Rayhaan Bassawon, MDCM, a 2025 graduate of McGill’s Gatineau-based family medicine residency program, is the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Geeta Ishwar Gupta Resilience Prize.
The award, presented during the Family Medicine Residency Graduation Ceremony on May 29, recognizes a graduating resident who demonstrates exceptional resilience, academic excellence and unwavering commitment to community care in the face of systemic challenges.
“This award isn’t just about overcoming difficulties,” said Dr. Bassawon, who trained at the Groupe de médecine de famille Universitaire (GMF-U) de Gatineau, in his acceptance remarks. “It’s about the people who believed in me, who reminded me of my purpose when things were tough. It’s also about the patients who taught me how to listen deeply.”
Established in memory of Geeta Ishwar Gupta, MD, a member of the Department of Family Medicine and a family physician at St. Mary’s Hospital Family Medicine Centre who died in 2024, the award celebrates a legacy defined by compassion and courage. Dr. Gupta, who immigrated to Montreal from India in the 1970s, overcame barriers as an immigrant woman and female physician and became a steadfast advocate for vulnerable patients, particularly those affected by domestic violence and youth protection concerns.
“This award honours Dr. Gupta’s legacy by recognizing those who persevere with heart, integrity, and a deep sense of purpose,” said Alan Pavilanis, a family physician at St. Mary’s Hospital and co-trustee of this prize, who represented the Gupta family at the ceremony. “It’s not just about surviving hardship, it’s about transforming it into meaningful service. Dr. Bassawon embodies that vision beautifully.”
