Dahmer’s ‘concern for people’ at heart of award

News — 04 May 2011

Dr. Mark Dahmer was joined by his family at an event in his honour, April 25. From left are: son Joshua, daughter Tessa, daughter Lauren, Mark Dahmer himself, wife Linda and daughter Kyla. Photo by Chris Marchand

Local physician Mark Dahmer was the subject of significant praise, April 25 as friends and colleagues gathered to pay tribute to the longtime community doctor, April 25 at The Centre.

The evening was organized around Dahmer’s recent prestigious honour of a Council Award from the Ontario College of Physicians.

Dahmer and wife Linda were seated on stage as a series of speakers from colleagues to the clergy painted a portrait of his 25 years of commitment and personal sacrifice to the community as a leader in local health care.

Speakers included Dryden Regional Health Centre CEO Wade Petranik, Chief of Staff Dr. Karen Mazurski, Hospital Foundation’s Peter Burns, Nurses Audrey Nosworthy and Alicia Kitt as well as Our Saviour Lutheran Church Pastor James Wood.

Speakers touched on a common theme, expressing wonder at Dahmer’s remarkable ability to bring into balance his faith, family and work in a difficult and demanding field.

“Mark is this man who wears a whole bunch of different hats and he wears them all very well,” said Wood. “It also says a lot about Linda’s patience as a wife.”

Wade Petranik says it is Dahmer’s concern for both patients’ physical and spiritual well-being that sets him apart as a physician.

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Dr. Dahmer for 20 years of my career,” said Petranik. “One thing I’ve always appreciated is his advice and constructive criticism. Our perspectives on issues were not always aligned, but I learned to listen very carefully to him. You know where you stand with Mark, there are never any personal agendas. Whether he’s advocating for his patients or the medical staff, hospital services, the emergency department or the clinic’s interests, it’s never about Mark.”

Surrounded by family who made the trip from afar for the event, including daughters Tessa, Lauren and Kyla and son Joshua, Dahmer would later speak to his approach to medicine and his efforts to cultivate a deep compassion through his faith.

“To students, I often say, ‘you should treat that patient as though he were your father or your mother, what would you do?’. I don’t do it to encourage them to be overly exhaustive in their investigations or ordering the most expensive treatment, but to have an attitude of compassion and concern for each person that they see, despite their individual circumstances,” said Dahmer.

By Chris Marchand

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