Memories of Dr. Joseph Roach

Seeing Dr. Roach mentioned in the CMAJ was wonderful.1

I was lucky enough to interact with him numerous times — when I was a medical student in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, in the mid-90s and over a few years of my early career, just before he retired.

Dr. Roach had an incredible commitment to his community and to the profession of medicine. He was always a gentleman, and treated everyone with the same respect regardless of their position in life. His capacity for remembering his patients, their medical histories, drug regimens, family histories and relationships was incredible, even into his late years. His kindness, commitment and generosity are things we can all aspire to, even though very few of us will likely ever achieve anything close.