We were saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dr. Vanessa Berjat earlier this month in Rocky Mountain House.
Dr. Berjat was a talented physician, whose expertise in obstetrics, child health, and GI medicine, and whose passion for women’s health, made her a valued member of the Rocky Mountain House community. As a rural physician, Dr. Berjat believed passionately in sustaining local surgical programs in rural communities across Canada, and to that end worked tirelessly to develop curriculum and programming for the B.C. -based Enhanced Surgical Skills (ESS) program. Vanessa epitomized the commitment and dedication to which all rural family physicians aspire, and her passing is a tremendous loss for all.
We’ve been touched by the outpouring of support from colleagues and community members, and on behalf of the RhPAP Board of Directors and staff, I offer our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and patients of Dr. Berjat. Known for her kind and compassionate nature, she will be missed by all who have had the privilege to work alongside her.
Dr. Bert Reitsma
Chair, RhPAP Board of Directors