2023-07-27 03:25:52
The Dr Richard Lessard, one of the pioneers of public health in Quebec, died last week at the age of 76. A true authority in his field, he leaves behind him a strong legacy spanning several decades that has certainly left its mark on the province.
His death was recorded on July 20 in Magog. The news was made public on Wednesday by the University of Montreal (UdeM), where he was associate clinical professor at the School of Public Health until his death, which published a tribute in his memory.
Richard Lessard held a leadership position in public health for more than 30 years: 10 years as community health director at the Cité de la santé de Laval (1982 -1992) and 20 years as regional director of public health. in Montreal (1992-2012).
A medical specialist in public health, he obtained his doctorate in medicine at the University of Sherbrooke in 1976. He also did a master’s degree in public health at the University of Hawaii and a master’s degree in economics applied to public health at the ‘University of Michigan.
As the pandemic raged, Richard Lessard had come out of retirement acting as regional director of public health for Lanaudière for a period of 10 months. Then, just a few weeks before he passed away, he co-edited a collective work entitled Public health – Strategies of influence and social acceptability at the Press of the University of Montreal.
Internationally, he was a consultant for the World Health Organization in Geneva and in 2006 contributed to the development of the global strategic plan for the fight once morest cancer.
In 2011, Richard Lessard received the RD Defries Prize, the highest distinction awarded by the Canadian Public Health Association.
Model to follow
Mélissa Généreux, public health physician and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sherbrooke, describes Dr.r Lessard as a go-getter with a strong temperament, ready to take all possible means to ensure and protect collective health.
“It has always been sincerely a mentor, even an idol, a model to follow, she lists in an interview. One day, if I can achieve half of what he achieved, I will be truly satisfied. »
When I was at the University of Montreal, we all dreamed of being accosted by Dr Lessard and being told, “I want you on my team.”
The Dre Mélissa Généreux, public health specialist and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sherbrooke
“It’s something quite emblematic: he fought until the very end to keep written records of the steps to follow for the next generations,” she adds in reference to her recent book. “If I had to name one person who marked public health, it would be him. »
The funeral will be held Saturday at the Ledoux Funeral Complex in Magog.
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