Pulmonologist Dr. Kwabena Donkor was honored Dec. 1 during a ceremony in which Farmville Mayor David Whitus announced that the day was declared “Dr. Donkor Day” to celebrate the work of the man, who is set to retire Dec. 31, Centra Health Marketing Manager Kerry Mossler confirmed.

A resolution by the Town of Farmville cited extensive involvement by Dr. Donkor in the Farmville medical community, in which he began working in 1992.

“His leadership at Centra Southside Community Hospital has been imperative to its growth, including his service as medical director of the Respiratory Department, establishing a bronchoscopy lab, founding the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program and founding the Sleep Lab and Sleep Clinic … as Medical Advisor for the Utilization Review/Case Management Department, Chief of Staff and as mentor to (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine) VCOM students and medical advisor to (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) CRNAs,” the resolution cited. “He has been dedicated to continuing medical education.”

The resolution also cited that Donkor has worked to establish a local hospital facility in his home country of Ghana.

“Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, David E. Whitus, Mayor of the Town of Farmville, Virginia, do hereby proclaim December 1, 2017 as Dr. Kwabena A. Donkor Day and encourage residents to express their gratitude and thankfulness for the service of Dr. Donkor,” the resolution cited.

Whitus said in a statement that Donkor’s work in the town has been deeply felt and appreciated by his patients and those around him.

“Dr. Donkor has been an asset not only to the hospital but to the community,” Whitus said. “We are proud of his accomplishments and know that he will continue with his important work after retiring.”

Centra Southside Community Hospital CEO Tom Angelo said Donkor has provided a level of care and help to his patients that will be missed long after his retirement.

“Dr. Donkor has been a vital part of our community for over 25 years,” Angelo said in a statement. “He has devoted a good part of his life to this community. He is beloved by his patients, hospital staff and our board of directors. We are thankful to have had such an extraordinary doctor that has given expert, genuine care and understanding like him. He will be missed.”

Donkor said in a phone interview that he had not been expecting the Dec. 1 celebration, which took place at the hospital.

“It was a very nice function,” Donkor said during a brief break in between seeing patients at the time of the interview. “I appreciated everybody, and I think they did a wonderful job of bringing things together.”

Donkor, according to the Centra Health website, attended medical school at the University of Ghana Medical School, interned at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University in Louisiana, spent his residency at the Tulane Medical Center and worked his fellowship at the Tulane University School of Medicine before coming to Centra Southside Community Hospital in Farmville.

Donkor said he was particularly surprised by the town’s resolution and said he was grateful for the care he has been able to give people in the Heart of Virginia.

“I think it’s a beautiful thing for the town to do,” Donkor said. “I didn’t know that they would do that, and I didn’t realize people thought my contribution was worth that much. So I did appreciate that, and it was beautiful to see them.”