The Luth Sisters put Family in Family Practice

Meet the Luth sisters! Dr. Janice Luth, Dr. Virginia Blanks and Dr. Kathryn Sparhawk all provided care as physicians at Centra Medical Group (CMG) - Village in Moneta over the past almost 50 years.

We had the privilege of sitting down with all three sisters to reminisce about their shared experiences and the lasting impact they've had on both Centra and the Bedford community.

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Transcript

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(gentle bright music)- Hi, and welcome to And So, Much More. I am your host, Cami Smith, and I am sitting here with women who have left such an incredible legacy, not just here at Centra, but well before that, and they're gonna tell you a little part of their story, but these are three sisters. They are the Luth sisters, though some of them have different last names now. We have Ginger here on my left, and this is Janice, and then Kitty over on my right. Thank you guys so much for being here.- Oh, thank you for inviting us.- Yes! I feel like we've orchestrated a little family reunion for you guys.(all laughing)- That's exactly right.- I love it! So, we can start over with Kitty and kind of work our way over, but let us know a little bit about you, what brought you to Centra, and then what are you doing now?- Well, I started actually in practice with Jan, and later Ginger added in, and we actually owned our own practice, and we got to a point where business was not very much fun. Taking care of patients was much more fun, and so that's when we became partners with Centra. We're very glad we did. We enjoyed those years a lot. Yeah.- Yep.- Wow, and so basically coming in under the Centra umbrella has allowed you to just do what you do best. It's like freed you.- Absolutely.- Freedom-- From the business stuff- that's just not fun.- From the business side.- Which is not fun.- It's horrible!(Jan and Cami laughing)- I love that! So, what was your specialty? What was your primary as a physician?- We were family physicians with obstetrics as well.- Oh, okay.- I enjoyed the family part the most.- Yes. And then in what area?- Oh, in Moneta.- Okay, and so(Kitty speaks indistinctly) that's where it is now, right? So, for how many years has that practice been there?- Oh, you guys are gonna have to tell me.- I know that's math. I'm not here to do math.- I'm the old lady.- Of the group, okay.- The oldest sister.- The oldest sister and the oldest provider or whatever. So, our practice was Village Family Physicians, was the original name, and it was in Maneta, and it was affiliated with Bedford Hospital.- Okay.- And it started in 1976.- Wow.- It was.- A National Health Service Corps operation, and two doctors that had just finished their residency started it. Dr. Art Hemalein and Dr. Dave Brectosprauer.- Okay.- And they were preceptors Roanoke Memorial Hospital where I was doing my residency. And the year that I finished residency, Dr. Hemalein moved on. He had been in the practice for six years and he moved to North Carolina. And Dr. Brectosprauer was there by himself. And he asked if I would, if I was interested in joining. And I said I would do it on an interim basis.'Cause my husband was in graduate school at Virginia Tech. So, we lived in Roanoke.- Okay.- I practiced in Maneta.- And in Bedford Hospital.- Oh my goodness.- And, that's basically how I got involved. And so-- So, almost 50 years ago.- Yeah.- We're approaching.- We're approaching 50 years.- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- Providing care in that area. I love that. I love when there's that history and that imprint of care.- Yeah.- Okay.- So, I joined Dave and after a year I was, fell in love with the rural, you know, landscape and lifestyle. We moved to Bedford and then three years later, Dave decided that he was ready to move on to greener pastures. He went to South Dakota, but then that left me without a partner.- Yeah.- But luckily Kitty.- Was finishing residency.- Yes!- I was very happy to- come out to Maneta to help.- And so.- And so she joined me and at the same time we got a male nurse practitioner, Gene Amstutz, who many people are gonna remember because-- Yeah.- He practiced with us.- For a long time. And then he worked with the orthopedic doctors for a long time- so (inhales).- Okay.- And so, finally, then after we had been there for a while, we added Dr. Linda Beahm and then we were really bursting at the seams and needed more help. And then we asked Ginger, who was then finishing her residency.(Cami speaks indistinctly) Enter Ginger.(Cami laughs) Right. She's the baby of the group.(Kitty speaks indistinctly) That's right, I shouldn't say babies though.(Cami speaks indistinctly) Anyway but-- Awww.- And Todd Delhi joined us at that time too.- Okay.- So, yeah.- So, we had expanded from a two-person to a five, six-person practice- at that point.- Wow.- So, yeah, it grew really fast. As you know, the Lake Maneta is out on Smith Mountain Lake.- Yes.- And it.- Pshoo, it took off like crazy- so.- Yeah, absolutely.- Such a beautiful area too.- Yeah, it is.- So hard to.- To imagine.- It's gorgeous.- Why people would-- It's gorgeous.- Want to go there (laughs).- It's gorgeous.- And so, Ginger, from your perspective, when you came in, what was that like joining the team?- Well, I am, I'm six years behind Kitty and nine years behind Janice.- Okay.- Only eight.- You graduated from college a year early.- Oh, that's right.(Ginger laughs) I forgot about that.- Yeah, so anyway, I have to admit that I definitely, they were already up and going by the time I was coming through.