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Community mourns long-time physician

Dr. Shashi Patel, a fixture of the Westlock medical community for more than 40 years, has died. He passed away peacefully Jan. 21 at the age of 79 at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, surrounded by his loved ones. Dr.
patel room
Dr. Shashi Patel addresses the assembled crowd at the dedication of the Patel Room March 28, 2016 at the Westlock Healthcare Centre where he and his wife Koki were recognized for their contributions.

Dr. Shashi Patel, a fixture of the Westlock medical community for more than 40 years, has died.

He passed away peacefully Jan. 21 at the age of 79 at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, surrounded by his loved ones.

Dr. Patel was born in Kenya in 1938, but studied medicine and practiced at several hospitals in England before he immigrated to Canada in 1970.

In 1971, Patel passed up an opportunity to become chief general surgeon at the University of Alberta to instead work in Westlock, where he teamed up with several doctors including Dr. Guy Gokiert to open the Central Medical Clinic.

“We spent many years as partners and then as the clinic broke up we went our separate ways,” said Dr. Gokiert.

Patel performed Westlock first surgical operations at the Immaculata Hospital during that time and always kept up with the latest in surgical advancements to bring to his work in Westlock.

“He was a very good surgeon. He was an innovative surgeon and most of his career here he was working to bring new innovative techniques to Westlock and to the Westlock hospital and the patients did very well under his care,” said Gokiert.

“He was the first to bring laparoscopic surgery to Westlock.”

Gokiert even credits Patel’s steady hands with saving one of his son’s lives.

“We are forever grateful to him.”

Patel retired in 2013, but before he did, he assisted other doctors in town to establish an orthopaedic surgical program in  Westlock.

His contributions to the medical community go beyond his surgical abilities though.

Patel spent much of his time in Westlock advocating for better medical equipment and that advocacy resulted in the Westlock Healthcare Centre naming a room at the hospital in him and wife Koki, who passed away in 1997.

Patel was instrumental in bringing proper surgical equipment along with a CT scanner to the community.

The Patel Room was dedicated March 28, 2016. It will ensure a lasting legacy for Patel and Koki who was also a nurse in Westlock for many years.

The room is a multi-purpose area used for patient education, a waiting area and as a meeting space for staff.

“He will be sorely missed,” said Gokiert.

Dr. Alan Watt is another contemporary of Patel’s, though he worked at the Associate Medical Clinic for much of Patel’s time in Westlock.

He remembers Patel as a very active member of the community and an avid golfer.

“I knew him quite well,” said Watt, who was also a Rotarian for many years alongside Patel.

Patel served as president of the Rotary Club in 1995-96 and much of his advocacy for medical equipment went through the club as well.

He was also treasurer for the Canadian Tractor Museum.

As a lifetime member of the Westlock Golf Club, you could often find him and Koki on the links with friends like Dr. Watt who said he played golf with him regularly.

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