Docs find their calling

“Really, anywhere in Ontario is open to you when you’re in family medicine and emergency medicine because everyone needs those types of doctors,” said Janice, on a sticky Saturday morning.

About a year ago, it was time for the Bruinsmas to make a decision on where they would settle. She’s from Guelph and Dave’s from the rural farming community of Dresden in southwestern Ontario.

“Because of the doctor shortages there and obviously with family, there was a lot of pull to return back to that area,” said Dave. Or maybe Barrie, he added, “buy a nice house on the waterfront and they have a brand new emergency department there.”

Hamilton?

“I’d never even considered it,” he said. “It wasn’t an option.”

And then two things happened in quick succession.

First, there was the Spectator’s award-winning Code Red series, which highlighted the links between poverty and poor health at the neighbourhood level. The Bruinsmas read about a 21-year difference in life expectancies across city neighbourhoods, and Janice was moved by a Code Red presentation made during a keynote address last October to McMaster’s medical students.

“It was pretty disturbing actually,” said Janice. “That sat on our mind for a while after.”

And then there was Dwayne Cline, pastor of Hughson Street Baptist Church in the North End, where the Bruinsmas attend services.

“We believe in a parish model of ministry,” said Cline, who is also board chair for the North Hamilton Community Health Centre. “We care for the whole community, not just the people who walk through our doors.”

In a sermon to his members, Cline challenged them to not only consider serving their community, but also to consider living amongst the people of their community.

Shortly after, Cline said, he received an email message from Dave.

“I think it said ‘You’ve ruined my life,’” joked Cline.

And at that point, it was as if a light had been switched on for the husband-and-wife doctor team.

“I remember Dave came home after that sermon and said ‘I think God wants us to stay in the North End,’” said Janice.

“And Janice was just kind of, like, ‘What?’” Dave added with a laugh. “‘Are you sure that’s right?’”

In short order, Dave accepted a position with Hamilton Health Sciences Emergency Medicine Group and they purchased a house near Burlington Street, deep in the North End. Janice hopes to practice family medicine in the North End when she completes her residency in two years.

“Whether part of it was the Code Red series, whether part of it was Dwayne’s message, or the house becoming available, or my acceptance to become part of the HHS Emergency Medicine Group, it just sort of all came together,” said Dave. “I mean, our feeling was this can’t all just be by chance.”

“It just felt like this is where we’re supposed to be,” added Janice.

“I think it’s easy when you live surrounded by like people to forget or to just turn a blind eye,” she added. “It’s easy to just think that everyone lives like you and that everyone has the same advantages as you.”

And what did their families think of the decision to stay in Hamilton?

There’s some nervous laughter as the pair glance at each other.

“They were … uh,” Janice hesitated, “skeptical? Is that a fair word?”

“They were cautious, for sure,” he said. “None of our parents are from Hamilton so they don’t understand the dynamics of Hamilton.”

“But they’ve come and visited and we have a beautiful home and you can see a lot of good within our community and improvements have been made.”

Cline, meanwhile, said it was “incredibly satisfying” to see a young family like the Bruinsmas, with their two young children, decide to make the North End their home.

“To see families making these decisions — that’s huge,” he said.

So far, the Bruinsmas say, they have no regrets about their decision to make the lower inner city their home. They also want to make it clear that they don’t see themselves as white knights riding to anyone’s rescue.

“We don’t want people to feel that we’ve done everyone a favour because we’ve moved here,” said Janice.

“I think we saw a need, we saw the potential that we could have in this area and it seems like a nice place to raise a family,” said Dave.

“It really feels like a community.”

sbuist@thespec.com
905-526-3226