Sault Ste. Marie loses its last radiologist

Sault Ste. Marie's last remaining radiologist has served notice he's moving away, leaving Sault Area Hospital (SAH) entirely dependent on locums (temporary substitute physicians) to fill the gap.

A meeting of SAH directors on Wednesday night was told that Dr. Rob D'Ovidio has decided to move to the West Coast and will leave the hospital's employ on August 22.

The Sault's only other radiologist, Dr. Joshua Tjong, announced in February that he'll be leaving on August 15.

Asked by director Phil Virene whether the two departures pointed to any issues within the department, both Chief of Staff Dr. Howard Tait (shown in front of a SARS-sealed exit at last night's meeting) and President and Chief Executive Officer Manu Malkani said they were unaware of problems.

"I've asked them both. I think it just happened to work that way," Malkani said.

Last month, Sault Area Hospital hired a medical recruitment company to help it attract radiologists and an anaesthetist.

The meeting was told that the hospital has a very promising lead on a prospective anaesthetist.