Paul Davidson HANNAM

1971 - 2022

PAUL DAVIDSON HANNAM Paul Davidson Hannam was a physician, Olympian, family man, and mentor. He died of sudden cardiac failure early into a fun run on July 16, 2022. He was 50 years old. Paul was born in Vancouver in 1971 and grew up in a close-knit neighbourhood near the University of British Columbia Endowment Lands. While enrolled at UBC himself, he married his high school sweetheart Rosemary in 1996, the same year that he represented Canada on the sailing team in Atlanta. The couple moved to Toronto soon afterwards where he completed his education at the University of Toronto in emergency medicine. Throughout his life Paul actively listened, or when appropriate, looked like he actively listened, to everyone. It was an extraordinary character trait that left those of us with things to say deeply grateful. Later we found out that he also had wisdom to share. Paul was no more confident than the rest of us, and he worried that his capacity for focus could be too restrictive. But where he saw a potential limitation, we all saw depth. Paul attracted lasting friendships at every stage of life. He was the most trustworthy person we knew. Paul was invited to be the Emergency Director for Michael Garron, and more recently, North York General. In these roles Paul supported medical education for young physicians. At home, Paul and his wife were blessed with a boy and a girl. Paul built dollhouses for his daughter and model airplanes with his son. His children loved him. In his spare time Paul ran marathons around the world, including Boston this spring. At this point, readers who did not know him could be forgiven for wondering what kind of hagiography they have gotten themselves into. Paul was not all hero. When Paul claimed he had done nothing all morning, that meant he had, at best, contemplated sunlight on the ceiling. Paul could really think and do nothing. But Paul's life wasn't full of the unnecessary, self-inflicted dramas that so many of us endure. Paul was given talent and opportunity and a loving household, and from that basis supported the community around him with insight and humility. Paul's greatest joy came in seeing others succeed. We are deeply saddened by his loss, while similarly grateful to the EMS teams that responded. On the day of his demise Paul was an organ donor to over 70 recipients, and for this we could not be more grateful to the Ontario medical community. Paul is survived by his parents, Alan and Pauline in Vancouver; his wife, Rosemary and their grown children, George and Charlotte in Toronto; and his brother, Tom. He also has extended family in Adelaide, Australia. Paul's life will be recognized in Vancouver 12-3 p.m. Wednesday, July 27 under the direction of his friend, Craig Burns, and in Toronto 1 p.m. Thursday, August 4 with the support of the North York General Hospital and his friend and colleague Anton Helman. For details, please reach out directly. As an active leader in the field, Paul knew first-hand how isolating it has been to survive shiftwork in full PPE these past two years. Rather than retreating, Paul was working to foster community and rebuild teams. Perhaps this is the essential reason his loss has hit many of us so hard. To support Paul's memory a national award that will reflect his legacy and values will be established through the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians and the Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Medicine Institute. Donations to this award can be made through Sinai Health's Foundation by calling 416-586-8203 or 1-877-565-8555 or online at https://secure.supportsinai.ca/site/SPageServer/?pagename=mainsite_frontpage.html and selecting the option of an "In Memory" donation and indicating a designation of the "Dr. Paul Hannam Fund." Alternatively, donations may be made to NYGH Foundation in his memory nyghfoundation.ca/drhannam or to the local hospital of your choice.