Victims of Lake Louise avalanche identified as two promising doctors

We’re learning more about the couple who were killed after getting caught in a slide earlier this month near Lake Louise.

Officials at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified them as doctors Lauren Zeitel and Victor Fedorov, two up and coming medical residents who are being described as rising stars in their program.

Fedorov and Zeitel were on a two-week break from their studies in Boston and had decided to take in some snowshoeing as part of their vacation.

An internal memo was released Monday informing many on campus about the tragic loss.

“Lauren and Victor were vibrant, young physician-scientists in the second year of the MGS Internal Medicine Residency Program. They were leaders within the Stanbury Physician-Scientist Pathway and strong advocates for scientific investigation drive by curiosity and fueled by a desire to offer hope to those suffering from disease.”

“Victor and Lauren enthusiastically embraced all life had to offer. They loved people, science, travel, and experiencing new cultures. They cherished interacting and connecting with all they encountered – patients, families, colleagues, mentors, unit staff, support staff, researchers, trainees. Their dedication to delivering compassionate care of the highest quality coupled with a resolve to understand and find answers to poorly understood diseases are the legacy they leave at MGH – indeed, at every place they touched,” it read.

Residency Program Director Dr. Jatim Vyas tells 660 NEWS the loss will leave a huge hole in his department.

“They were really engrained in the fabric of our program so this loss was tragic and traumatic for many of our residents in the program,” said Vyas. “Both of them had an MD as well as a Ph.D., so they actually aspired not only to care for patients but they also aspired to continue to do medical research blending both medical care as well as trying to understand our limits of knowledge in medicine.”

Vyas says they’re grateful for everything first responders in Alberta did to reach their colleagues.

Plans are in the works for a memorial.

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