Dr Long’s retirement and the closing of our clinic is a loss, communally, professionally, and personally.
Dr Long is a complex fellow. Over the years, I’ve seen him literally drop everything to rush to the aid of patients who have been in dire straits…in their homes, in the clinic, at the hospital, in the ambulance, even on the side of the road. I’ve seen him shaken to the core after delivering a serious, and sometimes fatal, diagnosis to a family, and I’ve seen him radiate joy and tenderness as he holds a newborn baby that he delivered just days before. I’ve seen Dr Long support the community…at the fair, for school programs and charities, with scholarship programs, in local civic organizations, and at weddings, family celebrations, and even at the funeral services of his patients and friends.
He’s been a mentor, teacher, and supporter of clinical staff and peers alike. He’s been a friend and reassurance to patients, their families, and his staff. And, like all people on the planet, sometimes he’s confounded and perplexed us. That’s just how being human works.
Thank you, Dr Long, for your many, many years of dedication to your profession and your care for our families, friends, and your staff.
Courtesy of Amy Jackson
