UMH Welcomes New General Surgeon

On December 1, 2008, Dr. James Langevin, General Surgeon, will join the Uvalde Memorial Hospital Medical Staff.  Dr. Langevin is a graduate from the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  He completed an internship at Foothills Hospital in Calgary and his residency at Foothills Hospital and the University of Calgary.  Langevin completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He is Board Certified in General Surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a Founding Fellow of the Canadian Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. He has also served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery for the University of Calgary while he was a Consultant Surgeon, General and Colorectal for Calgary Regional Health Authority. 

Langevin specializes in endoscopy and colorectal procedures, having performed over 10,000 procedures and recently completed training in hyperbaric oxygenation therapy.  

 Dr. Langevin visited the hospital earlier this year to provide temporary coverage while Dr. Harry Watkins took some time off.  It was during that two week period that Dr. Langevin and his wife, Rose Anne, were able to tour Uvalde and also to become familiar with the hospital and medical and hospital staff.  “I was extremely impressed with the longevity of the medical staff.  This was a factor when deciding to accept the position,” stated Langevin.  He added, “The technology and diagnostics available at UMH are very advanced.  It is what you would find in any hospital in San Antonio and in many instances, UMH surpasses the technology at some of those hospitals.” Dr. Langevin also has experience with colon rectal cancer.  The opportunity to be involved with the Uvalde Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Care Medical Center was another bonus when accepting the position.

Dr. Langevin and his wife, Rose Anne, were living in Canada prior to moving to Uvalde and are dual citizens of Canada and the United States. The Langevins have three children, Monica Gottschling, Louise Murray and Mark Langevin. Their daughters, as well as their four grandchildren, reside in Canada and their son, Mark, is in Weatherford, TX, working in equine medicine. Rose Anne, who has officially retired as Dr. Langevin’s office manager, will more than likely be working in volunteer capacities in Uvalde.  Langevin added that his wife does a lot of work with volunteer groups and praised her highly for her work.  She explained her volunteerism as, “helping wherever I can.”

Additionally, the Langevins have spent the last four years traveling to Guatemala as volunteers with Health for Humanity, an organization based in Vancouver, British Columbia.  The organization sends surgical teams, medical equipment and medical supplies to Guatemala and other developing countries.  During the next two weeks, the Langevins will travel to Antigua, Guatemala on a medical mission.  “Last year, we performed 166 operations in nine days,” stated Langevin.  He explained that the medical team is comprised of surgeons with different specialties and support staff.  He said they completed an array of surgeries from constructive plastic surgeries to colon and rectal surgeries.  “Most of the patients are from villages in the mountains.  A team goes to the villages and gathers patients who would benefit from surgical treatment.  We do a lot of congenital procedures, such as cleft lips and cleft palates, as well as treating patients with gallbladder, hernia, thyroid problems and general surgical procedures,” added Langevin.

Following the trip to Guatemala, the Langevins look forward to making Uvalde home.