Brampton family doctor goes viral after opening practice and documenting the return home
Dr. Ashley Sebastian opened a family practice in Brampton and has drawn 500,000+ views on TikTok by sharing her journey. She says representation and long-term care are central to her work.
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By Torontoer Staff
Dr. Ashley Sebastian opened her family medicine practice in Brampton this month and has drawn more than 500,000 views on social media by documenting the move home. Her content has resonated with local viewers who say they rarely saw Black physicians growing up in the city.
Sebastian practises at Bramalea Medical Centre alongside her father and her sister. She says the response has been humbling, and that her return highlights both the value of long-term primary care and the wider impact of visible representation in medicine.
A path to family medicine
Sebastian traces her interest in science back to childhood STEM programs, but she credits her decision to pursue medicine to the example set by her father, Dr. Anthony Sebastian, who has practised family medicine in the city for more than 20 years. She completed medical school and residency in the United States before returning to Ontario to practise in her hometown.
That training required more than a decade of education and clinical work. Moving back to Brampton was a deliberate choice, she said, tied to the community’s diversity and the opportunity to build long-term patient relationships.
Practising in Brampton, with family nearby
Sebastian’s office is on the same site as her sister, geriatrician Dr. Liana Singh, and their father, who occupies a floor below. She describes the arrangement as a continuation of a family tradition in medicine and a practical support network as she establishes her own patient panel.
Since accepting patients she has seen people travel significant distances to register with her, including from Barrie and the Niagara region. Sebastian called that response "humbling," and said it comes with added responsibility to provide consistent, high-quality care.
It’s a lot of pressure, a lot of responsibility but I understand there’s a need for more Black doctors, specifically in Toronto. I’ve had family members, but I’ve never met one or seen one outside of my family. So, being here in the community, someone that young girls and boys can look up to and strive to become, is a great honour.
Dr. Ashley Sebastian
Why representation matters
Sebastian frames her visibility as part of a broader effort to make medicine feel accessible to young people from Black and other underrepresented communities. For her, representation is not only symbolic. It affects patient comfort, trust and the likelihood that families will seek preventive care and establish ongoing relationships with a primary physician.
She also acknowledges the emotional labour that comes with being a visible figure. The attention creates expectations beyond clinical care, including being a role model and speaking about career pathways for youth in the community.
Sharing the day-to-day online
Sebastian started posting about the move and her early days in practice on TikTok. Her posts include day-in-the-life vlogs, reflections on opening a clinic and practical insights about running a medical business. She plans to keep sharing those behind-the-scenes glimpses to give prospective students and young clinicians a sense of what to expect.
- Day-in-the-life clips from clinic shifts
- Practical steps for opening a small practice
- Reflections on mentorship and career choices
- Insights about continuity of care and building patient relationships
She said she does experience fatigue like other clinicians, but that maintaining presence for patients is non-negotiable. That principle informs both her clinical work and the way she chooses to engage publicly.
I do have days where I feel tired like everyone else... But you still have to show up and be the best version of yourself for your patients, because they’re the ones that matter.
Dr. Ashley Sebastian
What aspiring physicians can take from her story
Sebastian’s trajectory underscores several practical points for people considering medicine: seek mentorship early, expect a long period of training, and consider how location and community fit into career decisions. Her return to Brampton also shows that building a practice can be both a professional choice and a way to invest in one’s home community.
As she settles into practice, Sebastian plans to balance clinical responsibilities with online outreach. She said that sharing challenges and small successes can provide a realistic perspective for those planning similar paths.
Opening a clinic in Brampton has put Sebastian in a visible role that goes beyond patient care. For local young people who rarely saw doctors who looked like them, that visibility is both practical and aspirational.
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