With decades of experience rooted in compassion and commitment to children’s health, Dr. Jeff Wong is carving a strong path for pediatric care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) as the new head of the Pediatric Department.
In this new role, Dr. Wong is focused on rebuilding trust and creating a sustainable, collaborative system. “I see my role as a facilitator and coach,” he says. “We are building a system where all team members are actively engaged, involved and feel their voices are heard. People may come and go, but the system, if well-designed, lasts.”
His passion for pediatrics began early in his medical career. “I’ve always hoped to be a pediatrician since I first graduated,” he says.
In the early part of his career and after completing medical school at the University of Hong Kong, he rotated through several specialties as part of his internship. “My first rotation was pediatrics, and it was amazing. I realized I could help young patients—even those who couldn’t fully express themselves. I felt I was gifted in that way, so I decided to pursue pediatrics as my career.”
Taking a bold step, Dr. Wong applied exclusively to pediatric departments and secured a position in the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. There, he built an impressive career, specializing in pediatric respirology and critical-care medicine, establishing a lung-function laboratory, and mentoring staff. A long-held plan to move to Canada would eventually redirect his path.
Dr Wong began his training over a decade ago in Canada as a clinical fellow at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, including time in the Intensive care unit (ICU). “I really liked the culture and the people in Canada. My family and I always had a plan to come here,” he explains.
In 2021, he accepted a pediatric position at Penticton Regional Hospital, where he spent three years before joining the pediatric respirology team at Dalhousie University in Halifax. But the Okanagan’s unique balance of quiet and community life continued to call to him.
“My family really loves this region,” he says. Eventually, they returned to the British Columbia, where Dr. Wong initially provided locum respirology service at BC Children’s Hospital. It was during this time he was also picking up locum shifts at KGH and he became familiar with the local health care community. It helped shape his decision to become a full-time pediatrician at KGH.
Personal challenge
With his extensive experience, dedication and vision for a collaborative system, Dr. Wong is poised to lead Kelowna’s pediatric team toward a new chapter, one of reliability, excellence and renewed community trust.
His motivation for taking on the challenging leadership role at Kelowna General Hospital is deeply personal.
“I consider myself a member of the Okanagan region. My children live here, and I believe the kids here deserve excellent pediatric care. When I read about parents’ frustration during past service disruptions, it was heartbreaking. I wanted to step up and help create a system that allows our children—and their families—to receive consistent, high-quality care.”
To the community, Dr. Wong offers a heartfelt message: “I’m sorry for the previous service disruption. We are building a strong team, together with many experienced community pediatricians, committed to providing the best pediatric care possible. I understand that trust is easy to lose and hard to rebuild—but we are determined to regain it.”
Supporting each other is key, he explains. “Discussion between doctors and nursing staff often produces the best management plan for critically ill or complex patients.”
Dr. Wong took his new role in September of 2025.
