CENTRE WELLINGTON – Patients across Ontario were invited, by the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), to nominate their family doctors for a patient recognition award.
The award’s purpose is to recognize the outstanding and dedicated care physicians provide to their communities.
The recognition is part of a campaign to highlight the essential role of family doctors, OCFP officials state.
In the Guelph area, 22 family physicians were nominated by their patients, based on a short note explaining their choice.
The nominations were open from mid-June to Mid-August in 2024.
Dr. Robert Norrie is a family physician working at the Riverview Medical Group in Fergus.
He received the patient-nominated certificate for the dedication he has shown his patients.
“Some days can be a bit of a grind and it’s nice to know that people do appreciate what we do,” Norrie told the Advertiser.
After graduating medical school in 2003, Norrie moved to Elora, where he completed his residency. He has been practicing medicine in Centre Wellington for 20 years.
Additionally he works at Groves Memorial Community Hospital in the emergency department and a separate after-hours clinic.
“I’m privileged to get to do a lot of different facets of medicine,” said Norrie. “There’s a lot of gratitude for being able to help a lot of people in their moments of need and assistance.”
He, along with his other responsibilities, also delivers babies into the world.
“Then there is the joy of being involved in obstetrics and seeing people’s joy with the birth of their newborns,” he explained.
The recognition came as a shock to the family physician, as he wasn’t aware of the award in the first place.
“I can only imagine there’s been more of my colleagues in the area that have been nominated as well,” he said. “It was a great boost, and it was a really endearing gesture.”
Norrie’s patient Larry McQuaid was one of the many who sent in a nomination.
McQuaid’s comment was stated in an OCFP press release.
“Dr. Norrie always treats us with respect during our visits. We always get an appointment quickly, usually the same day,” stated McQuaid.
“Being seniors, my wife and I depend on the great health care Dr. Norrie and his team give us. He truly is the best doctor we have had the privilege to depend upon.”
“I just try to be here to meet the various needs within our community,” Norrie said.
He expressed his gratitude for the “great” community he lives in, stating, “It’s easy to work in an area where people value who we are and what we do.”
According to Norrie, the community is “highly supportive” of surrounding hospitals and physicians.
OCFP’s purpose
More than 750 family physicians are being recognized with the certificate across Ontario.
“What we heard from patients in all corners of the province, including in Guelph and the surrounding area, is that family physicians are there for patients, providing care when they need it most,” stated OCFP president Dr. Jobin Varughese in the release.
“We are thankful for the dedication and care that family physicians show to patients.”
According to officials, the response from patients was “overwhelming and heartfelt.”
