New award established by Younus Khan opens doors for future physicians in Scarborough

Apr 23, 2026

*Younus and Mumtaz Khan (pictured, middle row) with members of their family.*

As a boy in Pakistan, Younus Khan stood in his ninth-grade classroom and watched his dream of becoming a doctor slip away with a single sentence: students without the means to pay for tuition shouldn’t even bother applying to medical school.

Decades later, and now a successful real-estate investor in Scarborough, Khan is determined to ensure no young person in his community hears those words again. With a generous gift to endow the Younus and Mumtaz Khan Family Award at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, he will help others find opportunities he once had to forgo, while also reaffirming his commitment to the region he has long called home.

Investing in the future of health care

The award will support medical students from Scarborough studying at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) – helping remove the financial barriers to a medical education that he once faced, while also opening doors for future physicians who will care for the community he calls home.

“I know what it feels like to give up your dream because of money,” he says. “I don’t want that for anyone else.”

Supporting students from Scarborough who will train in the region is deeply personal for Khan. The region isn’t just where he lives today, it’s where he built his life together with Mumtaz, his late wife and life partner of 55 years. Together, the pair raised a family and built a successful real estate business there.

The gift is also a recognition of the persisting challenges many living in Scarbrough face in accessing health care. By helping train physicians locally, the goal is to graduate more physicians who will stay and serve the Scarborough community throughout their careers.

“This is about equity,” Khan emphasizes. “Scarborough deserves the same quality of care as any other part of Toronto.”

Opening in fall 2026 at the University of Toronto Scarborough, SAMIH will be the first medical education hub in Scarborough and the Eastern GTA. The faculty aims to address the region’s shortage of health professionals by training physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physical therapists in partnership with local hospitals and clinics. Once fully operational, it will enroll over 400 students across programs supported by U of T’s top-ranked faculties. Featuring advanced labs and public teaching clinics, SAMIH will strengthen health care capacity and encourage graduates to serve the local community.

Building the opportunity to give back

Khan lost his parents at a young age and was taken in by his aunt and uncle. He discovered the truth about his orphaned status at age nine, a revelation that shaped his sense of independence and drive.

Education was never guaranteed. Khan relied on scholarships and community support to complete school. After, he worked as a laborer in a textile mill, carrying heavy loads under harsh conditions. Eventually, engineers working in the area noticed his talent. They trained him to assist with machinery installation – a turning point that revealed his aptitude for technical work.

From there, Khan’s life became a series of bold moves. In 1962, while in Islamia College Karachi, he was elected General Secretary of the Commerce Union representing three thousand students. Khan shares that he was personally honoured to be selected by the college in 1963 to present to the then-Premier of the People’s Republic of China and Pakistani foreign minister.

Later, he would go on to teach at a newly established Pakistani school in Tehran, manage logistics for international engineering projects and even work briefly in military organization set-up. Each role demanded adaptability and courage.

“I’ve had days when I didn’t have ten cents in my pocket,” Khan reflects about his time in Pakistan. “I bought chickpeas for dinner and drank water. That was it.”

The true meaning of success

Eventually, Khan saw an advertisement for Canadian immigration in Time magazine and seized the opportunity. After years of navigating bureaucracy and political unrest, he arrived in Montreal in 1971 with little more than determination. His early years in Canada were challenging – facing racism, struggles to find work that reflected his qualifications and financial strain – but he persevered. While taking courses in real estate, Khan worked 12-hour shifts as a parking lot attendant. Eventually, he began working for a real-estate broker and then built an exceptional career.

I know what it feels like to give up your dream because of money. I don’t want that for anyone else.

These experiences forged a deep empathy for those struggling to make ends meet. For over 30 years, Khan has quietly funded education for children from poor families in Pakistan. His philosophy is simple: success is meaningless unless shared.

“Don’t be ‘me, me, me’ all the time,” Khan advises. “Give. Help others. When you do, God gives you more.”

Guided by the Islamic principle of Sadaqah Jariyah – charity that continues to benefit others long after the giver has passed – Khan sees his gift in support of SAMIH medical students as an enduring legacy. For him, giving is not about recognition. It’s about impact that lasts for generations.

I know what it feels like to give up your dream because of money. I don’t want that for anyone else.

Through this gift, Khan hopes to inspire a culture of giving and create a future where no one abandons their dreams because of financial hardship.

His message to students who will benefit from this support is simple: “When you succeed, remember to help others. Keep the cycle going.”

By Emma Jones