Boston Doctors Killed In Avalanche Were 'Rising Stars'
BOSTON (CBS) – The man and woman killed in an avalanche in Canada earlier this month were "rising stars" at Mass General Hospital.
The hospital says Victor Fedorov and Lauren Zeitels were Internal Medicine residents and seasoned outdoor enthusiasts.
"It has been a painful and confusing time for the many who knew and loved these promising, bright, energetic and caring individuals," said MGH President Peter Slavin.
Fedorov and Zeitels were snowshoeing on a trail just north of Lake Louise in Alberta when the avalanche occurred.
Their colleagues say it was a tragic accident that occurred "despite their extensive planning and taking every safety precaution."
Victor Federov was born in Russia but grew up in Virginia. His interest in fighting cancer with stem cells brought him to MGH where he was beloved for his adventurous, renegade spirit.
"He had a huge sense of humor, very rarely liked following the rules, but was somebody who had so much charm that you could forgive him anything," said Dr. Katrina Armstrong, Physician-in-Chief at MGH.
He and Zeitels, who was born in New Jersey, launched the "Pathways" service at MGH aimed at bringing the latest research on poorly understood diseases directly to the patient bedside.
"She had the most clear sense of purpose of what she was going to bring to medicine, had the most clear level of integrity and commitment," Dr. Armstrong said.
The avalanche tragedy has hit hard at Mass General where friends are trying to focus on the legacy she leaves.
"She really became a compass for many of the residents around her and will just be enormously missed," Dr. Armstrong said.
Both are being remembered as doctors who approached their work with compassion and humanity. MGH says it is now trying to turn the corner from mourning -- to healing.
Their families have requested that donations in their memories be made to the Lauren Zeitels Memorial Pathways Fund and the Victor Fedorov Memorial Fund at MGH.