- Yeah.- And so.- I was in training while they were still in practice. I was in medical school while they were in practice, so.- Okay.- And when I finished though.- I didn't do, I knew I didn't wanna do the hospital and the OB and the office because I'd already started my family and-- Yeah, that's a lot.- Yeah, it was, it was too much to do everything. So, I wanted to work part-time. So, I was interviewing, looking around at rural practices to work just in the office. And they were so busy. They said, "Please come help us in our office."We need help"- Yes.- So, that's when I joined. And then Dr. Dehli joined and he was full-time.- Okay.- Yeah.- So, it allowed you to have your practice, but also enjoy your family.- Yes, it helped me to really, to meet my own expectations-- Yeah.- For my family.- And my life.- That's important.- And also try to maintain my house.- Yeah.- Unlike the two of us.- Who just were, you know, three sheets to the wind the whole time.(all laughing) But you know-- They got by okay.- Yeah, yeah, that's right.- I guess.- So, we all managed.- To have successful families. You know-- Yay!- I have three children, Kitty has four, and Ginger's got five (laughs)- Wow.- So-- Yes.- So, you can combine a career and family.- Yes, you can.- Yeah, you can (laughs).- That is so important. I think it's three women who have been successful in their careers. Five now.- Oh!(Kitty speaks indistinctly)- I think that's so important for people who are listening today that as women who have a successful family, a successful career, close of their intermediate or their immediate family, like the three of you have stayed connected. I think a lot of people, it's hard, it's hard to maintain your, like, you know, family of origin and then have your own family, but also have a career and it's a lot.- Yeah.- So, it's very encouraging to hear from each of you how that has been a success. So, what was it like working together?(all laughing)- I dunno if I could work with my sister.- Well, there was always a question, can we do this? Actually, we got along surprisingly well in the office.- I love that!- You know, yeah, yeah.- Yeah, yeah.- So, don't knock it, don't knock it.- No, it's been totally fine.- Yeah.- We had offices next to each other.- Yeah, and I was across the hall, so.- So, we spent a lot of time in one another's office.(Jan laughs)- Telling each other what to do.(all laughing)- Or asking each other what-- to do.- What would you do now?- Yes, do you know this patient? What do you know about this? And what should we do about this? So, we worked pretty closely together. And also if Kitty noticed, I was getting in trouble getting behind with people, she'd say, "Hey, it looks like"you're, having some trouble there."Do you need some help?"- Yeah.- Yep.- Or if there's an emergency-- Oh yeah.- You know, one or the other would say,"Hey, you okay, you need some help," and pop in-- Yeah.- And help with emergencies, which there are a lot of emergencies.- And I would imagine(Ginger laughs) that your community really benefited from the connection that you have because not only are you able to step in and carry the load for each other, but just the work that you're able to help each other with the perspective that I feel like you can share as a sister is a little bit different.- Yeah.- Than if it's a colleague. There are some, you know, some things you gotta keep in place. But I bet that, that was such a benefit to those who were coming and receiving- care.- Well, we put the family.- In family practice.- You really did!(all laughing) You really did!- Well, and there were, when there were emergencies, you know, we had, we were delivering babies a lot of the time too. And so, one of us would be gone, or someone would come in with an emergency that we had a child that was so sick, we had to put 'em in a helicopter and go with them to Roanoke.- Right.- So, we had to cover for each other the whole time. Yeah, and it was not just during the day. It was on weekends and overnights and- yeah.- Yeah.- And because there were the three of us, you know, of course, we have our other colleagues, you know, Dr. Beahm and Dr. Dehli, and, you know, later we had Dr. Krzyzanowski and we had Dr. Rydal for a while- Okay.- He's an intern.- I mean an in-hospital-- In-hospital.- Doctor now, but, he was part of our practice and Dr. Krzyzanowski, who's now with the Family Practice residency-- Yeah.- Were also partners at our office. So, and we've had wonderful nurse practitioners and physician assistants that have worked with us over the years.- Yeah.- But, you know.- Because, you know, we started with, well we had four women and Dr. Dehli, you know, together, you know, the practice has always kind of been very kind of family.- Yeah.- You know, I mean.- And all of our colleagues feel that way. I mean, you know, we really, you know, we would socialize together and, you know, know each other's kids- and, it's really been.- Yeah.- It's been nice.- So, are you all now officially retired?- No, I have another week and a half.(all laughing)- Oh my goodness, a week and a half. So-- Yeah.- A week from Friday.- And so, you know.- The anticipation, but then also the experience, like what, what has that been like to come to the end of such a successful and a fruitful career?- It's hard. It's hard to say goodbye, but you kind of know when it's time.- So, how did you know?- How did you know when it was time?(Jan chuckles)- Well...- You know.- I knew because of a medical problem that I needed to stop.- Yeah.- And it was.- It was when it happened, it happened. Got the diagnosis and- I stopped.