Contributed by Shannon Fernando

I distinctly remember meeting Nate for the first time. It was January of 2011, and he was interviewing with us at Queen’s University for medical school. He had brought Kristy with him, and we had a lengthy discussion in the Biosciences Complex about why he should come to Queen’s. I couldn’t help but think that, even though I had just met him, that I wanted him to join us at Queen’s. He had this demeanor that made you instantly like him, and I was thrilled to welcome him to medical school in September of 2011.

I got to know Nate more over the years. We did research together for a summer in Kingston, and after I left to residency in Ottawa, I attempted a second recruiting pitch to bring him to our Emergency Medicine program. I knew that EM was something that he loved. Despite my attempts, it was clear to me that he wanted to be closer to home and wanted to pursue a different training path. I saw him a few months ago in Ottawa, and we went for a quick bite. He told me with genuine excitement of his future in Waterloo, and beginning his EM training there. Even though he was not coming to Ottawa, I could not have been more happy for his future. For everything that he had gone through, he was finally getting to pursue his passion in EM. I remember telling him that it was where he belonged.

I was crushed to hear of Nate’s passing. Emergency Medicine has lost a tremendous colleague and contributor. And most importantly, the world has lost a great person. To Kristy and his family, there are no words than can possibly convey how sorry I am for the loss you have experienced. To our colleagues in the Queen’s Medicine Class of 2015, I know that I can speak for all of my classmates in the Class of 2014 when I say that our hearts hurt with you. Queen’s Medicine is a distinctly unique place that is marked by the closeness of the students who attend it. As the word has spread, and I have spoken to my classmates, that shared closeness has become apparent again. Nate was an integral part of the fabric of our community, and that loss will be carried forward with all of us. We are so sorry for your loss.

I truly believed that EM was where Nate belonged, and I know that I was fortunate to have met and been inspired by him.