Doctors from Athens, Kemptville recognized for exceptional care
As part of a campaign to highlight the essential role of family doctors. The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) asked Ontarians a simple request: “Tell us how your family doctor has gone above and beyond for you.” In an encouraging show of support from communities across rural Ontario, more than 750 family doctors were recognized by patients across the province.
Family doctors in Athens and Kemptville are among those being recognized by their patients and the OCFP for their exemplary service and care in the healthcare field.
Linda Dickson, from Athens, praised Dr. Benjamin Stobo of the Athens District Family Health Team. She detailed how Dr. Stobo went above and beyond for her family during the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinating specialized care and providing consistent and personalized weekly follow-ups.
When speaking with Brockvilleist, Dickson shared, “My family has been with him for a very long time. I can say with all the health issues my husband has had, Dr. Stobo has been fantastic. He takes his job very seriously, but you never leave that office without a laugh or a smile.”
She continued, “Anytime that you have any questions to ask, he answers them fully. He’s not one of these doctors that you can only ask one question but have to make an appointment to come to the next question, he takes care of you fully.”
Dickson also admires how involved Dr. Stobo is within the rural community of Athens as well as his involvement with the Brockville Arts Center, where he performed on stage this fall in the Brockville Operatic Society’s rendition of Oliver.
Dickson shared, “We’ve had an awesome experience and this day and age, it really is rare. He’s one of the few that actually takes those extra steps and he listens to everything.”
Up the road in Kemptville, Donna Petersen also expressed her gratitude for Dr. Patrick Leahy of the Kemptville Medical Centre. She recounts how he supported her family through complex medical challenges and cared for her aging parents with dementia, never failing to treat them with dignity. Peterson told the OCFP, “Dr. Leahy has cared for my family through a myriad of medical problems. He is thorough, kind and compassionate. He cared for both my parents as they aged and developed dementia, but he always treated them with the utmost dignity.”
While these testimonies reflect the profound impact and vital role of family physicians, millions of Ontarians cannot consider themselves so lucky as Dickson and Peterson. The OCFP reports that 2.5 million Ontarians currently do not have access to a family doctor. As a result of this crisis, the OCFP is actively advocating for government and healthcare leaders to prioritize increasing access to family doctors and reducing administrative burdens. To learn more about these efforts, visit LifeWithADoctor.ca.