In Montreal North, a new health service is rounding the corner to help people in need.
DocTocToc is a pediatric clinic on wheels—in the form of a bus. Run by a non-profit, its mission is to break down barriers to health care for young children and their families. “Early intervention can have lifelong impact,” explains Dr. Rislaine Benkelfat, founder and president of the new clinic. Benkelfat’s cofounder, Jean-Philippe Couture, specializes in securing public funding for non-profits.
Founded in 2017 and incorporated in 2018, DocTocToc has been running “pop-up,” no-appointment-needed pediatric clinics across Montreal North since 2020. In 2023, the organization launched a neurodevelopmental screening program as part of Montreal’s annual Foire-Santé in collaboration with the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and acquired its iconic bus in March 2025. “Our bus has a personality of its own!” Benkelfat says joyfully. “It’s fully customized—build, equipment, and decor. Children are drawn into the friendly and whimsical world we created.”
The bus has been in service since the beginning of April. “It’s very new! Bringing a project like this one to fruition is complicated. It takes time.” Benkelfat is also a pediatrician at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McGill University. “The battles can grow long and arduous. Proposing a new care model that is deeply committed to making a difference in the community and seamlessly integrated with existing services… it’s a challenge every single day.”
DocTocToc’s mobility is what makes it so valuable. Other pediatric clinics offer more comprehensive care, but they’re fixed in place. DocTocToc, by contrast, strives to reach as many people as possible by going to them, rather than the other way around. This allows it to provide basic psychosocial care services to children five years of age and under who are underserved by the health and social services network.
McGill University and The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation have been, and continue to be, key partners in this project.. “We couldn’t have launched without their help,” notes Dr. Benkelfat. “Their commitment to soliciting funds from donors is proof positive of their community engagement. I’d especially like to highlight the incredible contribution from the R. Howard Webster Foundation, which heard about us through McGill University.”
“Anyone who has struggled to access health care and worried about getting the care they need understands the importance of finding creative solutions when the system is over capacity,” says Brian Thompson, executive director (Health Affairs), University Advancement at McGill University. “And that’s exactly what DocTocToc offers.”
“DocTocToc’s aim is to break down barriers to health care, ensuring vulnerable children get the care they need, right in their neighbourhood,” adds Renée Vézina, president of The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Thank you to all of the donors who make this project possible. Together, we are creating a future where every child—regardless of their circumstances—has the chance to grow up healthy, strong, and full of potential.”
What’s more, the mobile clinic will combine the expertise of doctors and hospital staff with the resources of the McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
“DocTocToc will provide essential medical care while offering a unique platform to train the next generation of healthcare providers, in a real-time environment, with and for our communities,” notes Dr. Lesley Fellows (MDCM’96, DPhil, FRCPC), vice-president (Health Affairs) and dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
People board the bus seeking answers to their concerns about their children’s health. “But our goal is also to ensure children’s well-being by targeting the social determinants of health and to contribute to the betterment of their living conditions,” Benkelfat explains. “For example, the clinic will help a family at risk of losing their home or suffering from food insecurity, because these conditions have an impact on their children’s health.”
Nurses and psychosocial workers welcome patients onto the bus, provide support, address certain health issues and, as required, direct them to doctors or community services in the region. “We set up near community organizations, like local health centres and daycares. We also work with immigration organizations, creating a beneficial network between our respective services,” says Benkelfat. “In the longer term, we may be able to hire our own nurse practitioners and pediatricians.”
It’s far too early to measure the impact of this sort of clinic given that it’s only been operational since the beginning of April. But some benefits are to be expected, like the improved health and wellness of young children and their families. Ultimately, the aim is for all children to grow up healthy, no matter where they were born or their home environment.
The project has ambitious plans for the future. “We envision two potential kinds of growth,” explains Benkelfat. “We are striving for a geographical expansion, to take the bus to other regions. We are also hoping to diversify our service offerings—for instance, focusing on pregnant women or the elderly. These goals could be carried out by our organization or another.”
This project is the culmination of a successful partnership between DocTocToc, The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation and McGill University.
DocTocToc simply wouldn’t exist without the generosity of numerous donors. Thank you to all who made this project a reality.