- You needed.- To make the right- choice for you.- Yeah. Yeah.- Well, and I mean, to hear a physician say that, I think sends such a strong message, like, you need to make the right choice for you no matter what, for your health. So, even in your retirement, you are setting an example, which I think is really beautiful.- Well, it was hard because I didn't really take, I didn't have the time to say goodbye, but-- Oh goodness, yeah.- You can't take any chances with what you're doing when you're in-- It's true- Medicine.- It's true. Ginger, what about you?- Well, after 32 years of practice and five children(Cami laughs) and taking care of four parents through the end of their lives, I decided that I need to start paying some attention to my own health-- Yes!- And my own lifestyle.- And so that's why-- Yeah.- I decided I had to.- I had to stop.- Yeah.- I still felt very engaged.- With practice, very engaged with the patients, I loved my team, loved the office. Just really happy with all that. But the, (inhales) if I didn't start getting away from the computer and out of the car and out of my desk chair,(all laughing) some things are gonna get to be irreparable. So, that's why I just- really needed.- Yes!- To put some time into becoming- more physically fit.- Yeah, yeah.- So, and I-- And you've worked.- Hard for that.- Yeah, I did.- I mean, I let things go for a little bit too long. So anyway.- So it was time.- Yeah, that's right.- And so in your last week, week and a half-- Yeah.- What is your experience like right now?- Well, you know, I have been about two years ago, three years ago now, I cut back on in terms of the number of hours that I work per week-- Okay.- And stuff like that.- And I have been working really hard because I've had, I have people that I've now been caring for, for 42 years, and they were- you know, young.- Wow- Or middle aged.- They were my age then.- And now, you know, many of my patients have retired, but you know, some of the folks that were middle-aged, they're in their nineties now. It's very hard for them to say goodbye to me and for me to say goodbye to them.- Oh gosh, I can't imagine.- And so this has been(clears throat) a, you know, real experience trying to-- Yeah.- Get everybody shifted over.- And, you know, saying our last goodbyes. But we're gonna have a celebration, a week from today, actually-- As you should!- We are having a lawn party with ice cream from the Homestead Creamery-- Oh!- Which is right.- Across the river over in Franklin County.- Okay.- And yeah.- So we're gonna have a farewell party. And so, we're gonna have a good time.- Good!- And all my patients are invited.- I love that.- Plus patients.- That aren't my patients, but they've been my patients, so.- Yes.- (laughs) So, come on and visit me!- I love that perspective.- Last chance!- Yes. Because I think so often when your provider moves on or retires or you are just kind of like, ah, I need to find someone new. I need to find someone new. And you don't stop to think about that provider who has been connected to your patients- for years and years and years.- Yeah.- That's, yeah, that's a lot.- Yeah.- Yeah, and that, you know, when you do, you know, when you've been in practice for 30 some years, you know, you've had a chance to see, you know, a generation and then their younger generation- growing up.- Yeah.- And starting to have their children. And it's-- Oh wow.- It really is, it's something to-- So, how many generations of one family have you treated at one time (laughs)?- (laughs) Well, I have one family that I have treated five generations- you know, starting with.- Wow!- With the, you know, the great-great grandmother and you know, the youngest family member now is about 18 months old, so.- Oh, that's so special.- Yeah.- Oh, well I hope they come and have some ice cream with you and celebrate.(all laughing) That may have been a personal invitation.(all laughing) Oh, they've gotten an invitation.- Aw, so fun.- I love it when you're in a public setting such as the grocery store and somebody says, "Look, look,"this is the lady that delivered to you."Look!" And they say, "Do you recognize him?" I say, lemme see, lemme see the top of your head.(all laughing) And I recognize them!- Oh my gosh. I love it! I love it! And I know that feeling like I have seen Dr. Schindler who delivered my first, and I would see her and I would often feel kind of conflicted. Like I wanted so badly to say, hi, and be like, you delivered my baby! But then I also am like,(inhales) can I, do you do that?- I think you should, you should. I've been delivering babies.- So, next time I'm going to.- I dunno about removing.- Gall ladders, but you know, definitely delivering babies.(Cami laughs) Everybody wants to remember that.- I love it.- So, that's good.- Very special.- You put this stitch in me.(all laughing)- I know, right.- I've been playing soccer again.(all laughing)- Well, it's just cool to think about all the moments, over a lifespan that you've been a part of, all three of you and so many people. I just wanna thank you for being a part of Centra, for providing care well before that. I just think it's such a special thing- and very cool.- We're part of.- The Centra team.- Yeah.- You got to do it together.- Yep.- Yep, yep.- And that's good.- What a story.- Well, thank you so much for even being here- today.- We've enjoyed.- Working with Centra.- I appreciate it.- Yes.- And thank you.- Yes, and thank you all of you for joining us and listening to the Luth sisters' incredible story. We hope that you will join us next time on And So Much More.(soft bright music)