Dominique (Dom) Vervoort passed away from metastatic melanoma on February 16, 2026, at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, surrounded by the love of his family and close friends. He lived a remarkably full and meaningful life in his 31 years, finding purpose, beauty, and connection in all he did, right until the end.

Dom’s final wish was to be buried in Belgium, where he grew up and completed medical school, and for the global cardiac surgery work he devoted his life to advancing to continue. We have created this page to help cover the significant costs his family face bringing him home from Canada for burial. Any funds raised beyond these expenses will support a Memorial Fund to continue the global surgery efforts that meant so much to him.

Dom was a true polymath; a physician, scientist, writer, advocate, global health diplomat, polyglot, and internationally competitive sportsman (Spartan Ultra). He was also a humble, kind and gentle soul, who cared deeply for people. Dom dedicated his adult life to expanding global access to surgical care, and especially cardiac surgery. He worked tirelessly to bring people together around this, and his work and impact touches every corner of the globe. As a medical student he co-founded InciSioN, a global surgery trainee network that he grew into an effective advocacy and training organization with >8000 members in >100 countries. He advanced the case for equitable access to cardiac surgery in the 250+ papers he authored, the 70+ podium lectures he delivered, the workshops he ran with everyone from students to government leaders to the UN, and in his roles with Incision, the Global Surgery Foundation, the Global Alliance for Rheumatic and Congenital Hearts, and the World Health Federation to name a few. He is an alumni of KU Leuven (MD); the Paul Farmer Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard University; and John Hopkins (MPH/MBA). At the time of his passing, Dom was a PhD candidate and Vanier Scholar at the Institute for Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, supervised by Stephen Fremes and Maral Ouzounian in the Division of Cardiac Surgery. He was also completing a MSc in Practical Ethics through the University of Oxford.

Dom will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and especially by his family, partner and close friends. He will be remembered for his intellect, advocacy, generosity, indefatigable spirit and unwavering belief that access to safe surgical care is an urgent matter of health equity.

Dom was a close friend. I am organizing this on behalf of his family who are based in Belgium. His sister Astrid Vervoort is the named beneficiary of these funds. Any funds raised beyond the cost of transport and burial will be used towards a Memorial Fund.