Obituary of Pamela Catton

Pamela Anne Catton MD, MPHE, FRCPC. November 28, 1953- December 23, 2014. Dr. Pamela Catton died peacefully at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband of 36 years and the love of her life, Dr. Stephen Witchell, as well as a very large immediate and extended family. Her death followed a very courageous struggle with the same disease she spent her entire professional career treating and researching, as well as striving to improve both the outcomes and effects of treatment for countless others. Pamela was a Radiation Oncologist and the daughter of a Radiation Oncologist. She was also a professor, researcher, teacher, mentor and internationally acclaimed educator. Above all she was a skilled and compassionate physician and she clearly recognized and taught that those qualities must lie at the heart of all successful academic endeavors. She was especially passionate about developing and promoting the talents of all the interdisciplinary Radiation Oncology team members and it is now the norm to see interdisciplinary Radiotherapy care that includes advanced practice Therapists, Therapist scientists and educators. Her legacy includes the trailblazing ELLICSR: Health, Wellness, and Cancer Survivorship Centre to which she applied her boundless energy, enthusiasm and organizational skills to help found and make a success. Her proudest achievement however was her second family of students and junior colleagues, who she taught, mentored and inspired and who in turn relocated nationally and internationally to develop successful research programs and take on leadership roles of their own. To those who knew her best, Pam was much more than a visionary leader in the medical community. She was courageous and compassionate to those who needed help. She was devoted and fiercely loyal to anyone she considered family: her parents, her husband, her brothers and sisters, her nephews and nieces, and her close friends. She was outrageous, creative, and fun-loving. But above all she was totally unique. She loved to go against the grain, she dared to be different, and she lived her life unapologetically true to herself. There could be no words that could properly express the profound sense of loss we feel at her passing. We love you deeply and we will miss you profoundly. Special thanks go to Drs. Ida Ackerman and Gillian Thomas at Odette Cancer Centre; Drs. Mary Gospodarowicz, Drew Hope, Amit Oza, Gary Rodin, Breffni Hannon and the Staff of 16P at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. A private family service has taken place. Tribute donations should be directed to The Canadian Radiation Oncology Foundation/Fondation Canadienne de Radio-Oncologie (CROF/FCRO) established partly to help promote the career of Radiation Oncology amongst young physicians at http://www.caro-acro.ca/Links/CROF/CROF_Donation_Options.htm or the Toronto Humane Society. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.