Ali Ghahary

Artist, Brainstormer, Care taker, Change agent, Concerned citizen, Doctor, Entrepreneur, Filmmaker, Idea generator, Inventor, Performer, Producer, Scientist, Startup, World traveler

- Born in Tehran, Iran during during Iran-Iraq war and immigrated to Canada when I was 7 years old. Saw the ravages of war at age 5. - Grew up in the Canadian prairies and completed Canadian cultural assimilation early- including becoming obsessed with hockey. - Certified childhood geek. - Early pursuits included a passion for acting (theatre) and directing (film and theatre). - Entered medical school to pursue interest in science and physiology. - Completed training in Family Medicine at MgGill University in 2006. - Working as a Family Physician in Vancouver for 15 years. - Entrepreneurial interests starting with opening medical clinics in 2015 and now a medical tech startup. - Love living in Vancouver with all the outdoor actives including biking, skiing, and kiteboarding. - Love challenging myself and growing in different ways and connecting with new people. - Love getting creative, an example being making educational videos for my patients (and the wider public in general). - Recently rediscovered acting on camera and have developed a passionate for producing short films, animations, and some Features. - Love travelling and kind of guilty of travelling during COVID way more than I arguably should have. - Excited about attending TED for the first time in this "New Era"!

1) Human health and the betterment of one’s wellbeing. I believe that every person regardless of their background, race, or socioeconomic status should have access to the means, knowledge, and tools that can empower them to achieve their optimal state of health. This includes a wholistic approach and appreciation of the bio-psych-social components that interplay in an individual’s disease state, treatment and individual health goals. Furthermore, one cannot advocate for human health without acknowledging the failures and overburdened state of our healthcare systems. This had led to my fundamental belief and drive to search for answers and solutions through technology, including telemedicine, device telemetry, and machine learning. 2) Electronic music.

Similar to how we look back at the state of health and medicine 100 years ago and think it was the dark ages, so will people think the same of this period in less than 25 years. COVID has accelerated and opened doors of opportunities and opened minds to the potential for change in the healthcare system like never before. It’s a very exciting time to contemplate; to actively participate in the changes and advancements in healthcare that are now at hand.

I am not the kind of person who does not give a sh*t. Its in my DNA to give a sh*t. About a lot. I especially believe in humanity, our earth, & the future of the human race. It is wonderful and exciting to be connected with people who think and feel the same.

Speaking. Connecting. Socializing. Empathizing. Caring. Loving. Protecting. Also, critical thinking. Also, e-foiling.