Dr. Noorali Bharwani passed away at the age of 77. He will be dearly missed by family, friends and all those whose lives he touched through his many years work in the medical field.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
Dr. Noorali Bharwani, who penned a medical column in the News for 25 years, has died.
Bharwani, who was 77, suffered a heart attack on Jan. 27.
A general surgeon and active member of Medicine Hat’s medical community for more than 35 years, Bharwani began writing his bi-weekly column “What’s Up Doc?” for the News in 1998.
Along with medical research, Bharwani also published an autobiography, “A Doctor’s Journey,” which detailed his youth in Tanzania, living on four continents before emigrating to Canada in 1979.
The account, he said in promotional material, followed the humorous ups and downs and successes and failures along with good health and bad, and the idea of total health that also centred his weekly column.
“I wrote about exercise, laughter, meditation, organic and non-organic healthy food, and stress relief,” he wrote, describing the early column on his website. “A few months later, I added smoking cessation; then, sexual empowerment and sleep. I feel that these eight steps will help us fight many modern-day killers.”
Originally scheduled to appear in today’s paper, the column often explored an array of topics, including developments in medical practices and technology, issues impacting the health-care system and methods of maintaining overall health and well being.
“Dr. Bharwani was always wonderful to work with,” said News city editor Ryan McCracken. “His columns provided our readers with a unique perspective into a vast array of health-related topics and have been a part of our paper for decades. We are grateful for everything he’s done for us at the News, and I’ll miss editing his work and chatting with him through email.
“We at the News wish his family all the best through this challenging time.”
While those close to Bharwani are saddened by his sudden departure, they are proud of the life he led, hallmarked by his commitment to caring for others, and legacy he left.
Born and raised in Musoma, Tanzania, Bharwani travelled the globe to hone his medical expertise.
Following graduation from high school, he travelled to India to study medicine, graduating from the University of Patna in 1971.
He then moved to the U.K. to complete surgical training, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and a member of the Royal College of Physicians.
In 1979, Bharwani moved to Canada, working as a Research Fellow at the National Cancer Institute and Scientific and Research Associate at the Southern Alberta Cancer Centre.
He completed his surgical residency at the University of Alberta in 1984 and was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada thereafter.
He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Following his graduation from the University of Alberta, Bharwani spent a year in Saskatchewan, before settling in Medicine Hat.
While living in Medicine Hat, Bharwani served in several roles, including his main role as a general surgeon and Regional Chief of Medical Staff of the Palliser Health Authority in southeastern Alberta.
He also served as a medical adviser, director, vice president, president and provincial board member for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Medicine Hat branch, which he was an ardent supporter of. Bharwani was the first Medicine Hat physician to participate in Docs for Cancer, a fundraiser in which doctors shave their hair to raise money for CCS.
The dedication and care Bharwani exhibited as a professional, extended into his personal life as well. Bharwani’s family remembers him for his endless passion and love abound.
