Longtime cancer center medical director, Dr. Phillip Roberts, retires from Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital

ALBANY — After working in private practice in Albany for a decade, Dr. Phillip Roberts joined the Phoebe Cancer Center in 1990 and became medical director of the center. Now he is moving on to a new chapter in is life.

Roberts, 73, has is retiring, going out with a celebration of his contributions and the impact on the advancement of the Albany area’s cancer care on Tuesday at the Phoebe Cancer Center.

Linda Van der Merwe, vice president of oncology services at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, described the day as a sad one for Phoebe, but a happy one for Roberts and his family. In her remarks, she recalled the first meeting she had with him eight years ago, which was when he told her to always to respect the patients and to never send him an email — both of which she said she has followed.

“Throughout my eight years here, I’ve always seen a man who is calm and steady … (Roberts has) touched every family in Southwest Georgia in some way because Dr. Roberts is the Phoebe Cancer Center,” she said.

Dr. Chuck Mendenhall, medical director of the radiation oncology department at Phoebe, came to Albany in 1983. Upon his arrival, Roberts took the time to show Mendenhall around, and has continued to impressed Mendenhall as a hard worker with perseverance.

The radiation oncologist described how Roberts would counsel him when dealing with difficult personalities in the course of patient care.

“I would always call Dr. Roberts (in those cases), who is a father figure to me,” Mendenhall always said. “He said ‘Do what is right for the patient.’”

Longtime colleague Dr. Edward Oleen presented a portrait of Roberts, and Jeff “Bodine” Sinyard, outgoing Dougherty County Commission chair, presented the retiring physician a proclamation on behalf of the city of Albany and Dougherty County.

“He leaves a legacy of caring to others,” Sinyard quoted from the proclamation.

Joe Austin, chief operating officer for Phoebe Putney Health System, gave the closing remarks at Tuesday’s celebration.

“It’s not what you leave behind, but what you create for the future … you have created a standard for all of us to look to,” Austin said to Roberts. “(Phoebe can) move forward with what you have created. Nobody wants to be here (as a patient). We want to treat them with compassion.”

While his official retirement date is Dec. 31, Tuesday was the last day Roberts was seeing patients. Roberts said he plans to spend more time sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper, as well as traveling before doing volunteer work in the community.

While reflecting on his feelings of retirement, he noted the importance of what is left behind for the future.

“I don’t feel sad or happy. I am moving to a different phase in life,” he said. “I believe we have a good medical team in place, and I feel good about retiring. We’ve been here 34 years, and (the community) has been very nice … very receptive of us.

“I wouldn’t leave if (the cancer center) was not in good hands … there is real good team in place.”