Dresden got just what the doctor ordered last week.
In fact, they got what they wanted – times three.
“We’re really pleased at the annual general meeting (for the Dresden Health Care Foundation) that we were able to announce that three physicians are going to be joining our health care centre in Dresden,” said Paul Weese, president of the Health Care Foundation. “This will happen over a period of about 18 months, but we do have commitments from three physicians.”
Weese said limited details – including their names – can be released about two of the physicians, but one of the new doctors is from Dresden.
“Dr. Colin McCabe is a hometime boy, he was raised in Dresden and he is finishing his residency in Chatham,” Weese said. “He will be doing that until September or October of next year. He will join us once he finishes those requirements.”
Weese added: “The other two we can’t say much about at the moment because there is a maze of paper work that they are still navigating through to get their licence in Ontario. They are coming here because they have colleagues in the area, that is how they heard of us. They’ve come to the facility, one of them has been here a couple times and talked to the physicians already on site.”
Weese said he is hopeful one of the physicians can start in May and one in September.
“Those dates are entirely dependent on getting their paperwork in order.”
Weese said getting the three new doctors to come to Dresden was a major goal for the organization.
“That has been our major goal,” he said. “We’ve been working at this for about four years and the entire reason for doing this is to recruit physicians to Dresden, so we’re really comforted that we were able to recruit three people.”
Weese said the Dresden group did not do this alone.
“We are getting tremendous support from Fannie Vavoulis from the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and Laura Johnson, the executive director of the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team,” he said. “It is really in their hands, we really have nothing to say about that part of the process, it’s just a matter of taking the time until all of the paper work is in place.
Weese said once all the details are sorted out, a more formal announcement will take place.
Great news and kudos to all the members of the Dresden health care foundation! Two thumbs up gang!!
Dresden had always been blessed by the talents of qualified , caring doctors who also have been great contributors the the community. The EXPERIENCED ( not old ) BABY -BOOMERS thank all involved for making this dream come to fruition and truly make “DRESDEN” strong again. We can’t always be known for talented hockey players alone but now we have a wonderful group of physicians again . Sincere thank you.