Our Doctors
Jacinthe Kassab, MD, FRCSC
Associate Medical Director, Clinical
Services
Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
Dr. Jacinthe Kassab decided early in life that she wanted a career in medicine. Her brother and several uncles were physicians, and after watching them and considering her own interest, she chose to be a doctor. "I enjoyed the sciences more than anything else," she recalls, "and I like working with people. I knew I wanted more contact with people than I would find in the basic sciences. Practicing medicine let me combine both interests."
Dr. Kassab also made an early start on achieving her career goals. At the age of 19, she was admitted to medical school at the University of Sherbrooke in her native Quebec. She completed her internship and her residency in ophthalmology at the Centre Hospitalier de Sherbrooke. During this time, she also completed the Lancaster Course in Ophthalmology in Waterville, Maine. Over the next few years, Dr. Kassab completed a fellowship program at Gimbel Eye Centre—Calgary, and practiced ophthalmology in Calgary and St. Jean, Quebec. In 1991, she joined the Gimbel Eye Centre full time.
Dr. Kassab has been fortunate to have a satisfying career. She explains, "I enjoy the precision of the work and the patient's rapid response to treatment." She also appreciated the diversity of ophthalmic practice. "Although ophthalmology is centred on one specific organ, there is still variety in the practice. I can do office work, perform surgery, conduct research, do hospital work, and teach medical students, residents, and fellows in the clinical and surgical setting—all within the same speciality."
In addition to her extensive cataract and refractive surgery experience at Gimbel Eye Centre, Dr. Kassab works as a Consultant Ophthalmologist for the Calgary Health Region. In this capacity, Dr. Kassab is on call for eye-related emergencies at Calgary hospitals.
A straightforward and honest person, Dr. Kassab believes that integrity is the basis of all meaningful relationships. She is strongly committed to demonstrating honesty and kindness in her associations with people. An important part of this approach is clear communication. Dr. Kassab believes that communication is one of the most essential aspects of medicine—"After all, if the doctor can't communicate well, patients won't be happy with the care they have received."
Dr. Kassab's commitment to her family is vital in helping her balance the demands of her profession. Her husband, Andre Ferland, is an intensive care physician, and they have two sons, Julien (1995) and Gabriel (1998). Both boys attend a French language school, so they will be able to maintain their family's cultural heritage. The entire family is strongly focused on healthful living, and Dr. Kassab tries to include the boys in all of her fitness activities from skiing to running. "It means," she says, "that we can enjoy family time together and still stay healthy." Dr. Kassab also has an interest in scuba diving that has taken her to many exotic locations.
