Support Group Meeting in Havre de Grace

Hello All, I was very pleased that Dr. Smoot spoke with us at the support group meeting last night. His announcement of his decision to leave clinical practice is one which I'm sure took a great deal of personal reflection. Dr. Smoot is a skilled and gifted surgeon with a unique blend of compassion, understanding and candor. I will be eternally grateful that my primary care physician referred me to Dr. Smoot for treatment. I have been given a new lease on life. I can truly understand Dr. Smoot's reasons for retiring from clinical practice. He entered into the medical field to help people. The practice of medicine has changed dramatically over the last 25 years. The options for treatment of patients has been restricted considerably by the bureaucratic red tape of the big business insurance companies. It is very disheartening when you hear that a skilled physician has had to spend more time coordinating with insurance companies than he has time available in support of direct patient care. My feelings are two-fold. I'm sorry to hear he is retiring because I will miss him. However, I'm also happy for him that he had the courage to make a difficult decision and now that the decision has been made, he can proceed with a new career path. My well wishes go out to him. I'll miss him and wish him the best in his new career goal. Hopefully, our paths will cross again. May God Bless Him! Jean