We are both sad and happy to announce that Dr. David Howell will begin his transition to retirement this year at Village Pediatrics. It has been a privilege to have Dr. Howell as a Pediatrician in this community for the past 40 years.
Please read Dr. Howell’s personal letter to his patients and the transitions to come.
Dear friends,
In a couple of months, it will be 41 years since I became a practicing pediatrician. Although in so many ways I feel I am still ‘practicing’ and have not yet achieved all I set out to do, the time has come for me to begin the retirement process. I will be cutting back my schedule this year and plan to fully retire in 2025.
A few of you have been with me since 1988 when I joined Tri-County Pediatrics in Stoughton. More of you recall when Joyce, Diane, Barbara, Charlotte and I set out on our own and started Village Pediatrics 26 years ago in 1998. You have grown up with me and have children of your own now. Even more of you have brought your children to me in just the last 1, 2, 5,10 or 15 years. I am so appreciative of all the trust you have put in me to walk with you through these adventurous and often challenging years. Thank you so much! I will be so sad to be saying goodbye to you!
Village Pediatrics is not going anywhere. The reins will pass on to Dr. Kathleen Petillo who is in her 14th year of pediatric practice, having spent 10 of those years working at Boston Childrens Hospital. She has great knowledge, energy, enthusiasm, and I have had the pleasure of working side by side with her for the last 2 years. Dr. Jenni Petrella will be joining us next month. She is another knowledgeable, passionate pediatrician who you may know as a long-time provider of care at the local PM Pediatrics Urgent Care.
My full retirement will occur in about 18-20 months. Between now and then, I will slowly decrease the number of days per week I see patients. This means that in the next 2 months, about 1/3 of you will be moved to Dr. Petillo or Dr. Petrella (I call them Dr. Kate and Dr. Jenni) for your check-ups and primary care. Toward the end of this year, another 1/3 of you will be transitioned over to Drs. Kate and Jenni, and by Fall of next year I will retire.
I have asked our support staff to first move boys and girls under the age of 5 and all girls older than 10. This will allow the younger children to begin bonding with Dr. Kate or Dr. Jenni, when it is emotionally and psychologically easier to do. For girls 11 and up, it will allow them to start seeing a female doctor, which is often much more comfortable for them.
There will be exceptions, but I am hoping that you will see the need for this to happen and assist us in helping your children make these transitions. If you feel strongly that your child’s transition to Dr. Katie or Dr. Jenni must be delayed until later in the year, please tell us.
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY LOVED being part of you and your children’s lives as their doctor. I will miss you, and all your smiling faces as we have had fun together making medical care less scary, more understandable, and making decisions together that I hope to have led to positive outcomes.
Blessings and love to all of you,
Dr. David Howell