Local doctor named one of Canada's best
Published Wednesday October 28th, 2009
A Fredericton family doctor who has been practising medicine for 36 years has been named one of Canada's top family physicians for 2009.
Dr. John Keddy is one of 10 general practitioners in the country to receive the Dr. Reg L. Perkin award.
The accolades are handed out as part of Family Doctor Week in Canada which ends Oct. 31.
"The award recipients are skilled clinicians who are passionate about their profession and the doctor-patient relationship," said Dr. Sarah Kredentser, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, which hands out the honour.
One physician is chosen from each province in Canada to receive the award.
They are nominated through their provincial chapter of the college and are recommended based on their skill as clinicians, the recognition of the importance of doctor-patient relationships and their community leadership and mentoring roles.
The nominations are supported by their peers, patients, colleagues and community leaders.
Keddy, who co-ordinates the Regent Street walk-in medical clinic which he helped found, is a past president of the Fredericton Medical Clinic and the New Brunswick College of Family Physicians.
He's also the past chairman of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital's family practice department.
A graduate of Dalhousie University, Keddy has been the medical director of the Veteran's Health Unit in the capital city for more than 30 years.
"One of John's greatest achievements is his ability to inspire," says the citation from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
"He is a dedicated teacher and mentor. His students and residents revel in his enthusiasm to listen, to share his knowledge, and to encourage their best achievements."
For Keddy, being a doctor was just something he always wanted to do.
His father George Keddy was an orthopedic surgeon in Saint John and his grandfather Owen Keddy was a family doctor in Windsor, N.S.
As a child, he'd hang around his dad's office.
"He'd take me into the hospital to do rounds and once-in-awhile, I'd even go in and watch him operate," Keddy said.
"And so, I don't know why, but from the time I was five or six years old, I wanted to be a doctor. I never wavered."
Keddy's biggest fear as a young man was that he wouldn't land the marks to earn him a berth in medical school, and he admits to having had a tad too much fun during his undergraduate years.
But, he said he knuckled down, made the cut and put up his shingle in a job he says he loves.
"There's very few things I don't like about it," Keddy said.
"Paperwork is annoying. Nobody likes paperwork and it's very annoying to see so many patients without a family doctor when I'm working in the after-hours clinic or the emergency room. That's annoying, but almost every aspect of medicine, whether it's office, emergency room or after-hours clinic or geriatrics, I love it all."
In accepting the honour, Keddy said he appreciates that his peers have recognized him for doing a good job in a profession that he thrives in.
Since 1977, Keddy has especially enjoyed taking young residents under his wing and coaching them as they make the transition from school to active practice.
"I've always enjoyed sharing with them my practice and how it's run and whatever knowledge I've gained over the years, and of course, I've always enjoyed learning from the younger doctors as they come through," he said.
"It's a two-way street for sure."
Dr. Calvin Gutkin, executive director and CEO of the college, said the family physicians of the year all share the same commitment.
"As diverse as they are, the family physicians of the year all share a commitment to reaching out and making family doctors more accessible," Gutkin said.
Keddy and his wife Margaret have two grown children, Jay Keddy and Jennifer Levinson.
They have two grandchildren, Ava and Grant.
Keddy enjoys squash, tennis and skiing and is an accomplished pianist.
The award comes with a $1,500 travel allowance to attend the awards ceremony held in Calgary.
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