Dr. Paul Dhillon now calls Sechelt home, but before settling there, he grew up in Tsawwassen, BC, where he developed a love of learning and of travel. Since graduating high school, Paul has earned degrees in political science and medicine, a Master’s in Disaster Medicine, and a Master of Business Administration.
He also has certificates or diplomas in Surgical Science, and Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. His studies have taken him from B.C. to Ireland to Scotland, and places in between.
Somehow, in between work and studying, Paul found time to pursue another interest – joining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
“My grandfather served in the Indian Army as a logistics officer, and I was always interested in emergency medicine and deployed military medicine.”
So, he joined 16 Field Ambulance in Regina as a medical officer. He completed Basic Training (or boot camp) in Valcartier, then was sent to Borden for his Basic Medical Officer Training. He has since completed CAF Flight Surgeon training, Dive Medicine, and Submarine Medicine.
Major Dhillon works part-time as a general duty medical officer for the Army Reserves (now with 11/12 Field Ambulance), and full-time as a rural family physician. As a reservist, he has had the opportunity to deploy to Kuwait and to participate in Joint Training Exercises with the U.S. Army. When asked what his most memorable experience in the CAF has been to date, he cites his Flight Surgeon Practicum with the search and rescue teams of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Comox and sailing onboard His Majesty’s Canadian Submarine Victoria as a submarine medical officer.
Currently deployed aboard His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Québec, Major Dhillon is looking forward to experiencing his “longest deployment, learning about shipboard life, meeting other sailors, experiencing the multi-national environment, and learning more about naval medicine, naval warfare and naval history.
“He will have plenty of opportunity to learn, as HMCS Ville de Québec will be spending time in the company of many of our allies and partners, while conducting Operation (Op) REASSURANCE, Op AMARNA, and Op HORIZON. Undoubtedly, Major Dhillon will have many new memories to share with his family and friends when he returns to Sechelt.
Op REASSURANCE is the CAF’s largest overseas mission, contributing to NATO deterrence and defense measures in Central and Eastern Europe; Op AMARNA is Canada’s contribution to strengthening peace and security in the Middle East; and Op HORIZON is Canada’s forward-presence mission to the Indo-Pacific region to promote peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.
