Health Heroes: Dr Dennis Sundin

Health Heroes: Dr Dennis Sundin

Do you know someone in the health system who deserves recognition? An individual? A group? Going the extra mile (or ten) seems like an across-the-board expectation. Let’s highlight the incredible efforts of our members and those who support them. In a few words describe the person or people, and why you believe they deserve a shout-out. So many doctors leave work exhausted, deflated and disillusioned. Let’s let them know that their efforts are appreciated.

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At the age of 77 Dr Dennis Sundin retired after a 48-year career as a GP in the Sydney suburb of Frenchs Forest. A few days after his retirement in early June he received an OAM for services to medicine and hockey.

Eighty patients attended Dr Dennis Sundin’s farewell lunch at Terrey Hills Golf Club on June 29, many of whom had been with him since he opened his practice in 1975. When Dennis graduated from North Sydney Technical Boys High School, he planned on joining his father in the building trade. His father drove him to an interview with the Dean of Sydney University during which Dennis was planning to enrol in engineering. He walked out of the interview being convinced instead to study medicine. “It was all accidental. I didn’t plan to be a doctor, but I think I would have made a crummy engineer.”

After graduating from university, he did a physician’s degree – with plans to specialise in neurology but for personal reasons instead decided on general practice.

“He was like a country GP,” his wife Beryl told The NSW Doctor. “He worked seven days a week and made house calls well into the night. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his patients, that’s why so many stuck with him for nearly fifty years.”

While maintaining a thriving practice he also conducted a very successful career both playing and coaching hockey. He played first grade hockey before turning to coaching, later going on to tour with the Australian men’s hockey team for three years as their medical officer, and continuing to excel in the NSW Veterans team for years go come.

NSW hockey star Stewart Tanswell told me:

“Dennis’s contribution to hockey was immeasurable. Everything he put into that sport, his knowledge, his understanding, he was three or four steps ahead of anyone else when it came to coaching. He was a man ahead of his time and he was ahead of the curve. He took over coaching the NSW hockey side in 1989/90 and we hadn’t won the national championships for thirty-two years. Then Dennis turned up and we won it two years in a row.”  While he touched many lives in his hockey career, he cared for hundreds as a GP. Here are some anecdotes shared shared at Dr Sundin’s retirement lunch.

“It was a public holiday Monday, and we got a call from this guy on the Central Coast. He said “My parents live around the corner from you. They’re sick and they’re in their eighties. Can you help?” They weren’t Dennis’s patients, but he didn’t hesitate to go. He asked the elderly man and his wife “Do you have anyone who can fill a prescription for you?” They didn’t, so Dennis took the script down to the local pharmacy which he knew delivered. It was closed. Dennis drove around until he found a pharmacy that was open then waited for the script to be filled and drove the medication back to the elderly couple. All up it took two and a half hours. That’s just Dennis.” Beryl Sundin, wife

“I was an RN on duty at Wesley Gardens Aged Care Home one Saturday morning. I noticed this little lady; she was just a lonely little thing in bed. She had no visitors, no-one really cared for her. That morning she took a turn for the worse. I rang the surgery and Dennis said he would come. He stayed with her all afternoon until she passed away. He didn’t stop holding her hand until she was gone. It was the most beautiful thing I have seen in all my years nursing. That kind of kindness is very rare. I’ve never forgotten it.”
Marie Cushman, RN

“My husband started seeing him first, back in the 1970s. I took Barry in to see Dr Sundin because he wasn’t well. Dr Sundin called an ambulance then left the surgery and went in it with Barry to hospital. Sadly, my husband died of a heart attack leaving me with a young family. Afterwards Dr Sundin kept on ringing me every day to make sure the children and I were okay. So, he was marvellous. I’ve been seeing him ever since.”  Marie Phillips

“I think he’s been more than just a doctor to the community around Frenchs Forest, he’s been a very close friend to most of his patients that have been with him for a very long time. I believe what makes him special is his ability to diagnose, and with that he almost always nipped it in the bud very early so you were prepared for something, sometimes even before it happened.”  Ron Butler – a patient since 1976

“I owe the fact that I’m here to Dr Sundin. I just think he’s wonderful. An amazing man, and he’s so laid back. There’s something about him that you can’t help loving him for. You know he’s been around and you know how well he’s taken care of people. So quiet you know. He just sits there and takes it all in. You just know you have confidence in him and in my case, I won’t go into details, but he really did save my life.”  Helen Hindwood – a patient since 1975

“Many GPs don’t like to live in the suburb where they practice. Not Dennis. He loved being part of his community and loved living among the people he cared for.”  Staff

Don: “I walked into his surgery in 1975 and I thought he was the go; he was our family doctor from then on. He seemed to know what he was about. It turned out he did. Carol: “He’s down to earth, he treats you as a person, salt of the earth, that kind of a man.” Don: “And if he thought there was a problem, he would send us off to somebody that could, and he did and it was.”  Carol: “We love him. We’ll miss him terribly.”  Don and Carol McManus, patients

“We have a very complicated family medical history. We’ve seen so many specialists over the years that have all said Dennis’s diagnostic skills were outstanding and he was as smart a doctor as they were. Of his generation, many of them had got to know him at North Shore in his training so they knew him well. Even recently when Mum had an MRSA infection even the immunologist who came out of retirement said of Dr Sundin – one of the smartest we’ve ever dealt with.”  Kim Purnell, patient

“I’m very upset. I told him that he couldn’t retire until I departed (laughs) so he hasn’t kept his word… I’m still here and I’m very, very sad. Listen to the patient, that’s my advice to GPs. That’s what Dennis did so well.”  Colleen Purnell, patient

“Dennis was a wonderful partner. I joined him after he’d been in business on his own for nine months and we clicked. He did general medicine and was a physician, I did babies and obstetrics. I believe he received his OAM for his dedication to the community. We both worked side by side, but Dennis was always out there doing extra work with the aged care and home calls. Dennis, in spite of his heart problems he kept on going into the nursing homes to vaccinate and care for the aged care patients throughout Covid. He’s a wonderful man and a great physician and it was a pleasure to work with him. We didn’t have an argument in 45 years.”  Dr Terry Mahoney

“Nothing could have been more rewarding than being a GP.”  Dr Dennis Sundin