Kings County colleagues celebrate life of Dr. T. Lewis
By Tangerine Clarke
A private memorial at Kings
County Hospital Center in
Brooklyn, celebrated the life of
Theophilus Lewis, MD, on Monday,
Nov. 11, who passed away
recently after a brief illness. He
was 67.
Dr. Lewis, an American-born
surgeon, and one of the founding
members of the Organization
for Social and Health
Advancement in Guyana
(OSHAG), provided expert cancer
care to scores of Guyanese
through his unwavering commitment
to cancer care.
One such patient was a former
schoolmate of this reporter,
who spoke of her early breast
cancer diagnosis by Dr. Lewis,
that saved her life.
She is today grateful that
Dr. Lewis, helped many like
her, through his outreach in
OSHAG, that was launched in
2002, by a group of Guyanese-
American women, who saw the
need for healthcare services and
more importantly, urgent cancer
diagnosis, and care.
“Dr. Theo Lewis was a caring
doctor, even when he was
not your personal doctor. Just a
few weeks ago I saw him and he
was happy to see my progress,
and when I complained that
the treatment was painful he
advised me to continue until my
doctor says it was ok. On another
occasion, his advice saved my
life,” said former schoolmate.
“He will be missed by the
Guyanese and Caribbean communities.
Caribbean Life, N 18 ovember 15-21, 2019
Rest in peace Dr.
Lewis,” said Guyanese-American
Cultural Ambassador, Claire
A. Goring.
It was Dr. Lewis whose duty
it was to give back to Guyana
that inspired the first Cancer
Walk in Georgetown, in partnership
with the Cancer Society
of Guyana.
A selfless medical professional
who worked diligently to educate
Guyanese through seminars,
Dr. Lewis and his team
of nurses and doctors ensured
that under-served communities
received the necessary surgeries,
to reduce the alarming
number of Guyanese diagnosed
with late stages of breast cancer.
In addition to upgrading the
Oncology Unit at the Georgetown
Public Hospital, medical
professionals from Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center of New York,
trained medical staff there, all
thanks to Dr. Lewis.
A medical genius by all
accounts, Dr. Lewis overwhelmingly
gave to the Guyanese
community, through lectures
to medical staff of the Ministry
of Social Protection. His talks
at the Tain University of Guyana
Campus, in rural Berbice,
impacted hundreds of lives.
Dr. Lewis, who joined Kings
County Hospital in 1978 as a
medical student, later began
his career at the institution in
1988, and served as a physician
specialist in breast surgery, and
director of service in the cancer
program.
The late surgeon’s contribution
to Kings County Hospital,
and commitment to patients
in the Guyanese community,
was described as unparalleled
by colleagues.
According to the hospital’s
website, colleagues said the
gracious, quiet, humility with
which he brought his expertise
to bear at the institution has
left an indelible impression on
all of his colleagues across all
disciplines.
CEO of Kings Country, Sheldon
P. McLeod, according to the
institution’s website, said the
death of Dr. Lewis, late associate
professor, surgery, SUNYDownstate
College of Medicine
— has left a gaping hole in “our
hearts and a gap that our minds
simply cannot reconcile.”
“It is important that we all
endeavor to remember Dr. Theophilus
Lewis exactly as he had
presented himself to us time
and time again, without fail
a gracious person, a committed
physician, and someone of
impeccable character,” wrote
Sheldon P. Mcleod.
Dr. Theophilus Lewis leaves
his son and daughter to mourn
his loss.
Dr. Theophilus Lewis.
They count on you,
So count on us to
keep you going.
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