Notice: Inpatient bedside phones are being phased out at Nova Scotia Health facilities beginning May 31. Please bring a personal device and charging equipment for your hospital stay.
Doctors’ Day takes place in Canada each year on May 1 to recognize and celebrate the critical role physicians play in our collective health and wellbeing. In this profile series, we’re pleased to shine a light on a few physicians working across Nova Scotia Health zones. Read all Doctors Day profiles here.
Dr. Muhammad (Ali) Khalid grew up in a small town in Pakistan. He completed his internal medicine training in the United States before making the move to Antigonish and St. Martha’s Regional Hospital (SMRH) in 2019 – a decision, he says, “has truly been one of the most meaningful ones in my life.”
With the support of SMRH, and in response to the needs he was seeing the community, he pursued additional training in gastroenterology at Dalhousie University, followed by advanced fellowship training in inflammatory bowel disease at the University of Ottawa.
He says returning to SMRH in 2025 “felt like coming full circle – back to a place and community I’m proud to call home.”
Today, the internal medicine specialist and gastroenterologist spends a large part of his practice focusing on patients with complex inflammatory bowel disease. He finds this work incredibly rewarding, thanks to variety and the relationships it allows him to build.
“These are often long journeys. Being able to follow patients over time – to support them through challenges and celebrate improvements – is incredibly meaningful,” he says.
“At its core, what I value most [about my work] is the human connection. It is a privilege to care for the people of Nova Scotia and I don’t take that responsibility lightly.”
Ali is quick to acknowledge the mentors who supported him through his training, saying they positively influenced both his training and how he thinks about teaching, teamwork and patient-centred care.
“My colleagues here at SMRH are incredibly dedicated, supportive and deeply committed to their patients. It’s a privilege to work alongside people who consistently go above and beyond—not just for patients, but for each other, as well.”
In that vein, he says Doctors’ Day offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect, but it’s also a reminder that healthcare is truly a team effort. “The care we provide is only possible because of the collaboration and dedication of so many people behind the scenes,” he says.
Outside of work, Ali enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active and traveling. He says living in Nova Scotia “has added a special dimension to life outside of work. There’s something incredibly calming about being near the ocean and it’s a reminder to slow down and appreciate the moment.
“I feel very grateful to be part of this system and this community,” he says. “It’s a privilege to do this work, and I’m thankful every day for the trust patients place in us.”
Nova Scotia Health is proud to partner with Doctors Nova Scotia on in-zone activations this Doctors Day. Keep an eye out for pop-ups across the province on-and-around May 1, as we come together to share a heartfelt thanks to Nova Scotia doctors.
Photo of Dr. Muhammad (Ali) Khalid.