Dr. Shannon Lee Corbett, of Burlington, Ont., passed away unexpectedly from a sudden heart attack at the age of 44 on Sunday, April 16, 2023. She was enjoying a beautiful day on vacation in Nassau, Bahamas with her wife, Jennifer Robson; and her two children, Liam and Kate.
Shannon was born on Feb. 6, 1979, to Katherine and Robert Corbett in St. Catharines, Ont. From a young age, Shannon knew that she wanted to be a doctor, which led her toward the field of healthcare and her passion for helping women. Shannon completed medical school at McMaster University, then went on to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Toronto. From there, she sub-specialized in infertility, completing a fellowship at the University of Ottawa.
Upon completion of her training, she began her practice at The Reproductive Care Centre (Originally named Isis) in Mississauga, Ont., where she joined as partner. Soon after joining, she took on the additional role of medical director for the clinic. In the fertility community, Shannon was a true advocate of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and devoted herself to equalizing the access to and quality of fertility care for the community.
Always working tirelessly to improve care and to move the bar higher, Shannon was a fierce leader. She navigated the rough waters that came with the COVID pandemic and put forth a monumental effort to maintain care at RCC. Anyone who knew Shannon knows that her patients were of the utmost importance to her. She was one of those rare physicians who always had her patients on her mind. She loved to celebrate their successes and supported them wholeheartedly through the difficult times.
Positive outcomes were the wind beneath her wings and motivated her to continually work hard for each and every patient under her care. Shannon was a force of life, full of mischievous fun, vivacious laughter and wild ideas. She drew people in with her magnetic personality, her kind soul and her brilliant mind. Once you were a friend, Shannon would hold you close. Nothing was more important to Shannon than her family and friends. She had a huge heart and was always caring for others.
She loved being outside exploring, skiing, playing tennis, kayaking, running, hiking, swimming, cooking, but most of all spending time with her family and friends. Beyond anything else, Shannon loved and treasured the beautiful family she created. Nothing brought her more joy than her children. Shannon is survived by her wife, Jennifer Robson; and children, Liam and Katherine (Kate); her brother, Scott Corbett (Cecilia Bahn); and nephew, Ethan; her parents, Katherine and Robert Corbett; her grandfather, Hugh Grightmire; her mother-in-law, Esther Peachey Robson; her brother-in-law, Michael Robson (Karyn); and nephews, Leo and John.
Her family requests that in lieu of flowers, if you are so moved, please make a donation in her memory to one of the following charities:
Canadian Foundation for Women's Health
The Camp Oconto Campership Fund
Fertile Future