Radville doctor honoured by patients, peers

REGINA – Eileen Hennie has a special bond with her physician.

She’s in palliative care while battling cancer, and Eileen says she confides in her doctor like few others.

“The feeling that everything will be okay because he’ll be with me,” she said.

Patients in and around Radville know him as “Doctor O.”, but Dr. Werner Oberholzer will now also be known as a 2013 Family Doctor of the Year, an accolade handed out by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

“I believe passionately in what I do,” said Dr. Oberholzer. “It’s an absolute privilege to have people entrust their care in you.”

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In caring for young and old, the South African-trained physician says his patients come first.

That’s known best by Eileen.

“He’s special. I don’t think there’s another man like him.”

At a time when retaining family doctors in small communities is increasingly difficult, Dr. Oberholzer is one who has spent 14 years in rural Saskatchewan.

He’s now showing the next generation the value of relationships built in towns like Radville.

“It’s about understanding the person, where they’re from, being part of their lives,” said Lisa Harasen, a medical student working at the Radville Marian Health Centre.

“If they can establish that personal bond and be the best physician the can, they’ll experience the joys of treating people like this,” said Dr. Oberholzer.

In working with someone faced with a difficult diagnosis, that devotion has meant the world.

“It’s was hard, he made it not so bad,” Eileen said.

“I have a dear friend here I can trust.”