May 17, 2024
In Memoriam: Kimberley Nix, Cumming School of Medicine
The Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) is mourning the loss of Dr. Kimberley Nix, MD. She was just 31 years old when she passed away May 8, 2024.
Kim was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer — undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma — in 2021.
While continuing her medical residency training in General Internal Medicine and pursuing research through the CSM’s Clinician Investigator Program, Kim shared her cancer journey on various social media platforms. Found at @cancerpatientmd she gained more than 162,000 followers worldwide on TikTok and her inspiring story was shared in People Magazine.
A final post on May 8, published after her passing, has nearly eight million views.
Kim grew up in Nova Scotia dreaming of becoming a doctor. She received her Bachelor of Health Sciences from McMaster University in Hamilton and completed medical school at Dalhousie University in Halifax before starting her residency and pursuing a master’s degree in epidemiology at the CSM.
Her research examining experiences of pregnant women living with high blood pressure, was profiled in UToday in March. Over the years, Kim championed female physicians pursuing a research career and a memorial award is being established in her honour.
She was also an advocate for support of sarcoma research in Alberta at the soon-to-open Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and has a fundraising page through OWN.CANCER and the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
A celebration of life is taking place June 22, 3 to 5 p.m. at St. James Pub on 1st St S.W. It will be a casual event to give people a chance to reconnect and remember Kim.
For more info, please read Kim’s obituary.