12/30/2023
December 31, 2023 is the end of the year, and it marks the retirement of Rhonda Hopkins, MD. Many have speculated that her cancer has returned, but I want to assure you all, that as of her latest scans, that is not the case. After seven years of living with cancer, and dedicating much of her life to the care of others, Dr. Hopkins has finally agreed to devote time to caring for herself. She plans to cultivate old hobbies, develop new ones, and utilize her time to focus on family and new adventures to come.
Stephanie and I have worked alongside a courageous woman for many years. She demonstrated what it takes to be an amazing healthcare provider, who not only wants to help with preventative care and disease management, but who also made sure to guide people through the complexities of the healthcare system because she lived it. Dr. Hopkins taught us what it meant to be a business owner, and that profits weren’t the only goal, but integrity and loyalty were valuable too. Showing horses and winning national titles? Piece of cake! But above all, she has been a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and to us, a boss, a teammate, and a friend.
And now, the best is yet to come. Rhonda, today, we want to celebrate you! We want to thank you for the best job we could have had. You are strong. A true Wonder Woman, who seemed to never know what the word “can’t” meant. We watched you conquer and win with intelligence, beauty, grace, and kindness. May your days be filled with the same happiness you brought to others. May all the souls you touched, healed, and comforted, bring you hugs, hope, and joy. While there will be days with rain, we pray there will be double rainbows to follow. I pray you stop to feel the warm sun on your face, and notice the clear blue skies above, and pause to remind yourself, a life devoted to helping others is never a waste but a calling. You heeded the call, and became an instrument of God’s plan. We love you and look forward to girls’ brunches and lunches, movies, and dates to come. Retirement will be happier and busier than ever! ❤️—Diane and Stephanie