Local Parkside Medical Clinic physician Dr. Clarence Graff is getting ready to retire in mid-December. His last day of work will be Dec. 14.
When asked what he plans to do now, Graff said in an email, "I am firstly going to take the winter to go to Phoenix and plot my retirement."
Graff has been practising in Olds since June 1971 and for 47 years has enjoyed his time as a medical professional, building relationships with patients.
“Really the satisfaction every day is going to work and doing something that you love to do and doesn’t even feel like work when you’re doing it,” said Graff.
Even though Graff will be leaving the Parkside clinic, it will still continue to run under the leadership of Dr. Vicki Wielenga and Dr. Kevin Lanni.
“I have complete confidence in them and they have the right stuff for Olds; they’re a good pair,” Graff said.
His retirement will also have no impact on his daughter's eye clinic in the same building.
Graff in recent years had issues trying to gain hospital privileges -- the ability to personally take care of his patients in the hospital. He was never able to do so. However, he says this isn’t something he is bitter about.
“I really wanted to get hospital privileges because it would help the town with having two clinics that are represented at the hospital.
“I fought hard to get that, but the politics are such that Wild Rose controls access and they said 'no.'
“I’m not bitter in my heart and it doesn’t affect my life; someone else can carry on that torch,” said Graff.
Graff has many things about his years as a medical professional that he will look back on fondly, one of which is delivering babies.
“That was always a thrill for me to deliver a baby because they’re brand new, they haven’t done anything wrong and the whole world is ready for them and whatever they want to do,” said Graff.
Graff recalled when he was graduating from medical school he was told that they were just on the cutting edge of modern medicine that we know today.
“We were told that there’d be all sorts of new antibiotics, all sorts of new procedures, new machinery and that came true,” said Graff. “Hardly any of the drugs that I used when I started are being used now."
Now he’s excited about how the medical industry is going to have another turning point.
“I said to a patient 'now we’re being told we’re on the cutting edge of everything new' and I believe that.
“I think that in the next five to 10 years, cancer treatment is going to completely change.
“I said to my patient I’d like another shot at it and try it again. It’s a pretty exciting time,” said Graff.
