Translated from French​

“I am Dr. Philippe Doré, but I didn't always know that I would be a doctor in my life.

From 1999 to 2002, I pursued a bachelor's degree in music. I played practically all keyboard instruments, but one could say that I am a pianist. I composed music and played the piano in a band while travelling the world.

It was at the age of 28 that my passion for science led me to resume my studies in biology. Two years later, I began my medical studies at the Université de Montréal. I completed them in 2017 with my residency in Verdun, at the age of 38. I became a doctor later than the average, but it was a career that had been a dream since high school.

Because I started playing music at the age of 9, I am often asked why I chose to become a doctor instead of continuing as a musician. After all, it would have been natural to pursue that path. However, after playing for so many years, I realized that even though music was a passion, it was not my calling. I always excelled in school and had multiple strengths and interests. I seriously considered pursuing medicine, but at the age of 28, I was not at all certain about fulfilling this dream. I consider myself privileged to have had the opportunity to become a family physician at this age. Family medicine is a very broad field that allows me today to practise psychiatry, sports medicine, musculoskeletal medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, and sexual health care.

When my patients express their satisfaction with our clinic, with friendly receptionists, efficient nurses, a nice waiting room, and easy appointment scheduling, I feel very proud to work at Mieux-Être. I also feel a great sense of pride when my patients are sincerely grateful, and I sense that I have been able to reassure them or alleviate their pain. Another personal and enjoyable satisfaction is being able to empty my email inbox and sign all my notes. It doesn't often happen that everything gets done, so it never ceases to be a small pleasure. I can easily see myself continuing this calling for the next 20 years.

My mother, who is nearly 75 years old, is one of the important people in my life and a constant source of inspiration. Despite her health problems, she does a tremendous amount of volunteering. Among other things, she works for an organization that supports end of life care, sings at church, and participates in many community activities. I have a great admiration for her, and she is the one who inspired me to help the community and practise family medicine—to go a little further than the medical aspect by developing deep helping relationships with my patients. My mother is a hero in the shadows.”