A popular Sarnia doctor has decided to retire after 50 years of serving residents across the community.
Dr. Michael O'Mahony's practice, at the Bluewater Medical Clinic on London Road, will be taken over by Dr. David Bastien as of January 1, 2022.
Blue Coast Primary Care Recruitment Coordinator Carly Cox said Dr. O'Mahony will be missed by many.
"Blue Coast wants to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. O'Mahony for the outstanding commitment to our community and his patients over the past 50 years," she said.
Dr. O'Mahony sent a letter to patients, thanking them for their years of patronage.
"For the last 50 years it has been an absolute pleasure to get to know you and your families," he said. "I have shared heartache and joy with thousands of you over the years and it will never be forgotten. I truly believe Dr. Bastien is the ideal person to take over my practice and your care."
Dr. Bastien is no stranger to Sarnia-Lambton, having trained at Bluewater Health's Emergency Department, and with Dr. John O'Mahony.
He grew up in Windsor, and worked as a tool and die maker for Ford before being laid off in 2004. He also volunteered at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare Emergency Room, has a Bachelor of Science, Honours from the University of Windsor, and earned a Master of Business Administration at the Odette School of Business.
Dr. Bastien then finished his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Toronto in 2016 and his Family Medicine Residency with a focus on Emergency Medicine at Western University in London in 2018.
Dr. David Bastien with his wife Sarah and son David (Photo courtesy of Blue Coast Primary Care)
Cox said residents will enjoy his blue collar attitude and relatability.
He'll also take over the practice of Dr. Heather Rogan in February 2022, and is not accepting new patients at this time.
Overall, Cox said Blue Coast will have their work cut out for them in the next couple of years, with many other doctors set to retire.
She said 17.6 physicians are currently needed in Sarnia to provide quality access to care to all residents by the end of 2023.
A total of 38 family physicians have been recruited by Blue Coast to municipalities across Lambton county since the task force was created in 2001, and 23 of those physicians practice in Sarnia.