In memoriam (May 2019)
David Melville Birks, MBBS, FRCSC, died on March 17, 2019, in Victoria, Australia, at age 73. Dr. Birks was certified by the Royal College in General Surgery in 1975. Dr. Birks is remembered as a “true gentleman” and “fantastic surgeon and mentor to many.” Read more about Dr. Birks.
Leverett Lebaron (“Barrie”) deVeber, MD, FRCPC, died on February 28, 2019, in London, Ont., at age 90. Dr. deVeber was certified by the Royal College in Pediatrics in 1959. He was behind several innovations in cancer and was considered a pioneer in palliative care for children. He also originated several humanitarian organizations. Read more about Dr. deVeber.
David Lorne Gilday, MDCM, FRCPC, died on March 7, 2019, in Toronto, Ont., at age 78. Dr. Gilday was certified by the Royal College in Diagnostic Radiology (1970) and Nuclear Medicine (1976). He was formerly the head of Nuclear Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children and co-founder of Toronto Nuclear Medical Services. Read more about Dr. Gilday.
Rajendra (“Raj”) Harricharan, MBBS, FRCPC, died on April 7, 2019, in London, Ont., at age 62. Dr. Harricharan was certified by the Royal College in Psychiatry in 1993. He worked as a psychiatrist at the London Health Sciences Centre for more than 25 years. He also served as a member on the Royal College’s Psychiatry Examination Board from 2002-2011. Read more about Dr. Harricharan.
Duane Willis Justus, MDCM, FRCSC, died on February 23, 2019, in Winchester, Ont., at age 91. Dr. Justus was certified by the Royal College in General Surgery in 1957. He was considered a “giant” in the history of the Winchester District Memorial Hospital where he worked for many years as a surgeon. Read more about Dr. Justus (plus, tribute in the Nation Valley News).
Dennis Myron Karpiak, MD, FRCPC, died on February 23, 2019, in Kamloops, B.C., at age 75. Dr. Karpiak was certified by the Royal College in Internal Medicine in 1975. For 35 years, he practised cardio-pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in Kamloops. He helped establish the School of Respiratory Therapy at Thompson Rivers University. Read more about Dr. Karpiak.
Wilbert Joseph Keon, OC, MD, FRCSC, died on April 7, 2019, in Ottawa, Ont., at age 83. Dr. Keon was certified by the Royal College in General Surgery (1966) and Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (1968). He served on many Royal College committees including Council (1986-1994). He was well-known for his work as director general of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He was also a retired Senator. Read more about Dr. Keon (plus, tribute in the Ottawa Citizen).
Elzbieta Rosnowska-Perera, MD, FRCPC, died on March 24, 2019, in Toronto, Ont., at age 82. Dr. Rosnowska-Perera was certified by the Royal College in Anesthesiology in 1977. She worked for 30 years as an anesthesiologist at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. She was also a former assistant professor at the University of Toronto. Read more about Dr. Rosnowska-Perera.
Armand Thibault, MD, FRCPC, died on January 30, 2019, in Quebec, Que., at age 93. Dr. Thibault was certified by the Royal College in Psychiatry in 1961. He graduated from Laval University with his medical degree in 1952. Read more about Dr. Thibault.