COMMUNITY’S FIGHT AGAINST CANCER GETS A NEW NAME
Introducing The Shakir Rehmatullah Cancer Clinic
Shakir Rehmatullah was studying architectural engineering at the University of Miami when he received the call that no child wants to get. His dad, a man in good health who exercised almost daily, had been hospitalized following a stroke. Even more shocking was the diagnosis that was to follow days later—his dad had lung cancer.
Rehmatullah flew back to Toronto immediately to be with his family, spending a month walking the corridors of a GTA hospital until his father passed away. But from his loss, Rehmatullah gained something invaluable—the profound drive to give back to his community.
“I met so many good people in the hospital,” he said of the staff and volunteers that he encountered while his father was undergoing care, including chemotherapy. “I was like, ‘I need to do something good. One of these days, I want to support a hospital by contributing in some way or form.’”
This year, Rehmatullah made good on his promise to himself. Now the founder and president of Flato Developments Inc., a commercial and residential building and development company, Rehmatullah has made a transformational, seven-figure-gift to Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH). In acknowledgment of the gift, on October 30 MSH unveiled: The Shakir Rehmatullah Cancer Clinic. Ontario Premier Doug Ford along with many national, provincial and municipal dignitaries, including Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, were present to honour Rehmatullah’s tremendous generosity. Hospital staff, physicians and patients were also on-hand to celebrate the extraordinary gift.
“The magnitude of the gift is inspiring, so we wanted to do an exterior naming. It signifies Mr. Rehmatullah’s deep connection to supporting cancer care,” said Dr. Caroline Geenen, Chief of Staff, MSH. “He’s been a long-time supporter of our Foundation and we thought it was important to be prominent and viewed.”
It’s not the first time Rehmatullah has given back to his community. With the head office of Flato Developments Inc. located in Markham, he’s also donated to countless other organizations across the GTA, including sports teams, hospitals, the Varley Art Gallery and the Flato Markham Theatre.
“I don’t believe in buying a piece of property and putting 500 homes on it and my job is done. I’m a community builder, so I should be thinking about providing theatres, parks and hospitals,” said Rehmatullah. “Anybody who cares for the community should look after the hospital, because we’re all going to need it one day.”
This is a value system that Rehmatullah said he inherited from his father, who was also a builder and developer. It’s also a value that he’s passing along to his four children today.
“Growing up, I always watched my father contribute to and support local charities and hospitals. That was his passion,” said Rehmatullah, who grew up in Pakistan.
The donation won’t just support the Cancer Clinic; it will benefit the entire hospital, helping to fund the acquisition of new medical equipment and technologies, the development of patient care initiatives, and other emerging and priority needs. This donation comes at an important time for MSH’s oncology program, which includes a breast health centre, chemotherapy clinic, colon health services and radiation consultative services. Each year, MSH experiences a 12 per cent increase in new consults, reflecting Markham’s status as the third-fastest growing community in Ontario, and the desire for patients to be treated closer to home.
“We’re almost at capacity already even though we’ve just done an expansion,” said Dr. Geenen. Each day, the hospital treats up to 50 chemotherapy patients, with almost all 14 chemotherapy treatment chairs being full. For MSH, a community hospital that is known for providing patientcentred care, this presents unique challenges.
“To uphold our values to treat each patient in an individualized manner with a comprehensive approach, we need to keep up with the patient demand,” said oncologist Dr. Leena Hajra. It’s not just a matter of maintaining status quo though—it’s also a matter of developing new standards of care.
There’s more innovation and change in the therapy of hematology and oncology than any other area of medicine. New drugs are continually coming on the market, as well as new targeted therapy and major drug breakthroughs. Patients are living longer with cancer as a chronic disease.
While MSH’s new pain and symptom management clinic supports patients as they navigate different stages of their cancer journey, there’s still a need for a broader clinical trials program with the ability to offer the latest therapies, as well as demand for aftercare services, a peer-support program and dietitian services.
As MSH continues to grow and expand, individualized patient care will remain the focus. “Mr. Rehmatullah exemplifies giving back, making a difference and helping one another in your own communities,” said Dr. Hajra. “These are the cornerstones on which our cancer programs and services are based.”
Dr. Geenen agrees. “It really leaves a legacy to ensure that our patients get extraordinary care for generations.”
Rehmatullah thinks his father would have been proud of what he’s accomplished. But when he watched the unveiling of the sign on the side of the Cancer Clinic bearing his name, Rehmatullah said it wasn’t only a reminder of his father’s legacy or his own accomplishments. Rather, it will be a daily reminder of what he still has to achieve.
“When I see the sign, it’s a reminder that I should continue and do more and I hope that it inspires others to do the same,” he said. “It’s a thank you, because without Canada opening the doors to us, I wouldn’t be where I am today. When we become successful, we should contribute and give back to the communities in which we live, develop and build.”
“Anybody who cares for the community should look after the hospital, because we’re all going to need it one day.”