Guided by Care: How Dr. Tanya Williams Built a Practice Around Compassion
Dr. Tanya Williams has an incredible story about what led her to specialize in obstetrics and gynaecology, a path that first began during her time as a medical student. Originally, she planned to become a pediatrician. However, everything changed in her final year of medical school during her clerkship at Mount Sinai Hospital. Her first rotation was in obstetrics and gynecology, and on her very first night on call, a physician she describes as a brilliant, kind and an exceptionally competent mentor turned to her and said, “Tanya, we’re doing a delivery—put your gloves on!”
She remembers telling him, “I’ve never seen a delivery,” to which he reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.” True to his word, he stood beside her the entire time. She put on her gloves, stepped into the delivery room, and delivered the baby. From that moment on, she was hooked.
After graduating, Dr. Williams began working as a general OB/GYN at Centenary Hospital in Scarborough. She loved the work, building strong connections with her patients and finding joy in both aspects of labour and delivery and surgery. However, having experienced her own journey with fertility and with her children growing older, she found herself increasingly drawn to the idea of focusing on fertility full-time. Opening her own clinic felt like a natural next step, one that allowed her to continue supporting patients in a deeply meaningful way, just as she had as a general OB/GYN.
Mentorship helped shape Dr. Williams’ direction at key points along the way, she highlights Dr. Paul Bernstein as a standout, especially because he was the same physician who, on her very first day, encouraged her to assist with her first delivery. She credits him as a major influence in her decision to pursue the speciality.
She also highlights Dr. Ken Cadesky, as playing a key role when she was transitioning from general OB/GYN to specializing in fertility. He invited her to spend time in his practice, an experience she credits with solidifying her decision to specialize in fertility. When it came time to start her own practice, Dr.Tanya Williams Fertility Centre, she leaned heavily on the expertise of another colleague, who helped her navigate the practical aspects that medical school doesn’t teach—like where to buy computers, where to get office supplies, what’s needed to set up an office, and what goes into managing your own practice. His support was crucial in helping her get started. From there, the rest came with time and experience, learning what worked, what didn’t, and gradually becoming more proficient at managing and refining her business operations.
Now that Dr. Williams is well established in her field, she feels a deep responsibility to pay forward the support and guidance she once received. Mentorship, she believes, is essential for shaping the next generation of physicians. In line with this commitment, she participated with the Advancement of Black Health Sciences (ABHS)– the predecessor to what later became BPAO. Williams shares Dr. Rossi’s vision in creating tangible opportunities for underrepresented students to access mentorship, gain exposure to medical and allied health careers, and truly see themselves reflected in these fields. She sees this work not just as important but essential to building a more inclusive representative future in medicine. Williams values this greatly, to this day, she’s open to students who reach out to spend time with her in her practice–something she deeply values.
She brings the same level of care to her patients. Fertility treatment can be an incredibly emotional journey, and Dr. Williams approaches this with a strong, team-centered philosophy. She emphasizes that supporting patients is a collective effort, speaking highly of her entire staff. From the front desk to the nurses, lab staff, and herself, all playing an essential role in creating a welcoming and compassionate environment.
Dr. Williams highlights that all of her nursing staff come with backgrounds in labour and delivery, bringing a deep understanding of women’s health that she feels makes a meaningful difference in patient care. She also praises her lab staff for their ability to help patients feel at ease, building genuine connections by remembering conversations, continuing stories from visit to visit, and fostering a sense of belonging.
It’s a culture Dr. Williams has intentionally built, and one that resonates with patients. She shares that some of the most meaningful feedback she receives is when patients express that they feel genuinely cared for during their time at the clinic—something she finds incredibly rewarding.
This April included Canadian Fertility Awareness Week. As a fertility specialist, Dr. Williams sees this week as an important opportunity to recognize the struggles that so many individuals and couples face. She notes that one in six couples in Canada experience fertility challenges, a number that underscores how common this journey is.
For Dr. Williams, the week is not only about raising awareness but also about helping people feel less alone. She emphasizes that fertility struggles can be financially, emotionally, and physically difficult, and that not everyone has strong support systems at home. That’s why she and her team work to fill those gaps, offering as much support and care as possible.
Dr. Williams also highlights that there is a wide network of professionals including, doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, dedicated to helping individuals and couples through every step of the process. She sees Fertility Awareness Week as a powerful way to reduce stigma, spark conversation, and let people know they are not alone.
When asked, Dr. Williams notes several emerging trends in the field of fertility. She explains that as a relatively young field, having developed over several decades, fertility is changing rapidly. The most significant shift she’s seeing now is the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into fertility care, particularly in selecting eggs and embryos. She adds that the hope is that as AI continues to be integrated with existing technology and expertise, it will help improve patient outcomes, specifically by increasing pregnancy rates, live birth rates, and reducing miscarriage rates.
Dr. Williams remains committed to not only advancing fertility care with compassion and innovation but also shaping the next generation of physicians by championing inclusive representation in the medical field.