DUNNVILLE — Dr. Reza Kazemi will be part of Team Canada in the 2025 World Medical Football Championships (WMFC) this July in Dublin, Ireland. At nearly 63-years-old, Kazemi will be Canada’s sole physician over the age of 60 in the competition. He will represent the nation in the Carlito’s Cup division, a spirited international mixed-team competition. He joins two other Canadian men’s teams participating in different levels of the WMFC.
A lifelong soccer fan who admits he’d rather play than watch, Kazemi is no stranger to active living. Since 2023, he’s been a striker with the Burlington Old Timers Soccer Club, embodying the spirit of healthy aging and community engagement.
Kazemi began practising medicine in Dunnville in 1988. Although he retired from family practice in 2020, Kazemi continues to serve in the ER and inpatient unit at Haldimand War Memorial Hospital (HWMH).
His impact extends far beyond the hospital walls. Alongside his wife, Dr. Barbara Falco-Kazemi, he co-founded several transformative community initiatives: Designing Routes to Education and Mentorship (2001), Shared Harvest Community Farm (2010), and The Minga Café and Community Hub (2013). He also developed the Healthy Heart Sustainable Diet at HWMH with the hospital dietitian in 2014.
“Reza embodies what this tournament is about – medicine, movement, and meaningful global friendships,” said Dr. Paul Dhillon, Team Manager and Founder of Team Canada. “He’s a role model for our younger players and a reminder that age is no limit when it comes to passion and purpose.”
Kazemi’s involvement adds a unique layer of heart and experience to Canada’s WMFC delegation, as the nation fields its largest contingent yet. His story is one of lifelong service – to patients, community, and now the game.
