 |
| Dr. Baldev Sethi is retiring after serving 37 years as a community doctor in West Prince, P.E.I. (Pat Martel/CBC) |
Dr. Baldev Sethi, who has taken care of three generations of people in West Prince, is retiring. He moved to the small community in 1975, after living in India and studying in Scotland.
When Sethi first opened his clinic, he only had 18 patients, now he serves more than 7,000. He often worked 110 hours a week split between the medical centre, the hospital, seniors homes and home visits. He was also one of the last physicians on P.E.I. to make house calls.
Sethi said his family has always felt welcomed in the community. "I was well treated there and my family was well treated, as well. All the children did all the schooling in here and they are all qualified and they left, so we never had a problem there," said Sethi.
'I don't know how they're going to replace him with one man. It would take five to replace Dr. Sethi.'— Linda Bernard""All I can say is thank very much for the people here. We really enjoyed our stay here, but it's time to make a move. I'm going to miss them."
His wife Rashmi Sethi said she will also miss Tignish.
"The prime time of our life has been spent in Tignish. We've been so accepted and loved by the community that it will be hard to say goodbye to them."
Sethi's patients said he will be missed too.
"The prime time of our life has been spent in Tignish. We've been so accepted and loved by the community that it will be hard to say goodbye to them."
Sethi's patients said he will be missed too.
"I don't know what we're going to do without him, really," said Linda Bernard.
"He did a lot of house calls. You could call him at night. He'd call you at night, if he had to. I don't know how they're going to replace him with one man. It would take five to replace Dr. Sethi."
Rosetta Doyle has been Sethi's receptionist and right-hand woman for 27 years.
"He's just a wonderful person. We're going to have a hard time filling his shoes for sure."
Sethi will stay at the clinic for one month until the new doctor is settled in. His position is being filled by Dr Shawn Naqvi, who has worked in West Prince for the last four years.
He will be retiring to Ontario where he has several children and grandchildren.
While Sethi isn't quite sure what he's going to do with all the time on his hands, he is certain of one thing.
"I told my wife I'm not going to do any housework," he said.
Copyright © CBC 2012____________________________________________________________
Credit: Reports and photographs are property of owners of intellectual rights.
Seniors World Chronicle, a not-for-profit, serves to chronicle and widen their reach.
