A beloved Black Diamond physician known for her compassion and sense of humour is hanging up her stethoscope after 38 years of checking heart rates and writing prescriptions. Dr. Val Congdon looks forward to more relaxed days of camping and travelling in her retirement, starting Sept. 29. “I’ve been exploring the idea of retirement for the last five years,” she said. “It has been really difficult to make that decision to leave the practice because of that connection with people, but the timing feels right. It’s a little easier because I have a physician coming in to join our practice who will take over my group of patients.” Congdon fondly recalls moving to Black Diamond in November 1980 eager to meet her new patients in her first official medical position. Congdon grew up in Redcliff outside of Medicine Hat, studied medicine at the University of Calgary and completed her residency at the University of Western Ontario in London. “Alberta is my home so I did three years of my training in Ontario and I wanted to come back to southern Alberta,” she said. “I wanted a little bit of distance from where I grew up but still stay in the general neighbourhood.” Congdon initially worked in a smaller clinic in Black Diamond and soon collaborated with staff to build the existing clinic in the late 1980s. In those 30 years, the number of physicians in the clinic grew from four to 12 and she and her colleagues witnessed many improvements in medicine during that time. When Congdon’s career began CT scans were new, MRIs weren’t even heard of and there were no blood tests for Hepatitis C. Then came blood tests for hormone levels, arthritis type testing and even improved surgeries, said Congdon. “When people went in for gull bladder surgery when I started they were often in hospital for a week,” she said. “Now with laparoscopic surgery people are out of the hospital much quicker than they were before.” For 40 years, the Foothills Family Medical Centre had become like a second home for Congdon. “It’s been an awesome clinic to work in all of these years,” she said. “We’ve got a wonderful clinic, both staff and physicians, who are very supportive of each other and challenge each other to continue keeping our knowledge base current.” Outside of the clinic, Congdon is a fan of the arts, frequenting the Beneath the Arch Concert Series in the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall in Turner Valley. She also heads to the mountains to camp. Among her plans for retirement is seeing more of Canada’s countryside. “There’s a lot of Canada that I haven’t seen,” she said. “I enjoy camping so that’s going to be part of it. It’s much easier to just go travel and not have a date when you have to be back.” Congdon also plans to spend more time with family and friends, including her daughter, Amy, who lives in Edmonton and her partner, William, a retired carpenter. Those who have gotten to know Congdon the past 38 years consider her retirement bittersweet. While they will miss her compassion and sense of humour, they’re happy for the next chapter of her life. “If anyone has their health and can retire I think it’s fantastic,” said Norma Schock, Oilfields General Hospital care manager. “I think her no nonsense and wisdom will be missed.” Schock, who’s worked with Congdon for six years, describes her as being all about her patients. “Whenever there are decisions to be made about a patient’s care Dr. Congdon’s point of view is what does the patient really want, which is always peppered with a sense of humour,” she said. “She is engaging. She values the opinions of the nursing team. “Her patients have had a relationship with her for many years and that’s a real value to the patients to have continuity.” Turner Valley Mayor Gary Rowntree has been an occasional patient of Congdon’s when his doctor is away and is going to miss her presence at the clinic. “Val has been one of our physicians in the community as long as I’ve been here and is very committed to the community,” he said. “We are going to miss her. She is a heck of a good doctor.” The public is invited to a come and go tea to honour Congdon before her retirement at Oilfields General Hospital Sept. 21 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Royalite Room (the former Action Centre).
