The Queen’s community is remembering Janet Sorbie, a former faculty member and head of the Department of Family Medicine, who died Aug. 22, at the age of 92.

Growing up in Canada and Scotland, Dr. Sorbie first pursued medicine at Aberdeen University, where, during her studies, she served as president of the women’s student union.

During her subsequent medical residency at Great Western Infirmary in Glasgow, she met Charles Sorbie, a surgical resident and future orthopaedic surgeon. The two were married in April 1957 and had three daughters in Scotland before moving to Kingston in 1965.

In 1969 Dr. Sorbie would obtain a master’s degree from Queen’s and was then granted her doctorate from Aberdeen University in 1975.

In 1977 she joined the Department of Family Medicine at Queen’s following a residency. She would then serve as the head of the department, starting in 1986.

Dr. Sorbie was described as a superb and compassionate family physician and a wise and caring department head. She played a key role in expanding postgraduate training of family medicine in Ontario’s medical schools and northern programs.

Dr. Sorbie retired in 1996.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The full family obituary is available online.