Farewell, Kash

Ms Kashmira Suraliwalla, 2018

As I write this editorial, COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across the globe and drastically changing the daily lives of its inhabitants. It is a time of anxiety and fear, leading to many a grim thought. During this period of negativity and darkness, I would like to celebrate a positive source of light. After 36 years of dedicated service, Kashmira Suraliwalla, senior editorial and production coordinator at the BCMJ, has announced her retirement.

Kash, as she is affectionately known, grew up in Bombay, India, and immigrated to Vancouver as a young adult. An avid traveler and global citizen she’s an active member of the Zoroastrian community here on the West Coast. She started as an editorial assistant at the BCMA, as Doctors of BC was formerly known, in 1983. As the journal grew, she became the production coordinator, and then started her current position, which sees her working in such diverse areas as Editorial Board wrangling, finance, ad sales, and article submissions (to name a few). She has adjusted to many changes in journal publishing and our organization over the years, not to mention being a line of continuity for four editors and six managing editors.

In addition to her excellent work at the BCMJ, she is also the production coordinator of the Report to Members (formerly the White Report). She is well known around Doctors of BC because of her help with many social and charitable projects, such as the annual staff summer picnic and the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Campaign. Kash is always ready to contribute to other people’s efforts, and is often the instigating force behind a fundraiser or charitable endeavor, whether for earthquake relief, hurricane relief, a humanitarian crisis, or other worthwhile cause.

To my mind, the BCMJ and Kash are forever linked as she has been serving our journal with patience and humor since long before I arrived on the scene. The physicians of BC owe her a debt of gratitude, and I would personally like to thank her for her years of dedicated service. I will miss her insightful suggestions and observations on both our organization and the provincial medical system. We wish Kash the very best in the next chapter of her life.
—Dave Richardson, MD