It’s official, she’s an officer and will have a sidearm 

Last evening friends, colleagues and family members gathered in large numbers at the Best Western Conference Centre to say farewell to Dr. Patti Louttit. Dr. Louttit signed on with the Canadian Armed Forces and begins her training and orientation at 17 Wing Winnipeg on Monday. Over the past 20 years this Dryden born and raised gal distinguished herself as a fantastic parent to 4 lovely daughters, a caring and compassionate physician who delivered countless children and brought comfort to so many in our community. The evening was a fitting tribute and a sendoff marked by some wonderful speeches and a surprise piano performance at the end of the evening with Dr. Louttit accompanied by her daughter Michelle. Thanks to all who turned out.

 

Well one door closes and another opens as Dr. Richard Center and wife Catherine are set to join the health care team here in Dryden. Dr. Center will be our second full time physician in the Emergency Department, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge from his work in the Sault ste Marie ER department. Catherine will be working with the Crisis Response Unit and we are looking forward to having both on board and helping provide top notch health care services in Dryden.

 

In other news Dryden is hosting the third annual Northern Ontario School of Medicine Clerkship retreat February 3 and 4th. It’s two great days of learning led by our physician group and some evening social activities are planned, if we get some snow it will mark a return to one of the best backyards in Ontario as Dr. Gagnon traditionally holds a sliding/bonfire and ice hockey party at his home on Eagle Lake just 25 minutes west of town. He has an unbelievable sliding hill that runs down to the lake and it’s the god’s honest truth when i say that riders typically slide 50 yards onto the lake. The weather has been unbelievably warm and we actually could use a little more snow (can’t believe i’m saying that).

 

Renovations are starting to take place in the rooms on the ward, in two years or so the entire facility will have been turned over and the hospital will have the same modern feel and look throughout. It seems there is always something on the go and in health care change usually brings better things for the patients we provide care for.

 

That’s all the news for the first post of 2012; be well and good luck staying the course on whatever new year resolutions you have made in the name of self improvement and positive change

C