The legacy of a life dedicated to children living with cancer

The fact that children with cancer can now receive their treatments at the CHUS, close to their families and their home environment, is largely due to the perseverance and commitment of Dr. Josée Brossard. When she began her pediatric residency in 1987, she quickly discovered a keen interest in pediatric oncology. "At that time, a hematologist and a pediatrician were taking care of a small number of children, mostly those with leukemia. I told myself: I want to do that!" she recalls. After her specialized training, she returned in 1998 as a pediatric hemato-oncologist with a conviction that has never left her. "I’ve said it often, but for me, all children must have access to the best care close to home."  

Motivated by this goal, she began collaborating with other hospitals in Quebec early in her practice to ensure the best treatments for young patients in the Estrie region. "I had a few mentors, but the one who really showed me the way was Mark Burnstein, a hematologist at the Montreal Children's Hospital. He had a gentle, calm, and soothing way of supporting families."  

Over the years, these partnerships have strengthened, and the CHUS has joined the Children's Oncology Group (COG), a multicenter network that provides access to cutting-edge research protocols and a network of experts to offer each child the most appropriate treatment.

A well-deserved retirement

Starting with just three people, the team is now composed of five hemato-oncologists, four research assistants, and a constantly growing team of nurses. "We are the smallest oncology center in Quebec, but that is also our greatest strength. Our team develops very close bonds with the families," explains Dr. Brossard, who admits that the last few weeks have been very emotional. "I didn't expect it to be so hard to say goodbye to my patients and their families. Still, I am ready for retirement. I always felt like I was in the right place, but the fatigue and stress were becoming more present, and given the explosion of knowledge in recent decades—which is an excellent thing—the work was becoming increasingly demanding."  

Dr. Brossard literally built pediatric oncology in Sherbrooke. She leaves with a sense of duty fulfilled. "I can't believe I can say that! I am proud to have had the courage and perseverance to move things forward. Sometimes I have little moments of panic because there is always work to be done, but I tell myself that nothing can go backward now," she confides. "I have confidence in the current team to continue the development of pediatric oncology and to ensure that families have access to quality care in their region. I am also reassured to see that the CHUS Foundation, which understood the importance and the need to support clinical research, will continue to be there for generations to come."