By supporting the Annual Giving Fund, you can make an immediate impact on the day-to-day operations at the hospital. Many grateful patients and loved ones use the Annual Giving Fund as a means of “giving back.” For more information, contact foundation@cmhhamilton.com or call (315) 824-7036.
Dr. Dutkewych: Service, Skill and Surgery
In the 1970s, before Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) had specialists, there was Dr. George Dutkewych. As a general surgeon, he handled a variety of surgeries at our hospital – orthopedics, caesarean deliveries, and even traumas. Practicing medicine for more than 50 years, his colleagues knew they only had to pick up the phone – George never said no to being on call, and assisted with patient care whenever and wherever needed.
“He had the personality of a family physician but all the skills of a surgeon,” states Dr. Robert Delorme, longtime co-worker and friend of Dr. Dutkewych. “During a period that medical care was so different, George set the bar high. He was trusted, and we all had such extreme confidence in his skill as a doctor.”
Dr. Dutkewych had the ability to adapt in an instant, providing excelled care in stressful situations. “The lives he saved are a true testament to his legacy,” adds Diane Chase, Senior Director of Clinical Services at CMH. “If our small facility hadn’t been in this community, George’s skills wouldn’t have touched so many lives.”
Dr. Dutkewych believed in our hospital. He believed in the skilled people within the brick walls, and he believed in the community in which it exists. He had a profound skill with his patients, as a doctor but also as a human. George and Debbie, and their sons David and Sean, were passionate about Hamilton, and by extension, the hospital. When George passed away in September of 2019, those that had worked with him spoke of his legacy as a doctor, and shared the stories of his years at Community Memorial.
Perhaps you share a memory of him too, and this year, our fall Annual Fund Drive is in honor of Dr. Dutkewych. You can be a part of what we do; a gift to the Community Memorial Annual Fund supports all services in vital times. You can help ensure we remain a vital part of our rural community, carrying on the reputation of quality care that providers like Dr. Dutkewych helped build. When you or your family needs us, we’re here, providing quality care, close to home.
Consider the tremendous impact YOU can make today and give.