Sarnia native Christopher Chopcian says returning home to begin his medical career is a ‘dream come true.’
“Becoming a doctor has been a long, 12-year journey that took me through four stages of
education and three countries to complete,” the Northern graduate said in a news release from Blue Coast Primary Care — Recruitment & Retention. “My goal was always to move back to Sarnia for work/life, but I never imagined the 'dream job' would be my first offer.”
His arrival coincides with the retirement of Dr. William Buckton — Chopcian’s longtime family doctor — from his practice, with Chopcian set to assume patient care in the coming weeks.
“When Dr. Buckton offered me the opportunity to carry on his legacy, it was the end goal I had envisioned,” added Chopcian, who completed his undergraduate studies at Western University, attended medical school in Grenada, and finished his family medicine residency training in Chicago, IL.
He is the 49th family physician and the third recruited to Sarnia-Lambton by Blue Coast this year.
“This came with a beautifully poetic bow; as Dr. Buckton is winding down his medical career, I am winding up my own,” Chopcian said. “But even more heartwarming to me is that Dr. Buckton has been my own doctor since I was born. He gave me my childhood shots and now is giving me the reins, something I am truly honoured to be chosen for.”
Dr. Buckton will continue caring for his nursing home patients, Blue Coast stated, adding that . Dr. Duncan Innes served in an advisory role in Dr. Chopcian’s recruitment.
Dr. Chopcian will practice from Dr. Buckton’s office in Point Edward and will not be accepting new patients at this time.