In memoriam- Dr. Jihad Youseff Chaya

Our sincere condolences to the family, friends, patients and colleagues of Dr. Jihad Youseff Chaya, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 58.

"Dr. Chaya was a well-known and respected psychiatrist and valued member of Regional Mental Health Care St. Thomas and the Elgin ACT Team. His many years of service and dedication is greatly acknowledged and remembered," says Dr. Paul Links, Chair/Chief of the Department of Psychiatry.

Dr. Chaya has had an appointment with Schulich Medicine & Dentistry since 2005. He also had a private practice in Sarnia, and was a former Chief of Psychiatry at Bluewater Health.

Born in Lebanon, Dr. Chaya left the country at age 17 to attend Concordia University in Montreal. He went back to Lebanon to get his medical degree, and furthered his studies in England, and in Canada at Queens University and Western University, along the way switching from urology to psychiatry.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 15, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 16, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line in Sarnia. Donations may be made to Bluewater Health Foundation, attention: Mental Health or Suicide Awareness. Please click here for a full obituary.