Sally Smith
editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Just graduated, newly married, and now starting their medical practices in Perth.

Dr. Shelly Xu and Dr. Scott Charenko are the two newest faces at the Perth Medical Clinic on Isabella Street.

The two will start their medical practices in August. Registration details will be on the clinic’s Facebook page.

Both doctors know the area and are looking for a place to call home. Charenko’s family has a cottage in nearby Plevna, and Xu spent most of her time growing up in Ottawa though she was born in Shanghai, China. Their intent, according to Joanne Grozelle, principal at Medical Management Strategies Inc., is to settle in, “make a life in Perth, and be part of the community.”

The romantic part here is that the two got married on June 10. They hope to enjoy a relatively peaceful summer before moving to Perth and beginning work.

Dr. Xu did her undergraduate work at the University of Toronto, received her medical degree from Queen’s University and completed her Family Residency training at Memorial University in Newfoundland.

Dr. Charenko completed Business Administration at York University in Toronto, completed his medical degree at Queen’s University and then went on to Family Medicine at Memorial University as well.

Medical interests of Xu include chronic disease management, inpatient care, women’s health and palliative care; Charenko’s include care of the elderly, palliative care, inpatient care, chronic disease management and minor surgical procedures.

Both like to hike and both cheer for the Toronto Blue Jays. Xu is also a garlic fan so the Perth Garlic Festival will be an annual favourite activity for her.

The young doctors were recruited through physician recruitment, an integral part of Medical Management Strategies. Grozelle says, “we hope [to recruit] a couple more in another six months.”

This article first appeared in the July issue of Hometown News. Read more of the July issue in our digital version.