Renfrew`s newest doctor is already feeling at home here, as he gets

Renfrew’s newest doctor is already
feeling at home here, as he gets to know
his patients and begins putting down his
own roots in the local community.
Dr. Steven Radke is just beginning his
fifth month as a family physician in
Renfrew.
“It’s more than I could have
imagined,” he says. “I’m enjoying the
combination of everything.”
Dr. Radke’s medical background
includes a residency in family medicine
and a fellowship in emergency medicine at
The Ottawa Hospital. His current practice
reflects that combination, with the
majority of his professional time divided
between appointments with patients in his
office on the third floor of Renfrew
Victoria Hospital and time on duty in the
hospital emergency department.
Dr. Radke has also enjoyed the
opportunity to assist Dr. Lance Miller in
the RVH operating room during surgical
procedures for his patients. He points out
that such an experience is not normally
available to family physicians in larger
urban centres.
“It’s so rewarding,” he says. “I can
really get to know my patients, and
provide a very meaningful level of health
care.”
Getting to know his patients has kept
Dr. Radke extremely busy since his
arrival in Renfrew in July.
Congratulations to the Renfrew Lions Club, which celebrates its 65th anniversary
with a dinner and dance at the Renfrew Armouries on November 12. RVH will be
part of the celebrations, receiving a $5,000 donation from the club that night. Since
1989, Renfrew Lions have contributed more than $200,000 to our hospital.
For the first few weeks, he was
meeting as many as 25 to 30 new patients
each day. Now that he is seeing some
patients for the second or third time, he is
enjoying the rewards of building solid
professional relationships with them.
“The pieces of the puzzle are starting
to come together already,” he says with a
smile.
Having his medical office within the
hospital has helped. Time between scheduled appointments offers the chance to
check on patients who have been admitted
to the hospital, or follow up with people
he has seen in the emergency department.
Dr. Radke is also very
thankful for the support he
has received from fellow
physicians and other health
care professionals at RVH,
and his staff.
“Everyone’s here to help
each other,” he says. “It’s the
most warm and helpful
atmosphere I could possibly
imagine.”
On a personal level, Dr.
Radke and his wife, Kate,
have
quickly
adopted
Renfrew as their family
home. They have bought a
house here, where they will
be welcoming their first child
early next spring.
“It’s a very exciting time
for us,” he says as his friendly Dr. Steven
smile breaks into a broad grin. Visneskie.
While the move into the community and
establishing his practice have been very
consuming, Dr. Radke has also made the
time to build some community connections.
An avid hockey fan, he played in
Arnprior throughout the summer and can
now be found on the Ma-Te-Way rink
each Sunday evening. He and Kate also
sampled some of the canoeing and fishing
opportunities in the area this summer, and
have enjoyed a movie or two at the
O’Brien Theatre.
“We’re both really enjoying the
community,” he concludes. “It feels like
home.”
Radke at his office with patient Marion