After 50 years, my retirement day has finally arrived. I started my career after graduating from Fanshawe College in April 1973 with a diploma in Respiratory Technology, now known as Respiratory Therapy. I registered as an RRT in September of that year and began working at the Owen Sound General & Marine Hospital on May 5th. The following year, I became the Director of Respiratory Therapy.

In 1982, I furthered my education by obtaining a diploma in Electrical/Electronic Technology and a certificate in Microcomputers and Microprocessors. When the new hospital was built in 1985, I transferred to Biomedical Engineering, where I worked under the supervision of a Clinical Biomedical Engineer. In 1987, I earned the designation of CET by OACETT in Electrical/Electronics (biomedical).

I left the hospital in November 1988 to enter into a partnership with Georgian Bay Fire & Safety, and we created Georgian Medical Services, which we incorporated the following year. I continued to run the business while working part-time and full-time for the Family Health team in Owen Sound as their Respiratory Therapist from 2009 to 2015. During that time, I also obtained my Respiratory Educator (CRE) certificate.

Throughout my career, I had the pleasure of working with many amazing staff and clients, and I enjoyed the variety of work. One of the many highlights was working with Drs. Harpur and Suke at the hyperbaric chamber in Tobermory, where we studied the effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen to treat MS. This entailed making a calibration standard for the Blood Gas Analyzer and performing Arterial sampling at depth.

I am grateful to the staff at TRH Services for their patience in teaching an old dog new tricks during the company’s transition over the past 19 months. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey, and I look forward to the next chapter of my life in retirement.

Christopher MacDougald