ALMONTE – While completing his specialized training in rheumatology, Dr. Kyle Walker spent time in Carleton Place, learning alongside Dr. Brian Boate. Now, Dr. Walker is back, offering rheumatology clinics three days a week at both Almonte General Hospital and Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital.

“I’m excited to be here and to follow in Dr. Boate’s footsteps,” Dr. Walker said. “Dr. Boate cared for this community for 35 years, developing a close relationship with his patients. Like him, I plan to be here for a long time too. I grew up in Stratford and like the small-town feel of these hospitals.”

Rheumatologists diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disease and autoimmune conditions such as lupus. A large part of Dr. Walker’s work centres around rheumatoid arthritis, where the goal is to keep the disease in remission.

“Chronic diseases like this don’t go away and there is a real need to support these patients,” he said. “We have an arsenal of tricks up our sleeves to help – much more than we did 20 years ago.”

“It’s nice to have Dr. Walker back as part of our team at both hospitals,” President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider said. “He is a great fit for our friendly, small hospital environment and patients tell us they really like him.”

Dr. Walker went to medical school in Ireland and completed his internal medicine and rheumatology specialty training at the University of Ottawa.

The clinics runs on Tuesday in Almonte and on Wednesday and Thursday in Carleton Place. A referral from a family doctor or other specialist is required.