Dr. Carley Robertson has been working at the Big Sandy Medical Center since 2007. Originally, she worked as the backup physician for Ms. Laura Hillis when Dr. Gold was on the Medical Staff. When his time at BSMC ended, Dr. Robertson became the 'default' Medical Director as there was no other MD on the staff at the time. She said, "I offered to be the Medical Director until they could find a new one, to keep the doors open." It has taken over 15 years to do that! Over the years, Dr. Gladys Young and Dr. Cameron Parham have been on the Medical Staff to help cover for Dr. Robertson while she did mission work in Tanzania, East Africa. Neither Dr. Young, nor Dr. Parham, was in a position to consider becoming the Medical Director, but Dr. Young will remain on the medical staff to help in times of need.
Dr. Robertson says some of her favorite memories about her many years serving our facility are the people she got to work with. She states,
"I really enjoyed working with Harry Bold, and getting to know him and Pam Bold some. I enjoyed working with Sam Allen the Interim CEO who made it possible for Leah (Grubb) Griffith to learn her way as a new CEO. She was great to work with through the very challenging time of the COVID Pandemic. Leah was a good leader, and understood medical care... I miss her.
I enjoyed working with Del Simon in the Lab in particular, too. I learned a lot from her about antibiotic management, antibiograms, and her steady hand in the lab was invaluable. The Nursing Staff was always ready to step in and care for patients, even in the most difficult situations with Amber Beaudette as DON. Ashley Jacobi, our current DON, is doing a wonderful job as she gets to fill some big shoes. She is working hard to develop a nursing staff who understand patient care.
Lisa Genereux RN SW, has been a great patient advocate; and, she and Pam Gasvoda RN have been reliable sounding boards for me. Reggie Jappe and Helen Richter made the place run! What more can I say?!?
The PAs and NPs I got to work with here have been marvelous human beings and talented providers in a challenging environment... Edna Streit, Steve Arnold, Rod Hickman, Melissa Borkowski; and currently Paul Bradbury, Amber Groves, Krystyl Kulbeck, and Heath Horton... Krystyl and Heath have kept the place going for the past couple of years..." It is clear she has been impacted by many of the staff that have been employed at BSMC and she has impacted them as well. In these halls comments such as, "great to work with" "a wealth of knowledge" and "a passionate caregiver" have all been used to describe her.
Her plans in medicine do not end with her employment at BSMC. She will continue to work at Sweet Nursing home in Chinook; be the Medical Director of the Blaine County Ambulance Services, care for patients at the Havre Care Center and Care & Comfort Assisted Living facilities, and remain a back-up Pediatric Hospitalist for Northern Montana Healthcare. As if all of that won't keep her busy she will continue to be a part of the Montana Medical Association, the Montana Board of Medical Examiners, travel, volunteer, and stay active in her church. She is also learning to play the piano! With a laugh she says, "who knows, maybe I'll sleep some?"
Dr. Roberston was gracious enough to take some time to share some parting words for BSMC patients and the families: First - THANK YOU for the opportunity to have spent time in Big Sandy, and at Big Sandy Medical Center, and to have participated as much as I have. All of you have been a great source of encouragement to me. Thank you. Second - Take responsibility for your own health - DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to become more healthy... no one can do it for you! NO ONE!! If you need to, lose weight... eat less food! (One of my father's doctors used to say: "If you can't skip the snacks between meals, skip the meals between the snacks!" Not the best of diets, but eat less food!) If you do this over a period of years, you WILL lose weight... it is simply the opposite of how you got bigger... one bite at a time. IF you need to, quit smoking... Almost every disease of the circulation and most cancers are made worse by cigarette smoking... and vaping is not "a healthy alternative"! IF you need to, exercise more... just walking 20-30 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week makes a difference! IF you need to, rest more... some people just need to NOT DO something. Third - DRINK MORE WATER!! It's good for your skin, and your kidneys, and your bowels, and your eyes, and... and... and...You get it! Fourth - PRAY like your life depended on it... it does."
We thank you for your 17 years of service, Dr. Robertson. Our facility, our community, and our patients will miss you and the care you have provided!
