Primary physician Dr. Andrew Wong with Hartford HealthCare in Westport says thanks to all of his patients for their kind words throughout the pandemic.

He says fighting COVID from the beginning was hard because it was so new and there was so much unknown.

"Really some heroic efforts to keep the pandemic under control," said Wong.

Wong says this National Doctors Day is an important time to reflect.

He says the pandemic has taken such a toll that fewer primary care physicians are now available.

"Our health, it's our family members but also the disruptions in our daily lives, our work routines, working from home, our mental health," he said.

Wong says since COVID, some patients have stopped coming in for a routine exams.

But his longtime patient, 75-year-old Niall Coughlin from New Canaan, is glad his wife Donna encouraged him to have a checkup with his doctor.

"They found a 90% blockage of the main artery of the heart and they found two other blockages," said Coughlin.

Wong noticed his cholesterol was high and Coughlin was sent for more tests.

"It was actually found that he had triple vessel disease and so he went for bypass surgery a week later. So I think that to me really signifies the importance of going in for your preventative exams," said Wong.

The past two years have been a trying time for the medical community, but their continued efforts are giving people like Niall Coughlin a chance to enjoy the outdoors and his wife Donna.