Dr. Paul Hannam, who was the chief of emergency medicine and program medical director at North York General Hospital, died suddenly on Saturday. Hunnam reportedly collapsed while out for a run, friend and fellow emergency physician Dr. Howard Owens said in a tweet. “Olympian, marathon runner, family man, director of ED at NYGH, a sweet, thoughtful, compassionate and kind man died suddenly today while running. The quintessential mensch. Hug someone you love,” she wrote.
Canadian Emergency Medicine is in mourning tonight. Paul Hannam, Olympian, marathon runner, family man, director of ED at NYGH, a sweet, thoughtful, compassionate and kind man died suddenly today while running. The quintessential mensch. Hug someone you love. pic.twitter.com/Gkne2khj27 — Howard Ovens (@HowardOvens) July 17, 2022 North York General Hospital also shared the news in a tweet. “Our hearts are heavy as we remember our beloved friend and colleague,” they said, calling Hannam a “highly respected and trusted colleague, dedicated to patients and the community.”
Our hearts are heavy as we remember our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Paul Hannam who died suddenly yesterday. Dr. Hannam was NYGH’s Director of Emergency Medicine and Medical Program. He was a highly respected and trusted colleague, dedicated to patients and the community. pic.twitter.com/AMd2pIXCYP — North York General (@NYGH_News) July 17, 2022 Hannam was also well-known and popular in Toronto’s east end, having previously served two terms as chief emergency officer at East York’s Michael Garron Hospital. “Our hearts are heavy as we remember our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Paul Hannam, who served as our ED Director for 10+ years; We will not soon forget his incredible contributions to our hospital and community,” the hospital tweeted. President and CEO Sarah Downey said Hannam was an “all-around wonderful person” who spent “many years caring for our communities.” Mount Sinai’s Schwartz/Reisman Institute of Emergency Medicine also tweeted about Hannam, who they called a “kind and thoughtful leader, family man, incredible athlete, wonderful friend and colleague.” Several of his former colleagues and patients have since taken to social media to express their grief and shock at this loss and to share memories of Hannam, who in addition to working at NYGH was also an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Hannam has also held various hospital leadership and management roles since 2006. Funeral arrangements are unknown at this time.
