Meet MPP Dr. Adil Shamji
Dr. Adil Shamji
MPP, Don Valley East
Dr. Adil Shamji is an emergency physician who has devoted his career to helping people. After graduating from Western University and medical school at the University of Toronto, he worked in Indigenous communities across Canada and joined the emergency department at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto’s east end. Dr. Shamji pursued a Master’s degree in Public Policy at the University of Oxford and returned to Canada to converge medical practice with public policy. He was appointed the Medical Director for 11 homeless shelters in Toronto as part of the City’s pandemic response efforts. Besides clinical work, he is also a lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Shamji was at the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic and opioid crisis, setting up primary care clinics that provided healthcare and addiction services to the city’s most vulnerable. Having experienced firsthand the pressures of the pandemic that revealed the inequalities within our healthcare system, Dr. Shamji has taken his advocacy to the Ontario Legislature as an elected Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East.
He has served on the Standing Committee on Social Policy and is the Ontario Liberal Caucus critic for Health, Housing, and Northern Development & Indigenous Affairs. Dr. Shamji is committed to making government work in the best interests of everyone across Ontario,
and believes that ‘all policy is health policy’.
Team Shamji
Lorne Levy
Director of Legislative Affairs
Lorne has been on MPP Dr. Adil Shamji’s team since September 2022. He graduated from the University
of Toronto with Distinction, earning a Double Major in Ethics, Society & Law and English. Lorne is passionate about healthcare, public policy, communications, stakeholder and media relations, community engagement, event planning, and volunteering. He also
brings experience in political campaigns, marketing, photography, and videography.
Lorne is always glad to talk about movies, books, history, food, travel, canoe trips, weightlifting, and dogs.
Ahmed Patel
Director of Operations
Ahmed is a lifelong resident of Don Valley East where he grew up and attended Don Mills Collegiate Institute. He is a community advocate for better family healthcare and housing in our riding. He is also an organizer; he joins Adil’s team having worked his nomination and general election campaign. Prior to joining Adil’s team, he worked in various roles in retail. Ahmed brings over 15 years of customer service skills he gained to help and serve constituents in our great riding of DVE.
Along with his work as Adil’s Director of Operations, Ahmed supports Adil with Community outreach, relations, engagement, and the Don Valley East Provincial Youth Council. In his free time, Ahmed likes to indulge in a good read, explore new food spots around the city and go on runs in the Don Valley.
Palwashah Ali
Executive Assistant
Palwashah is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Critical Studies in Equity & Solidarity at the University of Toronto. Her heart lies in grassroots activism and is passionate about quality public education, equitable access to healthcare, and re-thinking community outreach through an intersectional approach. An active politico, she is keen on increasing engagement and building safer, more inclusive spaces in our community.
When she’s not glued to her laptop, Palwashah can be found scouring the city for good matcha, discovering new running routes, and attempting to get through her never-ending ‘to be read’ list.
Soobin Sung
Constituency Assistant
Soobin is currently in her final year at the University of Toronto, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Psychology with a minor in Education. She has lived in five different countries and hopes to incorporate the strengths from each of these countries into her work in Ontario politics. With a strong passion for education and equity, she has volunteered and worked with children in need. She has now turned to Ontario politics, aiming to enhance community engagement within government and politics, as she believes this is essential for fostering meaningful and lasting change.
Erin Strachan
Constituency Assistant
Erin recently graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Political Science and Canadian Studies and is now pursuing a Masters in Public Policy at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Having grown up in the heart of the Don Valley East constituency, Erin is passionate about serving her community and making a positive impact on the everyday lives of constituents. Outside of her studies, Erin has worked in the post-secondary student advocacy world for UBC’s student union, advancing student concerns to relevant levels of government, and has experience directing volunteer initiatives related to research as well as food security. She is excited to take her experience in government relations and community engagement into the office with Team Shamji.
Hamish Gilleland
Constituency Assistant
Hamish Gilleland is a student at the University of Toronto studying Economics, European Affairs, and French Language. He has lived in the riding his whole life and greatly appreciates it for the sense of community, beautiful trails, and vibrant business areas. Hamish first started in the office of MPP Shamji as an intern and has worked as a Constituency Assistant since June of 2024. He appreciates the opportunity to serve and work in the community. He assists MPP Shamji with constituent casework, the MPP’s Youth Council, MPP’s office canvases, and community engagement. He looks forward to the opportunity to meet more community members throughout his time in the office.
Petunia Wigglebottom
Petunia Wigglebottom is Adil’s 3 year old golden retriever/cocker spaniel mix. She is a happy, people-loving, and incredibly friendly dog who endears herself to every person she meets. Just like Adil, she loves swimming, long walks and is perpetually hungry.