To the Editor:

My upcoming retirement at the end of June has given me the opportunity to reflect on my 43 year practice of medicine in Saint Lawrence County.   The overriding emotion that I have is one of deep gratitude to all of you. 

 I came to this community with my wife and three small children.  You welcomed and accepted us into the community and gave me the privilege to participate in your health care.  You enabled my wife to care for our children and cope with the obligations of daily life while I was busy with my medical practices. You educated my children and helped them grow into responsible and successful professionals.  Along the way, we participated in local sporting events and I was able to become involved with the local universities. 

 There is no greater honor than being asked to provide care to another person in something that is so intensely personal than ones wellbeing.  Whether the setting was in my private practice in Norwood or in one of the Emergency Departments in the North Country, I strived to make a positive difference for every individual that I encountered.  You were more than an interesting case or a diagnostic dilemma.  You were a human being that was in need.   Every doctor has “war stories” about the unusual and challenging patients that they have encountered but many of you have become my friends and have shared your love of all of the hidden treasures that exist in Saint Lawrence County.  Those are my “war stories”.

I will continue to live in St. Lawrence County and hope to spend more time with my family and pursuing my hobbies.  I plan to do a lot more fly fishing on our local rivers and streams and get a little more bird hunting done in the fall.  I will continue to get to my shop to do more woodturning and wood working.

In conclusion, I can only say one thing: Thank You for the opportunity to have had an overwhelmingly satisfying professional career and personal life! 

Jan S. Close MD MMM

Norwood