WHO IS PARKSIDE DENTAL: THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BUSINESSApril 29, 2021News
Parkside Dental, Co-Owner – Dr. Shamil Hajee
Written by Stacy Thomas
Photo by Angela Bliss
For Dr. Shamil Hajee, it’s been a long-distance love affair with the people of Squamish, and his roster of devoted patients are the main reason why he comes into work every day.
In fact, it’s always been about the people. Even way back when he was first deciding what to do with his life, he knew that he wanted to help people before anything else.
“I’m more of a social person, I love chatting with people, hearing what they have to say. I’m doing it more for the people than the dentistry!” Hajee laughs. “I love meeting new people, and I really like the people in Squamish.” Seeing as how it’s pure chance (or destiny?) that he ended up with his own practice here, it must be a match made in heaven.
Squamish had been a favourite weekend getaway spot for Hajee and his wife for some time when he answered an ad for a locum dentist position at Parkside Dental on a whim, and he’d been working there part-time for only a few months before the opportunity to take ownership of the clinic arose. He took a chance and went for it.
“I had no intention of starting a business in Squamish,” he says. “We found out that the office was looking to change ownership, and the rest is history. It happened so quickly.” Along with partner Dr. Sepehr Rahmany, Hajee took ownership in February of 2020 – they promptly had to close due to COVID. “We just took over getting the ball rolling, next thing you know we’re shut down.”
They have reopened for regular practice after being closed for all but emergency cases, and Hajee is happy to be back to helping his patients live their fullest, best lives; “I love helping people smile better, helping them feel confident with their smiles. It’s the impact I can have for people which really motivates me to go into work every day.”
Born and raised in Burnaby, Hajee got a degree in molecular biology from U.B.C. and was working in mouth cancer research when his fascination with oral medicine was ignited. He started thinking about dentistry as a field he might want to pursue; his wife and his mother are both dental hygienists, so it was an option he’d had at the back of his mind for years. After a bit of thought, Hajee followed his gut, made yet another fast decision, and before he knew it, he was in Sydney, Australia studying dentistry. Now, with his sister working in dentistry as well, it is truly a “family affair”.
“I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives and their overall health. Helping people smile better, helping them feel confident with their smiles. It’s the impact I can have for people which really motivates me to go into work every day.”
For now, it’s a love from afar; Hajee and his wife live in North Vancouver, but he makes the daily commute happily and they even spend their weekends here as well.
“When I got in here, I loved it. People are friendly, it’s a beautiful city, mountains everywhere, I can’t get enough of it.”
And his patients can’t enough of him either – they drop by just to chat and say hello. A fact that is not lost on Dr. Hajee.
“Now that we’re open again, people are happy that we’re around. When someone takes the time to chat with me, I love it, it makes my day feel complete like I’ve ticked all the boxes. Meeting new people, making a few jokes here and there, it lightens the load and makes things good at the end of the day.”
Dr. Hajee, Dr. Rahmany and associate dentist Dr. Sandra Dee are open for full dental practice and are accepting new patients.
Parkside Dental, Co-Owner – Dr. Shamil Hajee
Written by Stacy Thomas
Photo by Angela Bliss
For Dr. Shamil Hajee, it’s been a long-distance love affair with the people of Squamish, and his roster of devoted patients are the main reason why he comes into work every day.
In fact, it’s always been about the people. Even way back when he was first deciding what to do with his life, he knew that he wanted to help people before anything else.
“I’m more of a social person, I love chatting with people, hearing what they have to say. I’m doing it more for the people than the dentistry!” Hajee laughs. “I love meeting new people, and I really like the people in Squamish.” Seeing as how it’s pure chance (or destiny?) that he ended up with his own practice here, it must be a match made in heaven.
Squamish had been a favourite weekend getaway spot for Hajee and his wife for some time when he answered an ad for a locum dentist position at Parkside Dental on a whim, and he’d been working there part-time for only a few months before the opportunity to take ownership of the clinic arose. He took a chance and went for it.
“I had no intention of starting a business in Squamish,” he says. “We found out that the office was looking to change ownership, and the rest is history. It happened so quickly.” Along with partner Dr. Sepehr Rahmany, Hajee took ownership in February of 2020 – they promptly had to close due to COVID. “We just took over getting the ball rolling, next thing you know we’re shut down.”
They have reopened for regular practice after being closed for all but emergency cases, and Hajee is happy to be back to helping his patients live their fullest, best lives; “I love helping people smile better, helping them feel confident with their smiles. It’s the impact I can have for people which really motivates me to go into work every day.”
Born and raised in Burnaby, Hajee got a degree in molecular biology from U.B.C. and was working in mouth cancer research when his fascination with oral medicine was ignited. He started thinking about dentistry as a field he might want to pursue; his wife and his mother are both dental hygienists, so it was an option he’d had at the back of his mind for years. After a bit of thought, Hajee followed his gut, made yet another fast decision, and before he knew it, he was in Sydney, Australia studying dentistry. Now, with his sister working in dentistry as well, it is truly a “family affair”.
“I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives and their overall health. Helping people smile better, helping them feel confident with their smiles. It’s the impact I can have for people which really motivates me to go into work every day.”
For now, it’s a love from afar; Hajee and his wife live in North Vancouver, but he makes the daily commute happily and they even spend their weekends here as well.
“When I got in here, I loved it. People are friendly, it’s a beautiful city, mountains everywhere, I can’t get enough of it.”
And his patients can’t enough of him either – they drop by just to chat and say hello. A fact that is not lost on Dr. Hajee.
“Now that we’re open again, people are happy that we’re around. When someone takes the time to chat with me, I love it, it makes my day feel complete like I’ve ticked all the boxes. Meeting new people, making a few jokes here and there, it lightens the load and makes things good at the end of the day.”
Dr. Hajee, Dr. Rahmany and associate dentist Dr. Sandra Dee are open for full dental practice and are accepting new patients.
