Celebrating 50 Years of Service: Dr. Munro’s Lifelong Commitment to Care

Since March 17, 1975, when he first began assisting fellow family physician Dr. Ross Lewis at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. Munro has embodied the essence of compassionate, person-centered care that defines St. Joseph’s.

Back then, St. Joseph’s Family Medical Program was located within the hospital and community physicians could admit and provide certain types of care for their own patients. During those early years, Dr. Munro spent much of his time assisting Dr. Lewis with surgical procedures such as hernia repairs and appendectomies.

By 1976, he was also delivering his patients’ babies in the former Mother/Baby Prenatal Unit. 

“Dr. John Patrick was the obstetrician at that time — he mentored and monitored my deliveries,” recalls Dr. Munro. “And I still remember my very first delivery of a baby girl in 1976. Her parents are still patients of mine.”

By 1992, Dr. Lewis had retired and Dr. Munro took over the family practice clinic on Wharncliffe Road, where he still practices today. Around the same time, the Family Medical Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital moved to Platts Lane and became St. Joseph’s Family Medical and Dental Centre, shifting Dr. Munro’s privileges at St. Joseph’s to  supportive care; which he continues to provide to his patients who reside at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care.

When asked what stands out most from his early days, Dr. Munro reflects on how medicine has evolved. 

“Medical technology has really changed. Back in 1975 there were no ultrasounds, MRIs, CT or PET scans. Technology has made it much easier to diagnose.”

While medicine has transformed over the years, his philosophy of care has remained rooted in timeless values — ones that mirror St. Joseph’s mission of compassion. 

“I believe in treating people as people and listening to their needs — seeing them as individuals first, not their medical diagnosis.”

Even after five decades, Dr. Munro continues to find joy in learning and caring for others. 

“I find it fascinating to keep up on different medical areas. I truly enjoy reading about medicine and staying up to date on how it continues to evolve. I spend at least an hour a day learning — reading and listening to medical journals. It’s good to keep busy.”

That lifelong curiosity continues to fuel his practice. 

“Medical knowledge is expanding so rapidly that it can be difficult to keep up as a family physician, but one of the benefits is that you get to support people for long periods of time,” he says. “You really get to know them as people rather than patients.”

Among the many memories that mark his long career, one snowy night stands out vividly. 
“It was December 7, 1977. There was a big snowstorm and one of my patients had gone into labour,” he recalls. “I ended up sleeping at St. Joseph’s Hospital that night. When I came out the next morning, my car — which had been parked in the semi-circle — was completely covered over with snow. I remember it like it was yesterday.”

That dedication has been a hallmark of Dr. Munro’s career. He has cared for generations of families, witnessing milestones, sharing joys, sorrows, and embodying the quiet strength that defines family medicine.

As he reflects on a half-century of service, Dr. Munro’s story is more than a personal milestone — it’s a living example of the compassion, integrity and commitment that are at the heart of St. Joseph’s.

“I’ve been very fortunate,” he says simply. “To be part of people’s lives— it’s been an honour.”