Long-serving doctor retires
Having been a GP at Ōmokoroa Medical Centre for 25 years, Dr Murray Smith will retire at the end of March 2021.
Murray first started practising at the premises in McDonnell St in 1995 and was a part of the consortium of investors that developed the current, purposebuilt centre in 2011. They had the foresight to see the growth in Ōmokoroa and develop the site to include other health providers like the pharmacy, dentist, physio, eyecare centre and also to compliment them with partners like the barbers and real estate agents.
In 2013, the medical centre became a teaching practice and Murray, along with Dr Alistair Raiman, began supervising
Registrars as they studied towards their qualifications to become General Practitioners in their own right. Over the years every student doctor under Murray and Alistair’s tutelage has progressed to become a GP. I know this is something he is very proud of.
Over the years, more doctors have been brought into the practice to meet the increasing demand that comes with a growing population, but Murray has always remained and brought his experience, expertise and kind nature to his work, mentoring new doctors.
He has also regularly been approached by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners to travel to Wellington to oversee the final exams of graduating doctors from across the country.
Murray’s importance to the local population of Ōmokoroa cannot be overstated. He has literally saved lives here and helped ease the pain and suffering of many others. He has also been there for so many of us in managing our everyday needs and those times when we haven’t felt so well. His nature is one of quiet compassion and he will leave a legacy that few will ever equal here.
For the future, the Practice is delighted to welcome Dr Richard Jones, a very experienced GP who has been working at our Bethlehem Medical Centre site for over five years. He will be a full-time doctor here so the continuous care of all of Murray’s patients can be assured.
We would like to thank Murray for his tireless service to the community in Ōmokoroa and wish him every happiness in his retirement.