Roger POISSON

POISSON, Roger C., MD, FRCSC, FACS
1931 - 2013
It is with much sadness that we share with you the passing of Dr. Roger Poisson on April 28th in Pointe-Claire (QC).
He is survived by his partner Nicole Lauzon, his sons Michel (spouse of Louisa Montplaisir), Frederic (spouse of Isabelle Mailloux), Alexandre, his brother Raymond, his sister Lili (spouse of Jacques Bordier), his grandchildren Laurent, Victor, Louis, and Valerie, as well as his many nieces and nephews.
Born in Aubervilliers (France) on August 20th, 1931, Roger immigrated to Canada in 1952 to pursue his studies in medicine. After earning his medical degree from the University of Ottawa, he specialised in surgery at McGill University. It was at Montreal's St-Luc Hospital that Roger exercised his profession for some 45 years, as head of the service of Surgical Oncology and chief of the Oncology Centre. Full professor in surgery at the University of Montreal, he helped shape several generations of aspiring physicians and surgeons.
Initially recognized for his skilled radical surgical interventions for malignant diseases, Roger reinvented himself in the early seventies by specializing in breast cancer and more importantly by developing new techniques for non-invasive treatments. He became a fervent proponent for breast preservation, an approach considered somewhat contrarian for the time and not without its critics.
To this day, thousands of his patients remain the living testament to the quality of his work and to the devotion he had for them.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the personnel of both St-Luc and the West Island Palliative Care Unit for their devotion and constant care during these last few months. Our thanks also to the many friends, colleagues, and patients who were able to spend some time with him during this period.
The funeral service will be held at 11a.m. on May 25th at our local church (1 rue de l'Église, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal QC, H9X 1W4) where doors will open as of 10 a.m. A small reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be offered to the Fondation du CHUM.