The Stonewall community shared heartfelt tributes, fresh flowers and fond memories of a doctor who made a difference in the lives of many.
The Stonewall community is mourning the loss of Dr. Majid Zahiri, shown here in a photo from 2017. Dr. Zahiri died on Oct. 14 surrounded by people who care for him
Dr. Majid Zahiri died in the evening on Tuesday, Oct. 14 surrounded by people who cared for him, including Stonewall health-care staff who worked alongside him.
Zahiri received his medical training in Iran and graduated in 1995. After moving to Manitoba, he completed the medical licensure program for international medical graduates and launched his local career with family practice in The Pas. Over time, Zahiri relocated to the Interlake.
In 2016, he worked under Dr. Michele Matter’s supervision in Selkirk’s emergency department. Soon after, he agreed to help provide coverage in Arborg for family practice and in the emergency department to cover a two-week planned vacation leave.
Later that year, he began his practice at Stonewall and District Health Centre, where he served as a family physician and emergency care provider.
For Matter, she looks back fondly on the time she spent working with Zahiri.
“I felt so sad when I heard of his passing. I remember him fondly, especially how excited he was at the birth of his son, which occurred in his early 40s. We had a lot of fun working together in the Selkirk ER where he was loved by staff and patients alike,” she said.
“I found him to be a true empath as he would go out of his way to help his patients, whom he considered like family. His passing is a loss to Stonewall, the IERHA and the province of Manitoba. Majid, you will be very much missed.”
Dr. Scott Gregoire, vice-president of medical services and chief medical officer, said Zahiri left a mark by providing exceptional care to patients in the Interlake-Eastern region for the past nine years.
“Dr. Zahiri has been an integral part of the care team in Stonewall, and we can’t thank him enough for his contributions to our region and our province,” Gregoire said.
“His dedication to providing compassionate care to his community alongside his colleagues will not be soon forgotten. We offer our deepest condolences to Dr. Zahiri’s family and friends, his patients and everyone who knew him.”
On social media, tributes flooded in with shared memories and appreciation for the hard-working doctor. One person, who dropped off flowers at the hospital, expressed gratitude for Zahiri’s years of care in the community.
“We are here to show our support to our Stonewall hospital staff and our love we had for such an amazing soul,” she wrote.
It’s a terrible loss for the Stonewall community, noted another person on social media.
“I’ll miss seeing his big truck parked outside the hospital and his assortment of hats,” she wrote. “Dr. Zahiri was such an intelligent man and an incredible doctor.”
Another person described Zahiri as an extraordinary individual who touched countless lives, including her own.
“Your kindness, compassion and generosity inspired me to be a better person,” she wrote. “I’ll carry your memory with me always.”
