New Lexington community rallies in support of doctor

NEW LEXINGTON — More than 100 people attended a rally Friday in New Lexington in support of Dr. Jeffrey Haggenjos, whose employment with Genesis Hospital ended on Tuesday.

The rally took place at the Tribune newspaper building, which sits next to Haggenjos’s former practice building on Lincoln Park Drive.

Supporters claimed Haggenjos was fired by the hospital, which the Times Recorder could not verify. On Wednesday, a hospital spokesman declined to elaborate on the reason for his departure.

Josie Roush’s son and his friend started a “Support Dr. Haggenjos” page on Facebook that garnered more than 4,000 likes in just a few days. Haggenjos has been practicing in New Lexington for the past 35 years.

“Honestly, (the turnout) doesn’t surprise me,” Roush said. “You feel like you’ve lost a member of your family.”

Rally attendees shared stories about their experiences with Haggenjos, often focusing on how well he took care of them or their family members. Some waved signs of support, including one that asked drivers to honk if they supported Haggenjos. Drivers passing by honked their horns throughout the nearly hourlong rally.

“He’s been my doctor for as long as he’s been in town,” Roush said. “As soon as he opens (again), I’m going to make an appointment, whether I’m sick or not.”

Haggenjos started working for Genesis Hospital on March 1, 2009, according to Genesis’ Holly Voltz. He had sold the building that housed his practice to Genesis at that time because he didn’t want to own it when he eventually retired, said his wife, Cherl Haggenjos.

“He built that office,” she said. “It’s almost like a second home.”

She said they didn’t know exactly why he was let go from Genesis.

Cherl Haggenjos said her husband had patients from across Perry County as well as from Zanesville; at least one person regularly drove from West Virginia to see him. He has job offers already and would likely be back at work fairly soon, she said.

“He’s worried sick about his patients,” she said.

The support of the community means a lot to both of them, she said.

Ideally, they would like to stay in the county, Cherl Haggenjos said, but no matter where he ends up working, she said the goal is to continue serving the patients of Perry County.

ksnyder2@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6752

Twitter: @KL_Snyder