Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
OtherReflections In Family Medicine

Patient Reflections: Saying Good-Bye to a Retiring Family Doctor

Beth Merenstein and Joel Merenstein
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine September 2008, 21 (5) 461-465; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070186
Beth Merenstein
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Joel Merenstein
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Article Figures & Data

Tables

    • View popup
    Table 1.

    Themes and Representative Quotes Culled from Patient Correspondence

    ThemeQuotes
    1. Being there
    • “Always being available for listening or discussion far beyond our medical needs.”

    • “It will take me a long time for me to get used to the fact that I can't just pick up the phone and take advantage of your expertise when I need medical or personal advice.”

    • “You always had time for us no matter what you were doing for yourself.”

    2. Caring
    • “[You had] an amazing career as a compassionate and caring doctor, the best healing medicine can provide.”

    • “Thank you for your great medical care and loving care.”

    3. Medical expertise
    • “I have trusted your judgment about my medical needs and have been comfortable with your way of thinking.”

    • “No matter what the wisdom of the specialist, it just wasn't true until we heard it from you.”

    4. Personal characteristics
    • “Taking the time to listen prior to any judgment.”

    • “You made us feel like we were the most important people in the world.”

    5. Multiple roles/anything goes
    • “You have been our healer, helper in sad times, and always our friend.”

    6. Family doctor
    • “It's like saying good bye to a member of the family.”

    • “You cared for my health and you understood my family.”

    • “You knew us far beyond our medical needs.”

    7. Continuity
    • “You have been my friend and healer most of my life.”

    • “Expressing my deepest appreciation to you…for the kindness and patience you have shown my family for the past 43 years.”

    • “My friend and my healer most of my life.”

PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: 21 (5)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Vol. 21, Issue 5
September-October 2008
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Cover (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Patient Reflections: Saying Good-Bye to a Retiring Family Doctor
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
4 + 1 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Patient Reflections: Saying Good-Bye to a Retiring Family Doctor
Beth Merenstein, Joel Merenstein
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2008, 21 (5) 461-465; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070186

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Patient Reflections: Saying Good-Bye to a Retiring Family Doctor
Beth Merenstein, Joel Merenstein
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2008, 21 (5) 461-465; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070186
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Acknowledgments
    • Notes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • How do patients perceive the retirement of their general practitioner? A qualitative interview study in France
  • The Medical Home, Health Services, and Clinical Family Medicine Research
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • To Feel Again: The Strength of a Support Community
  • The Minority Tax: Stories from Family Physicians
  • Person-Centered, Goal-Oriented Care Helped My Patients Improve Their Quality of Life
Show more Reflections In Family Medicine

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire