Spring 2025 (Volume 35, Number 1)

Tribute to Dr. Daniah Basodan

By Dax G. Rumsey, MD, MSc, FRCP(C), and Lillian Lim, MD, MPH, FRCP(C)

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It is with profound sadness that we share the devastating and unexpected passing of our colleague and friend, Dr. Daniah Basodan, on November 2nd, 2024. Daniah is dearly loved and missed by her husband Jason, daughter Salma, family, friends, and colleagues. Her loss is felt deeply by all who knew her tenacious spirit and kindness in life.

Daniah was a compassionate physician and beloved member of the pediatric rheumatology community. Her journey in medicine began at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery in 2009. She gained expertise in pediatrics residency and pediatric rheumatology subspecialty fellowship training at McGill University in Montréal, Québec, followed by her ongoing pursuit of a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Since 2019, she served as a pediatric rheumatologist at the Stollery Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta.

Daniah was a well-loved and deeply dedicated advocate for her patients and families. She was a very strong and determined woman who was often described as “a force”. Having overcome many obstacles in her life, she continued to break down barriers and fight for compassion and change in her personal and professional endeavours. She approached life’s challenges with extreme poise and grace and was a role model for the many friends and colleagues whom she leaves behind.

Her dedication to children’s health and medical education has left an indelible mark on everyone who knew her. She was an excellent clinician with a “small but mighty” personality. Daniah was also a dedicated researcher, with academic contributions in Kawasaki disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) that shed light on critical patient care issues. As an educator and mentor, she guided countless trainees, inspiring them with her passion and dedication. Daniah’s commitments also extended beyond her clinical and academic achievements. She played active roles in departmental committees, including the Pediatric Research Advisory Committee, which led her to take on the role of Co-Chair of the University of Alberta Department of Pediatrics Research Day in 2023. Her influence will continue to be felt through the programs and people she championed.

We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Basodan’s family, including her husband Jason and daughter Salma, as well as friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives she enriched. Her warmth, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her family, patients, and colleagues (work family) will be deeply missed. Her legacy will live on in the strength and dedication she brought to her work, the countless lives she touched, and the profound impact she made in her field.

Dax G. Rumsey, MD, MSc, FRCP(C)
Zone Section Chief, Paediatric Rheumatology
Alberta Health Services – Edmonton Zone (Stollery Children’s Hospital)
Director of Faculty Engagement, Department of Pediatrics
Division Director, Paediatric Rheumatology and Associate Professor
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

Lillian Lim, MD, MPH, FRCP(C)
Pediatric Rheumatologist, Assistant Professor,
Physician Lead, Stollery Center for Excellence in Virtual Health (SCEVH)
Alberta Health Services, Edmonton Zone (Stollery Children's Hospital)
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta