Dr. Reed celebrates 50 years of service

Jul 20, 2010 — The Herald Bulletin

Abbey Doyle

Jul. 19, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- ANDERSON, Ind. -- Dr. Donald Reed grew up always interested in medicine but went to school to be a music teacher.

Months shy of graduating with that degree, Reed thought, "for some reason" that he should switch to medicine.

More than 50 years later, Reed is still actively practicing as a neurologist.

After switching from music education to pre-med at Indiana University, he was admitted to IU's medical school where he graduated in 1960, making this year his 50th year as a physician.

"The personal significance to me is that I'm amazed I'm still halfway able at my age to be of some value," Reed joked. "I bounced around a lot before I got into medicine. I'm 82 years old as a matter of fact. Not too many people my age are working at all so I feel pretty lucky."

Actually, Reed said he thinks that's one of the reasons he is in such good health at his age by continuing to practice medicine.

"It is very important from a neurological standpoint to keep your mind active and to keep physically active," he said. "Those who look for an easy chair or rocking chair for retirement are asking for an early death or to be sent to a nursing home."

But keeping sharp and healthy isn't what has kept Reed in business so long. Instead, it is the rewards he sees from helping his patients, some who have been with him for years and some he just took on last week.

"I feel that I'm really offering a service well," Reed said. "I still enjoy it. I still enjoy seeing the help that I give people."

After graduating from medical school, Reed worked at St. Louis City Hospital for nine months at an internship and then began his private family practice in Culver until 1965 when he decided to go into neurology. Reed said the specialization had always interested him.

He did a three-month internship at San Diego Mercy Hospital and a neurology residency at IU Medical School for a year. From 1966 to 1969, he was staff physician at New Castle State Hospital for Epilepsy and was a neurology fellow at Ohio State University's medical school until 1971.

Reed decided to come back to Indiana and was the medical director at Central State Hospital in Indianapolis from 1971 to 1977. But during that time, Reed discovered a need for a neurologist in Anderson, which didn't have one.

"Way back when, it was fun because I was setting up different things in the speciality of neurology at Saint John's and the area because they'd never had a neurologist here," he said. "It was an exciting time."

Reed helped establish the programs at both Saint John's Medical Center and Community Hospital Anderson and has worked with both facilities but has always been closely affiliated with Saint John's.

"He has been integral in building the full breadth of neurology services in Anderson," said Tom VanOsdol, president of Saint John's Health Systems. "For those patients who have that service and receive care here at Saint John's and not have to travel or wait for a specialist from another community, I can't overstate the benefit that he has added for patients in this area and for the hospital."

The fact that Reed continues to practice into his 80s -- and after 50 years in medicine -- is a rarity in any field, VanOsdol said. And Reed has always been kind and holds great regard for the staff at the hospital, he said.

"It is a unique thing in this day and age for a physician to practice this long and be as selfless and serve as long as Dr. Reed has, especially to serve on community," he said. "It is truly a gift to our community."

The hospital expressed gratitude to Reed for his dedication and service.

As for when he plans to retire, Reed said he doesn't know. He still enjoys the job and the rewards. But his wife of more than 35 years, Nancy Sue, would certainly like to have him around more so they could travel, Reed joked. He said he enjoys spending his spare time with four sons and four grandchildren as well as tinkering with electronics.

"I'm living for today and tomorrow," he said. "I'm not thinking that far down the road."

Contact Abbey Doyle, 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0344-47110729