After five years of serving the medical needs of people in Marengo and Sumter counties, Dr. Erik Lessmann is picking up and taking his practice to Montgomery.

“While it’s exciting to tackle new challenges and new opportunities, it’s painful to leave Demopolis,” he said noting his new career path will lead him toward helping develop the next generation of medical care providers.

“It seems that the Lord is leading me to help train new young doctors,” he said. “I will be joining the faculty at the Montgomery Family Medicine Residency Program.”

This program is dedicated to training doctors for Alabama and Lessmann said it was his hope to educate these budding professionals and develop a passion in them to serve under-served West Alabama.

“It has saddened me to realize that the best way for me to serve the Blackbelt is to leave the Blackbelt and to train others to do together that which I cannot do alone,” he said. “Demopolis has been our home and the only home most of our kids have known. Half of our children were born here and I personally have had three life-saving operations at our hospital.”

Lessmann expressed his appreciation for the support of his patients and colleagues over the years.

“I want to thank (my patients) for trusting me with your very bodies. I am honored by your trust and I hope I have served you well,” he said. “We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, but it’s time to move on. There I can explain the joys of living in rural Alabama, and specifically, what a great life you can have here in Demopolis, where everyone will help keep an eye on your kids.”