resources you would have wanted in Abyei, though your hospital seemed much better equiped than the clinic I was in thanks to MSF.
Thanks, k
[…] and author James Maskalyk said during this year’s Wanderlust, “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice […]
Thrilled you have another book coming out in the spring! I am a librarian, and will be recommending it to library users!
You book ‘Six Months in Sudan’ changed my life. I would love to have a signed copy. Is there a mailing address I can send to? I can pay for return shipping.
Best regards,
Kris
Hello,
I wanted to thank you again for your amazing and inspiring presentation at GETCA in Edmonton:) I’m so excited to read your book and be inspired by your words regarding self-care and healing. Namaste.
I listened to your interview today on the CBC.
I was moved by your kindness, and the ways in which you articulate it in action and language. You are rare – you live out love, I think – in the ways bell hooks defines it.
Thank you.
I was so glad to learn of your new book, which I just finished reading. As an intensivist for nearly 30 years, now palliative medicine physician, many of your experiences and insights resonate with me. Beautiful writing and narrative. Thank you very much!
Linda Snyder MD
Tucson AZ
thank you for reading, and for working so mightily to ease the pain of whatever that thing is that fights for freedom best, its own and that of others, when its pH is 7.40. many blessings to you.
I finished “Life on the Ground Floor” in two evenings. As much as I loved “Six Months in Sudan”, this new book has surpassed my expectations by orders of magnitude! What a beautifully written work! The way you express your experiences and your thoughts is unique and really gorgeous. Language is certainly your medium as an artist. I described this to my friends as one of those books that retools your perspective on life. Thank you for writing it.
James, thank you so much for your beautifully written book, “Life on the Ground Floor.” Although “Six Months in Sudan” had a very powerful effect on me because of my childhood dream of becoming a physician and practicing in the third world, this latest book also speaks to me as I ponder the meaning of life, and its loss…Thank you again. You are a gifted writer, and a special person.
I read “Life on the Ground Floor” in a few days… I’ve just ordered “Six Months in Sudan”. I love your writing. I want to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication towards helping the sick and injured.
I was very moved by your CBC interview and have just finished your book, Life on the Ground Floor. There are many thoughtful messages for all of us. I am sending the book to my son, a doctor, in the hopes he will find it useful on his journey through life.
Thank you
Read your book this weekend after hearing you on CBC, I was struck by your sensitivity and candidness with everyone you met. I too am on the path of meditation and mindfulness and respect and admire your work. Thanks.
The experiences, insights, critical observations, be they of health sciences or life sciences, which you share so freely in “Life on the Ground Floor” are astounding and impressive. My high regard for medical professionals practicing in the First World or Third World has increased immensely through your book. I am a strong supporter of MSF, and you have provided me with the confirmation to continue to support in every way I can. Thank you, James.
Life on the Ground Floor, Letters from the Edge of Emergency Medicine is a marvellous book – superbly written, moving, inspiring – but its title is terrible. ‘Letters’? What letters? ‘Edge’? These stories aren’t from the edge; they’re right in the thick of it. And why ‘ground floor’? Ground Zero would be more accurate.
I’ll assume it wasn’t the author who chose it, so I hope for the next book he ignores his publisher’s suggestions and comes up with something punchy or, at the very least, accurate. This book deserves a wide audience. It’s a shame many people will be put off by its lame title.
What has happened to your Grandfather since the publication of “Life on the Ground Floor”?
This was a captivating piece of writing. As a “downtown” Torontonian I strongly related to your observations and experiences. I eagerly await more of your writings, Dr. Maskalyk.
The Japanese term, whose pronunciation you were unsure of in the interview with Matt Galloway last October that was aired again on CBC this morning, is mono-no aware (rather than oware). I believe you characterized its meaning as wistfulness at the ephemerality of the phenomena of life. Excellent interview.
Brilliant young physician with a true vision for love!
Just finished Life on the Ground Floor. It brought back memories of Addis. I travelled there 3 times to work on a project to re-establish the Ethiopian Nurses Associtation….a collaboration between the Canadian Nurses Association & Etiopuan Nurses Association. We met many times at Black Lion Hospital. I had te priviledge of meeting many wo fearful health are workers. Such lovely people. Thsnks for the memories.
thank you for Sudan and Ground Floor
amazing
(anyone who reads Ryszard Kapuscinski can’t be all bad)
Wish you much success with next book
Let’s get rid of stupid brit queen.