Dr. Moddel with patient Kam Lan

Married 42 years, Kam Lan and Che Yuen Chan shuffle towards Neurologist Dr. Garry Moddel and offer up a holiday greeting card. It’s a gesture that is meant for all the staff at The Scarborough Hospital, and follows on the heels of a glowing letter written by Kam Lan about her recent medical care here.

“Dr. Garry Moddel came to see me. He checked my eyes, tongue and face with his excellent knowledge,” Kam Lan writes in her letter. “He suggested I need to take an MRI. He is a kind doctor.”

Dr. Moddel is one of many members of TSH’s medical staff who are mentioned in Kam Lan’s letter, which also cites several nurses, technologists and other physicians who assisted in her treatments since last September.

“We’re in it to obviously treat people and make them better as best we can. We’re not in it for the kudos,” Dr. Moddel says. “But when we do get kudos, it’s all very flattering; we’re human beings. But we’re professionals and we know we have a job to do.”

Toronto born and raised, Dr. Moddel joined TSH in 1979, the first of his family to enter the world of medicine.

“I had some teachers and role models who inspired me to go into medicine,” he explains. “Once I was in medicine, others directed me specifically to neurology.”

It’s a specialty that has experienced dramatic changes in the past few decades.

“When I first started, there was really not much in the way of treatment for strokes. But now, we are better able to treat strokes with more aggressive options,” he adds. “There are many other diseases, such as MS, epilepsy and dementia, where we’re making significant advances.

“There is an increasing amount of  research and the outlook is very exciting for medicine and neurology in particular.”

An avid sportsman, Dr. Moddel’s “outlets” include hockey and basketball. He also enjoys reading and classical music.

“I am busy with my family,” adds the father of two grown children. “My son is leaning towards science and I think he has some interest in medicine. Obviously, he has to make up his own mind. At present, my daughter is a social worker at Princess Margaret Hospital.”