30 years?! My mom said time goes fast

Let’s get in the time machine…. It is Monday, July 15, 1996.

A few weeks prior, I left Arizona with Scott after finishing my pediatric residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. We needed time to move our belongings back to the Midwest, to a little town I knew for it’s summertime County Fair and its small town farming community charm. Crown Point, Indiana, population approx 19,000.

I join two experienced pediatricians, Dr. Mary Alice Reid, and Dr. Marie Marshall. They started the practice January of 1996, both working part time schedules. A fresh out of residency pediatrician, Dr. Silvia Vicente, started 2 weeks ago as the third pediatrician, working a few hours shy of full time. I am the fourth doctor to make up the group.

My schedule is 4 days a week with 2 days in the office until 7pm. I do call on Tuesday and Thursday. That means rounding in the AM at the hospital, office hours, then back to the hospital for PM rounds. We attend all C-sections assigned to us, emergency or scheduled. Day or night.

I think I saw 2 patients that first day. Back then we had paper charting and paper prescriptions. In between patients Dr. Vicente and I would study for our pediatric board exam, just 3 months away…..

Speed up the time machine please…..

30 years later……. July 15, 2026.

What is different now?

• Crown Point’s population is approx 35,000
• FPN North Point Pediatrics is now Franciscan Physician Network Crown Point Pediatric Health Center
• we are five full time pediatricians
• four office moves later the practice is in the largest location with 19 exam rooms
• full electronic medical record implementation in April 2011
• multiple ped board recertifications
• changing to full outpatient practice July 1, 2024
• AI helps us write office notes (I do like the help with some encounter visits!)

What is the same?

• I still work full time
• I am blessed to be a part of this practice
• I love my patients and their families
• serving my patients and the community is one of the best parts of my life

Now what?

In 44 days I will see my last patients. I will remain in the community but I am ending my service time. It will be the “ME” chapter time of my life book.

The next chapters are not planned. It could be scary for some, but for me I know they are written (by the One)…. I just have to wait (and trust) to discover what lies ahead.

BTW- Do you have any memories you want to share with me?

How about the first time you met me?

Did I do a home visit? (Yes, I have rarely done this!)

Do you remember a particular office or hospital visit that you would like to share?

So how do you contribute? Just click on the link below:

https://happyretirementdrgold.fromabirdie.com/contribute

I am using the online book service From A Birdie. All the letters and photos are kept in a private website, and From A Birdie makes sure that nobody can see them but me. You can add photos, a handwritten letter, a photo of artwork (hint hint!!)

Love and peace to you !!

Dr. Lisa C. Gold, M.D, FAAP