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Dr. Brian Duff hangs up his stethoscope after 38 years of practice in Morden
After 38 years, family physician Dr. Brian Duff has retired from his practice in Morden. Where it all began Dr. Brian Duff grew up in Winnipeg. At the time the decision was made to move to Morden, he, along with his wife, Dr. Carol Holmes, also a physician, were new parents. Dr. Duff recalled that after working in the emergency department in Winnipeg, where he received his training, they decided to settle down in a rural community. Making the move There were a few factors that led them to Morden in 1987. "With my wife and I both being physicians, we wanted a community that was big enough that we could both take time off at the same time. But we were both interested in a variety of practices available in a rural setting, like the opportunity to work in emergency and do obstetrics, and those things. So, there weren't that many options in Manitoba that afforded that, and we liked the idea of being reasonably close to Winnipeg." They received a warm welcome "It's a long time ago. I do remember appreciating the welcome we received from Dr. Jim Menzies and his wife, Hazel, and certainly doctors Unruh, Pauls, and there's another contemporary of mine, Dr. Carl Duerksen, working at the same time. So, it was a good group to work with and a friendly community." A lot has changed in 38 years. Dr. Duff said things have changed remarkably since 1987. Changes like collaboration with other health care providers, such as dietitians, respiratory therapists, and mental health supports, are now available in the clinic. Access to technology has also changed significantly over that time. One example of changes in technology, according to Dr. Duff, has been in access to imaging technologies. In the 1980s, there was one CT scan in the province, and now there is one at Boundary Trails Health Centre as well as an MRI machine. Related stories: Walk-In Clinic for kids now offered at Menzies Medical Centre Menzies’ recruitment efforts result in promising batch of new physicians A growing community has also brought change "Going back to what we would have started with, (there were) five or six of us, and now I'm not even sure how many people there are, but not enough now, but far more. The whole area has grown remarkably, and that's presented lots of challenges. But I think they're pretty optimistic about the future, with this area being large enough and active enough to attract new physicians and other health care providers. We have better opportunities than smaller communities." Some things have stayed the same "I would like to think that the personal relationship with patients has really remained an important part of the practice, from the beginning to now, and the importance of longitudinal care. Like following people over time and getting to know them, and often getting to know other family members. So, I think that remains a really important part of family practice." Impacting multiple generations Looking back, Dr. Duff has impacted several generations "After being here 38 years and seeing people at Tabor Home and realizing I took care of their parents and also seeing my babies that I delivered have their own babies and start to raise their families, that's an interesting perspective on things too." A few words from a colleague Colleague and family practice anesthesiologist Dr. Kevin Convery has served for seventeen years in Morden. He had this to say about Dr Duff's scope of medicine. "He's had a full scope rural medical practice, including obstetrics, emergency care, assisting in the operating room, and then, of course, working in the clinic for a large portion of his career, which is rare these days. Most physicians coming out aren't doing that broad of a scope of practice, and for him to have done that for this community for so long is certainly admirable. Mentorship He said Dr. Duff has been instrumental in mentoring new physicians in the area. "In terms of new physicians, he was very supportive of all of the new doctors, mentored several of our physicians as they joined the clinic. In fact, talking with our group in the last few weeks, now that we've had his retirement get-together, Dr. Mansour pointed out how valuable Brian Duff and Carol Holmes were to him when he first moved to the community." Convery described valuable opportunities for continued learning that often took place in their home. "Brian was instrumental in doing the small group learning that the physicians at Menzies Medical take part in, still to this day. He would organize topics, and we would get little books to work through together. It was a nice opportunity to sit down in a social setting with your colleagues." Staying longer until it was stronger Convery noted Dr. Duff obviously loves the practice because there was an expectancy he may have retired a bit earlier, but he stayed to support the area during a difficult time when several physicians had left. Now, he is leaving the team in a better spot due to recruitment efforts and more doctors at Menzies Medical Centre. "In all honesty, it was a difficult transition for us as a group. We lost several physicians around the time that it would have made sense for him to step away. But I think he realized, as one of our leaders, that it just wasn't the right time for him to close his practice when we were struggling with the loss of several physicians. And so, thankfully, things have worked out." Convery said positive recruitment efforts in the last eighteen months to two years have brought a surge of doctors to Morden, giving credit to Dr. Duff for his amazing recruitment efforts. Bittersweet good-bye Although the end was expected, Convery admitted it is bittersweet to see him go. "The last few weeks have been especially touching for me at times when my doors open in between patients, and Brian lets a patient leave the room after seeing them. I hear the gratitude that his patients are expressing to him as they see him for the last time. And he and I have had several conversations about, 'What's it going to feel like on your last day when you say goodbye to that last patient?' And he reflected on how his career has been, and he said it's going to feel really odd when he says goodbye to that last patient. But, you know, he's put in many, many years. 38 years is excellent service to a community. We're lucky to have had him, and we all wish him the best of luck as he moves into his next endeavors, whatever that might be." What retirement looks like for Dr. Duff When looking into the future, Dr. Duff has some definite plans, leaving the door open for new possibilities. "I think I'm looking forward to using my brain for other things. Over the past 30 years, a lot of my attention has been focused on medical practice. And so, I'm not entirely sure what, but certainly looking forward to grandparenting and looking for some new challenges in the coming years, and joining my wife, birdwatching."