The Agassiz Medical Centre in Morden has welcomed a pediatrician to its ranks of doctors.

The addition of Narges Afshar fills a huge void in the region, being the only pediatrician practicing in the area.

Afshar completed her pediatric residency in Iran. Since arriving in Canada with her husband and daughter a decade ago, her professional background includes working in research in the NICU department at Sick Kids in Toronto, she was a neonatology fellow in Winnipeg for three years and spent one year as a medical officer before taking on her new role with Agassiz.

In her first two months, Afshar says she has realized the definite need of having a pediatrician with skill in neonatology at the Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC). In most cases, babies in need of specialized care, who are born at BTHC, are transferred by a neonatal team that comes from Winnipeg.

Afshar will fill a huge void at the regional hospital, in that regard. Since arriving here 2 months ago, Afshar's neonatology skills were utilized in stabilizing two infants and caring for them until a neonatal team from Winnipeg arrived. "I really feel so thankful to have this skill of stabilizing newborn babies," said Afshar.

In one of the two cases, Afshar noted the weather was so bad, it took the neonatal team from Winnipeg 8 hours to get to BTHC. "It was so good that we could stabilize the baby, and the family was so happy."

Afshar and her family reside in Winkler and have felt very welcomed by the people in both Morden and Winkler. "I was not only looking for myself to have a good job, but I was also looking for my family to be happy here. I felt people here are so welcoming, and I felt very safe."