Continuing a legacy of care: the impact of the Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund
- June 25, 2025
- 4 min read
For more than 50 years, Dr. Willam S. Monk looked after the people of Muskoka as a general practitioner and surgeon. Now, his legacy of care continues through a community health care fund created in his honour.
Established by his daughter, Kathryn, the Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund carries forward his commitment to community-based care. The fund supports sustainable solutions for primary health care needs in Muskoka – a reflection of Dr. Monk’s dedication to community well-being.
After earning his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1951, Dr. Monk and his wife, Margaret, moved to Gravenhurst. He began his career as a family doctor but soon realized that Muskoka’s communities needed surgical care closer to home. Dr. Monk returned to medical school to specialize as a general surgeon. Upon his graduation, he settled in Bracebridge and became a driving force behind building a new hospital in the area. He delivered over 500 babies, treated thousands of Muskokans, and covered surgeries in the Huntsville hospital every other weekend.
“My father’s patients took precedence over all other areas of his life,” said Kathryn Monk. “He was extremely dedicated to serving Muskoka as a doctor, and he sacrificed much of his personal life to ensure generations of Muskokans were cared for.”
In memory of his life’s work, the Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund empowers people and communities to develop practical solutions for accessible health care. Since its creation in 2023, the fund has supported community-driven initiatives across Muskoka.
Supporting local efforts
A $30,000 grant awarded to Hospice Muskoka to fund immediate operational needs and support its efforts to hire an additional Nurse Practitioner.
Lynn DeCaro (left) presents the first grant from the Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund to Donna Kearney (right), Executive Director of Hospice Muskoka.
A $40,000 grant awarded to MiND-AID Muskoka to hire a Nurse Practitioner. In addition to funding this part-time role needed for the organization’s Mobile Youth Hub, the grant outfitted its new clinical space.
Lynn DeCaro (left) presents a cheque to Jody North, Executive Director of MiND-AID Muskoka (right).
A $5,000 grant awarded to the Town of Huntsville to support its Physician Recruitment Program. The grant is being used to ensure residents of Huntsville have access to primary health care in the downtown core.
Huntsville Councilor Scott Morrison (left) and Lynn DeCaro (right), stand on the steps of Huntsville Town Hall as they hold a cheque from the Dr. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund.
A $7,500 grant awarded to the Town of Bracebridge, who is supporting the Cottage Country Family Health Team’s efforts to attract new physicians to the area. This grant is supporting physicians like Dr. Manosh Basiri as she establishes her practice in Bracebridge.
Left to Right: Trish Mintz (Executive Director of Cottage Country Family Health Team), Lynn DeCaro, Dr. Tina Kappos, Dr. Manosh Basiri, Don Smith (Bracebridge Councillor)
A grant to the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst to support Cottage Country Family Health Team’s physician recruitment efforts. The grant helped a new doctor serving the Gravenhurst area, through the Practice Ready Ontario program, set up their practice and begin rostering new patients.
Left to Right: Trish Mintz, ED Cottage Country Family Team, Lynn DeCaro, Dr. Graeme Gair, Mentoring Physician, Cottage Country Family Health Team.
Funding region-wide recruitment
A $20,000 grant awarded to Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team (MAOHT) to support its ongoing physician recruitment efforts. The grant will allow David Gravelle, the Health Human Resources Recruiter for MAOHT, to travel to recruitment events in locations such as Birmingham UK, Kansas City, Anaheim, the Caribbean, and Ireland.
Left to Right: Lynn DeCaro, Kathryn Monk, and David Gravelle.
Education
Three-year commitment to support six students at Georgian College through the creation of the Dr. William S. Monk PSW Award. The award will be presented annually for three years to two full-time students in the Personal Support Worker program. The total support for each successful applicant is $4,750, for a total commitment of $29,500.
A note of thanks from one of the 2024 recipients of the Dr. William S. Monk PSW Award
Support Community Health Care in Muskoka
As a supporter of the Dr. William S. Monk Community Health Care Development Fund, you’ll invest in community-centric solutions for primary health care in Muskoka. Find out more here.