Dr. Paul Coulombe
I met Dr. Coulombe over 30 years ago when our kids went to school together and I coached some of them in baseball. After meeting and getting to know Dr. C. via our kid's and sports I liked him immediately, especially his easy going, friendly and non-pretentious personality. So I became his patient back when he still managed his very large private practice, long before joining the MDVIP system.
During the years before MDVIP I believe Dr. C. was looking after 2000+ patients; I rarely saw him and when I did it was because I had an ailment that needed fixing. So for the most part it was reactionary care I was receiving, I'd come in with something broken and Dr. C. would fix it. But what impressed me back then about Paul and to this day is his insistence on proactive health care and wellness management. He has always taken the extra time - time I know he did not really have - to proactively exam and test beyond the symptoms that I went in for on any particular day.
I believe Dr. C. has literally saved my life, twice now. While still in my early 50's and during a routine PE he insisted on a prostate check - a move I told him for years I did not want! I should not have complained that day about my slow start and frequency issues because Dr. C. was hearing none of my objections. He was going to do this whether I wanted it or not. During the exam he discovered enlargement so referred me to a urologist who did a biopsy and discovered cancer. Caught early, thanks to Dr. Coulombe.
After Dr. C. joined MDVIP I wanted to stay with him in his new practice, I'm glad to have made that decision and feel fortunate Dr. C. accepted me into his much smaller patient load. For me, Dr. Coulombe had long ago became "Dr. C." and for many years now, "Paul." I consider him a friend now and like to tease him a bit when he starts off my visits/exams reviewing my file as if for the first time, repeating my history like he has done now for 25+ years. Always serious and professional, but always easy going. I take it as a fun, personal challenge to break him out of character - even for a couple minutes - to get him talking about himself, his family and new grandkids.
In late 2020, during another routine annual exam Paul found a couple suspicious spots on my arms and back. I had been to a dermatologist a dozen years prior to treat some Basil Cell, but had not been back since. Paul referred me to a new dermatology team and urged me to schedule with the specialists asap! I believe this is one of Paul's greatest skills, getting people to take action for their own good that they might otherwise procrastinate. His style is interactive to the point that when I leave his office I really believe that I actually made the decision to do what he is recommending, when in fact he made the decision and I'm just executing. But this time once again Dr. C's foresight saved my life as the dermatologists discovered Melanoma - quite a lot of it - and again thanks to Paul it was found and treated early. And to date, so far, so good. But always looking to be more and more proactive Dr. C. went yet another step by calling a personal friend who is a Melanoma expert and asked him to consider my case for genetics testing.
Sometimes I like to think to myself that I get special treatment from Dr. Coulombe, Dr. C, Paul.....that maybe it's payback and thanks for coaching his kids. After all, one of his son's made it to the majors and is still playing professionally - surly I had a hand in that! Ha!, but no. His personal touch is just the way Paul is as a person and as a Dr. C. is as a Doctor.
And I believe the MDVIP affiliation and practice management structure provides Dr. C. the support he needs to focus on his passion - proactive medicine & wellness management for his patients.....and friends.