I have always enjoyed interviewing physicians. Their paths are rarely straightforward, and behind the white coats are stories of determination, family, and often unexpected talents. Sitting down with Dr. Curtis Hadden, reminded me why I love these conversations. A family doctor in Port Perry, Curtis has just celebrated his tenth anniversary in practice. He is also a husband, father of three, community volunteer and, to my surprise, a gifted singer whose voice can fill a hall.

We began by talking about what it is like to work as a physician in a rural setting. Curtis explained that family practice here is far more than office visits. Members of the Medical Associates of Port Perry (MAPP) group, he told me, weave together emergency shifts, obstetrics, palliative care, and even time in the operating room.

Family medicine in Ontario demands long days and follow-up after hours. Even on days away from the office, test results, lab reports and updates from urgent care keep arriving. Curtis sees about twenty to thirty patients a day, three and a half days a week, and adds a weekly urgent-care shift, time assisting in surgery, and visits with palliative patients in facilities or at home. Emails, phone calls and paperwork fill the gaps.

Curtis’s own journey to medicine began nearby. He lived in Whitby until age six, when his family moved to Sunderland. From grade three on, he attended school in Port Perry, developing the ties that would later draw him back. Medicine runs through his family; his father is an optometrist and his brother a chiropractor. “It’s safe to say our conversations often circle around health care,” he said with a smile. At McMaster University Curtis studied medicine and met Victoria, then a student in Radiation Sciences who would become his wife. His medical placement at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie gave him both training and, as he put it, “a good social circle of people to study with and spend time with outside of work”; a balance he still values today.

When we spoke about palliative care, I admitted I had thought many physicians might shy away from it. Curtis offered a different view. “Often, when people are in the end stages of life there is pain and discomfort. Making people comfortable and allowing them to spend their last days with dignity, is very rewarding.”

Musical theatre has been a constant thread since childhood. When his parents discovered his talent for singing, they encouraged it, and he has never set it aside. Over the years Port Perry audiences have heard his rich voice at concerts and musicals. I vividly remember emceeing a Durham Chamber Orchestra event where Curtis sang the national anthem; the sound filled the hall. “I think a big part of life in Port Perry and North Durham is that sense of community and trying to participate in different aspects of it,” he told me. “For me, singing, performing and doing musicals is a great stress relief and I enjoy it immensely.” He is not alone; other local physicians, including Drs. John Stewart, Paul Puckrin and John Forster, have also taken to the stage, showing how the medical and arts communities often overlap here.

Balancing a demanding practice, fatherhood and performing would be enough for most people, but Curtis also finds time for curling. He is a member of the Port Perry Curling Club, carving out one evening a week for exercise and camaraderie. “It’s just once a week, but it’s nice to get a little activity,” he said. Hearing his schedule, I wondered how he manages it all. His answer was a mix of routine, support from his family, and genuine enjoyment of each role he plays.

Our conversation left me with a clear sense of the man behind the medical chart: a physician whose skills range from palliative care to surgery assistance, a performer whose voice strengthens community events, and a father who still makes space for curling nights. Curtis’s positive personality is woven through everything he does and is, no doubt, a major factor in his success.

If you live in North Durham and haven’t yet crossed paths with Dr. Curtis Hadden, it is likely only a matter of time. Whether you meet him in his clinic, at a community fundraiser or on stage with a microphone, you will find someone who embodies the blend of dedication and community spirit that defines Port Perry. It was a pleasure interviewing him and sharing his story.

For those interested in hearing more, you can watch my full interview with Dr. Hadden on The Jonathan van Bilsen Show on YouTube.