Council hears hopeful update as Valley Medical Clinic doctors prepare to retire

By Melissa Crispin-Piche Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Strathmore council heard an encouraging update about the possibility of new physicians moving into Valley Medical Clinic as its current doctors prepare to retire.

The clinic sent out a notice to its current patients and an advertisement announcing the winding down at the end of this year. The clinic has been operating for over 41 years.

They thanked the Strathmore community for their support and called it a “gift” to be able to share in people’s lives and medical journeys.

Speaking at the Oct. 7 meeting, Coun. Melissa Langmaid said the clinic had announced it would wind down operations at the end of the year. She also said an update shared that day pointed to promising developments toward a physician transition.

“It’s my understanding that they’ve shared an update today that there are some recent developments that are highly encouraging for the transition of new physicians into the Valley Medical Clinic,” Langmaid said.

Her comments offered hope for the clinic’s future, but no incoming physicians were named during the council discussion and no start date was provided.

Langmaid thanked doctors Clarke, Fanning, Lobay and Sader for their care of Strathmore residents and wished them well in retirement.

“I appreciate their commitment to our community,” she said.

Mayor Pat Fule echoed her thanks describing the clinic building as a long-standing part of the community and expressing hope that medical services would continue there.

“They’ve done an amazing job caring for the residents of the town,” Fule said.

The remarks were made during council statements, rather than a presentation from the clinic. 

Council did not announce a recruitment agreement or confirm that replacement physicians had been secured.

The next details to establish are who might take over, when they could begin and how the transition would affect existing patients have yet to be announced.