Constante Avecilla will become a full time general surgeon in Borderland, filling a gap in the local medical community.
Avecilla specializes in colon and rectal surgery. He has practiced medicine for 45 years, the past 33 at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin. He specializes in gastrointestinal surgeries, especially colon and rectal cancer, along with gynecological and pelvic surgeries, caesarean section, hernias, gull bladder and most stomach surgeries.
The doctor was welcomed by the Duluth Clinic-International Falls and Falls Memorial Hospital community with a reception and dinner Tuesday.
Duluth and Marshfield have similar large group practices with wide satellite systems, said Avecilla, who had retired in 2000 but returned in 2003 to practice at the Marshfield satellite clinic in Ladysmith, Wis.
“Ladysmith is similar to this setting,” said Avecilla. “I am used this type of practice.”
Avecilla is concerned that the Falls, like Ladysmith, has an aging population which is especially at risk for pelvic and colon cancers and encourages screenings by age 50, and younger if there is a family history.
After completing his tenure at Marshfield, and serving as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Avecilla said he could have retired again, but said he feels very active and feels it would be a waste not to practice and perform surgery for as long as he can.
Sheila Hart, Falls Duluth Clinic administrator, said that Avecilla fills a void left with the retirement of Dr. Stephen Marchuk, who she said stayed on until they could find a full time general surgeon, and will work part time when needed. She is pleased that he helps the clinic in its goal of providing as many services as possible without requiring people to travel.
“Certainly, one of the things that so impressed us with Dr. Avecilla was just his passion for what he does, and also just his reputation for how caring he is with patients,” said Hart.
A nationwide shortage of physicians hurts isolated communities, and Hart said it is particularly difficult to find family medicine physicians that practice in an increasingly specialized obstetrics field.
“It is pretty difficult to get an full time OB GYN in a community of this size and there is a lot of competition,” said Hart.
Avecilla’s hiring is a step toward increasing the capacity of full-time services and specialties that require coordination with additional support staff from Duluth to practice. Hart said the development of a new hospital project, which officials hope to break ground on in 18 months, will help integrate clinic and hospital services further without duplicating efforts and wasting resources.
Mike Motley, vice president of regional operations with the Duluth Clinic, said two physicians in residence would be starting at the Falls clinic next year, with another in medical school that will participate in a nine-month practicum through the University of Minnesota Practice Opportunity Program.
Avecilla and his wife, Amy, now live in the Falls. They have three grown daughters and seven grandchildren.
Amy worked as a registered nurse until this past year and then said she worked full time taking care of her grandchildren. She misses being around them, but said the Falls community is very welcoming and was pleased to see Filipino people in town.
“This is quite a beautiful place and the people have been so warm,” she said.
Amy is also an active member of the Red Hat Society, and just learned of chapters in the Falls and Fort Frances.
The doctor said he enjoys photography and woodworking, especially making doll houses for his granddaughters. He is happy for his excellent health and says he swims two miles a day when time allows.
Though he hasn’t fished in 40 years, Avecilla said that he loved to when he was younger. He would have continued, but Marshfield was hours away from the nearest lakes.
“I will probably start fishing again,” he said.
