Dr. LaDell Douglas Celebrates Thirty Years of Coming Home to Hope

A doctor who was born in Nevada County and spent the early years of his life in Hope before moving to Chicago is celebrating thirty years of practice in Hope.  Dr. LaDell Douglas operates the Quality Care Pediatric Clinic in Hope just off Main near the hospital.  After his early childhood days in Hope, he never thought he’d return here to live…but life has a way of turning out how you least expect!

Dr. Douglas was born in Boughton in Nevada County in June of 1943 and moved to Hope shortly afterwards.  His father, E.D. Douglas, taught school in Hope.  The family moved to Chicago just before Dr. Douglas’s tenth birthday.  After graduation, Dr. Douglas attended both Northern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University where he majored in Biology.  From there he earned a graduate degree at Howard University in Washington D.C. in Biochemical Genetics.  His plan was to obtain a Ph.D. in Endocrinology but after a year his professor told him he was going to medical school…and suggested that Dr. Douglas go too!  He applied to both Howard University and Georgetown University.  He was offered a scholarship to Georgetown and finished there in 1974.  He went on to Duke University for pediatric training and later did a one-year fellowship in “Behavior and Adolescent Medicine”.   From there he opened a solo practice for twelve years in Durham, North Carolina.  Dr. Douglas sold that practice after HMO’s came in.

After leaving Durham, Dr. Douglas moved to Emerald Isle, North Carolina where he became a Medical Director for a facility that provided care for dependents of Naval and Marine members.  At this point, one would think Dr. LaDell Douglas was happy and settled and would spend the rest of his career in North Carolina; however, fate and some family members had other ideas.

E.D. and Hesterly Douglas returned to Hope in 1974 and Dr. Douglas’s sister returned in 1982 and worked as a medical transcriptionist at the hospital.  His sister gave the hospital Dr. Douglas’s name and they began calling him to consider moving to Hope.  Dr. Douglas visited, looked over things and said “thanks, but no thanks”.  The hospital administration continued to recruit him.  Finally Dr. Douglas gave them a list of “demands” thinking that would be the end of that.  The hospital then contacted and told him they thought things could be worked out.  Dr. Douglas asked for a contract and when he showed it to his lawyer, the lawyer asked when he would “pack his bags…this is a win-win situation”.  He arrived in Hope on New Year’s Day 1994 and opened his practice on Valentine’s Day 1994.  He just celebrated his thirtieth anniversary in Hope.

Community service is in the blood of Dr. Douglas.  Both his father and mother, E.D. and Hesterly Douglas, served on the Hempstead County Quorum Court.  Dr. Douglas has continued in their path serving on the UAHT Foundation, the Hope Water & Light Commission, and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation.  In addition his has served on the board of the State Medicaid Program (FMCA).  Dr. Douglas is also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hope.

Dr. Douglas says he’s thought about retirement and his wife Elaine has asked about it.  He says “my philosophy is as long as you’re enjoying what you’re doing and your health allows you to do it, keep doing it”.  He said he has known too many physicians who don’t know what to do after retirement.  Dr. Douglas said he does foresee a little travel and seeing the grandkids more when he retires.  He also says he would like to find another hobby as his tennis game has been hobbled recently by a knee problem.

“I’ve enjoyed the camaraderie, the friendliness of the community…I’m four or five minutes from my practice and can ride my bike to work in the summer…this a laid-back community and I’m enjoying not being stressed out…it’s been a wonderful road to be back home” says Dr. Douglas.  He also noted he’s thankful for the year he got to spend with his mother after returning home in 1994.  Dr. Douglas says the only bad thing is his kids are in North Carolina and Delaware.  He has two children who are pharmacists and one in architecture.

Our community can be very proud that Dr. Douglas “returned home” thirty years ago.  He efforts have made our town a better place to live and he’s offered wonderful medical care to two generations of young people.