Across the country, stories of doctor shortages and the strain they place on families and health-care teams have been plentiful. What those headlines often miss, however, is what happens next; how communities come together, clinicians step forward, and a shared resolve emerges to find solutions. 

Last May, families in the Central Okanagan experienced the reality behind those stories when the pediatric unit at Kelowna General Hospital temporarily closed. For parents, it meant making difficult decisions and, in some cases, travelling to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver in order for their children to receive care. 

Through it all, our local nurses, physicians, and administrative teams showed extraordinary dedication under challenging circumstances. The experience reinforced something families and clinicians already know to be true: having access to pediatric care close to home matters deeply.

During that same period, Dr. Jeff Wong was working as a locum physician at BC Children’s Hospital, where he met families who had travelled from the Okanagan and Interior.

“I really felt for those families,” recalls Dr. Wong. “Seeing firsthand the added burden of having to leave their communities was a clear signal to me. I wanted to be part of the solution.”

That desire ultimately led Dr. Wong to accept the role of Department Head of Pediatrics at KGH in September. A pediatrician with a subspecialty in respirology, he brings a depth of experience shaped by work in large urban health-care centres. His career includes helping establish the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, holding an academic post in Halifax, and most recently practicing at BC Children’s Hospital.

For families across the Central Okanagan, KGH is the place they turn to when a child is sick. As a tertiary referral hospital, KGH pediatricians also manage and coordinate care for some of the region’s more complex pediatric cases, often working closely with BC Children’s Hospital when highly specialized services are required. This integrated approach helps ensure children receive the right level of care, at the right time, while keeping families as close to home as possible.

It’s work that demands a unique combination of strong communication, adaptability, and clinical expertise—the kind of superpowers essential to pediatric care at KGH.

“These aren’t things you learn in medical school,” says Dr. Wong. “It’s a combination of experience, communication, clinical judgement, and the ability to tailor care to each individual patient.”

It was a challenge Dr. Wong was ready to take on. Having previously visited the Okanagan, he and his family were eager to return to a region they love. While the beauty of the Okanagan made the move appealing, it was the patients and families that truly called him here. As a father of two, this mission is deeply personal.

“That’s why I feel so strongly that it’s important to rebuild and regain the trust from the community. It’s because I’m a father, as well as a pediatrician. That’s the main calling for me to take this leadership role,” he shares.