Newest Georgetown doctor finds patients `well-informed'

Georgetown's newest family practitioner has 15 years of experience as a doctor in India. Dr. Naresh Kumar has taken over the practice of Dr. Alex Ashenhurst and is currently accepting new patients. Kumar said the fact Georgetown is so close to his Mississauga home was a factor in his decision to set up his practice here, and also because he had heard "it's a nice place." With Dr. Ashenhurst retiring it was an opportunity for him to take over the practice immediately, which he officially did on Nov. 1, a day after he graduated from the University of Western Ontario program for international medical graduates. He said one of the main reasons he and his wife Vandana moved to Canada was to provide a better future for their two children. Kumar has been enjoying working in Georgetown. "The treatment is about the same (as in India)," said Kumar. However, he said one of the main differences is that in India the practice of medicine is a more "parental approach." He explained there, the doctor tells the patient what to do and what not to do and the patient follows the doctor's advice with few questions. "Here it's more based on the patients," he said, adding that the patients have more input. "Here people are more openminded." "Mostly the patients (here) are wellinformed." Kumar received his medical degree from the Maulana Azad Medical College at Delhi University and worked as both a general practitioner and radiologist. He likes being a family practitioner. "We take an overall assessment of the patient," said Kumar. He said as a general practitioner his focus was more problem oriented. He said he learned the family medicine approach at the University of Western Ontario. "It's a better approach, better for the patients as well because we look at all aspects." Kumar said he has applied for privileges at Georgetown Hospital and will be joining Sinclair Medical Associates where his patients will have access to a walk-in clinic, where he will work on a rotational basis. Kumar's office is located at 83 Mill St., Suite 202. Anyone interested in becoming a patient should contact Kumar at 905873-2402.

Dr. Naresh Kumar has taken over the practice of Dr. Alex Ashenhurst and is currently accepting new patients.