John Willoughby: Greene Publishing, Inc.
On Friday, Jan. 12, friends and colleagues of Dr. James Stockwell and Dr. Wade Douglas gathered in the front lobby of the Madison County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) to bid farewell-but not goodbye-to Dr. Stockwell and to welcome Dr. Douglas to the MCMH medical staff.
Tammy Stevens, Chief Executive Officer for MCMH welcomed those in attendance to the service. James Sale, MCMH Board Director gave an invocation. Tiffany Strickland, MCMH O.R. Director of Services presented a plaque to Dr. Stockwell in honor of his devotion and commitment to MCMH and the people of Madison County, providing endoscopic services.
Dr. Stockwell had the honor to introduce Dr. Wade Douglas to the team, who is now offering endoscopic services beginning on Friday, Jan. 26.
Dr. Stockwell (center) was presented with a plaque by Tiffany Strickland (left), Director of Services, in honor of his devotion and commitment to the Madison County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) and the mark he made on the community. MCMH CEO Tammy Stevens (right) read the plaque and shared what Strickland had to say about Dr. Stockwell.
Stockwell performed his last endoscopic procedure on Nov. 2, 2016. In April 2016, upon Stockwell’s notification to the hospital of his pending retirement and with cancer being the second leading cause of death in the Madison County area, “It was important to Dr. Stockwell and the Hospital to begin the search for a specialist to take his place,” said Stevens.
There were over 50 people in attendance for the joint ceremony including Nita Fico (right) who is on the Madison County Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and Melva Morfaw (left) who works for Shepherd's Hands Clinic, in Lake City.
In 2010, Dr. Stockwell entered into Madison County Memorial Hospital as a part of the medical staff. Stockwell received his pre-medical degree from Ohio University and his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. Stockwell completed his internship at the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital and completed his fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Miami. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is one of the founders of the Digestive Disease Clinic of Tallahassee.
Stockwell served the United States of America as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, at the Beaufort Naval and the 27th Marine Amphibious Brigade in the Republic of South Vietnam.
Part of Dr. Wade Douglas' office staff traveled from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to support Dr. Douglas' welcoming celebration. Pictured, from left to right, are: Julie Revell and Kasey Oliver.
Dr. Douglas completed his undergraduate education at Florida A&M University, in Tallahassee, majoring in Biology and went on to gain his Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine, in Gainesville. Douglas did his residency at the University of Florida College of Medicine (1995-1996) and the Morehouse School of Medicine (1996-2001).
Dr. Douglas received professional honors in October 2013 from the Fellow American College of Surgeons and in September 2013 from the American College of Surgeons Surgeon as Educators. Dr. Douglas is a Major (Retired) of the United States Army. He is a professor at Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine and is the Director of the General Surgery Residency Program with the FSU College of Medicine at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare in Tallahassee.
Dr. Douglas stated the residents and students of the FSU College of Medicine will be offered the opportunity to gain rural experience while he performs endoscopy services at MCMH.
After the ceremony, guests were treated to hors d'oeuvres and light beverages and were able to say farewell to Dr. Stockwell and meet Dr. Douglas before the ceremony ended.
The staff at Madison County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) is delighted to have such doctors walk through the doors to serve the people of Madison County. Pictured, from left to right, are: Dr. Wade Douglas, MCMH CEO Tammy Stevens, Dr. James Stockwell and Dr. Daniel Perkins.