After more than 30 years caring for patients on Vashon, Dr. Michael Kappelman will retire next month.

In a letter he recently sent to patients, Kappelman said he was announcing his retirement from his practice of family medicine at the Franciscan clinic “with a mixture of sadness and anticipation.”

His last day at the clinic will be Monday, Jan. 4.

He noted that he began working on Vashon in 1983, believing the job would be temporary while he decided the next steps of his life.

“Instead I found myself staying because of the opportunity to practice such a wide range of medicine with so many wonderful people like you,” he wrote.

In explaining his decision, he shared personal information about recent health challenges.

“I have come to realize that the time commitment is making it too difficult for me to achieve the healthy balance in my day-to-day life that I would recommend for my patients,” he added.

He noted that after a break, he may occasionally provide care through CHI Franciscan Health, including on Vashon, and said he hoped that his patients would continue to seek care at the clinic for their health care needs.

CHI Franciscan spokesman Scott Thompson noted that it is rare for people to work at one place as long as Kappelman did.

“It says a lot about him and the residents on the island … and the relationships he developed,” Thompson said.

Thompson added that nurse practitioner Laura MacGregor recently joined the clinic staff to ensure that there will be enough providers to see clinic patients.

MacGregor earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and her graduate degree from Seattle University. She most recently worked for the Department of Social and Health Services, Thompson said.

He added she is not Kappelman’s replacement.

“He will not be able to be replaced out there. You will not be able to fill the shoes he has left there,” Thompson said.