BCHHC

April 2024

This story was first published in the Beatrice Daily Sun print and online newspaper.

Three Beatrice doctors retire after more than 40 years in practice together

By Rob Schlotterbeck | Daily Sun editor

Pat McGuffey and Eric Thomsen came to Beatrice in 1982 to practice medicine, joined the next year by David Gloor.

And they practiced medicine together for more than 40 years at Gage County Medical Clinic. So it was fitting that the three should celebrate their retirement together with family, friends and other well-wishers during a gathering at the Beatrice County Club on Thursday.

Thomsen said he and McGuffey first met at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the 1970s. They met Gloor when all three were in medical school at the university.

"I never would have thought that when we first met each other in college, that someday we would be practicing together as partners for as long as we have," Thomsen said.

They were initially drawn to Beatrice by its proximity to specialists in Lincoln they had worked with and by a recruitment offer from Beatrice Community Hospital, which was trying to avert a doctor shortage at the time.

"The … hospital offered to pay us guys a guarantee for a year, and that, you know, … was unique back in 1982. … Hopefully Beatrice thought it was a good investment. We thought it was a good investment because we stayed around for 43 years," Thomsen said.

"I became a Christian my senior year of college …," McGuffey said. "We decided we wanted kind of a common belief in our practice. … Being good friends, we thought, 'Well, this a great place to start, you know, with a practice that has … similar values and beliefs.'"

Thomsen and McGuffey said it is unusual for doctors to remain in one place for so long, attributing their longevity together to their friendship and to the roots they put down.

"We just always got along really well," McGuffey said. "Had kind of a common goal of practicing quality medicine and taking care of people."

"Beatrice quickly became home," Gloor said. "We raised our kids here, they went to school here, our friends are here. … The hospital has always been really, really good to us. It's just been a great place to live and work and raise a family."

And while losing more than 140 years combined experience is a blow, much as when the three doctors came to Beatrice, the hospital is always taking steps to fill any gaps.

"For rural hospitals, I think attracting and retaining quality medical doctors is always a challenge, because rural health is a challenge in itself," said Rick Haraldsen, BCH's chief executive officer. He pointed to the success Eric Trusty, the hospital's senior executive of clinic services, has had in developing relationships with residency programs in Omaha and Lincoln.

"People started to come in and do rotations, and people fell in love with the place," Haraldsen said.

Trusty said the residency programs look at different hospitals where their residents can go through a rural rotation.

"The doctor, our resident, comes in for two months, and then they move on to the next rotation," Trusty said. "But it really is a tool for recruiting, and within that, we were able to recruit out of that program … four doctors over the past five years."

"We've been able to recruit a bunch of new young doctors, and they need to be able to work for a lot of patients," Gloor said. "It's not fair to bring them in and … not let them do anything."

For the retiring doctors, all three mentioned more time with family, with a focus on grandchildren, as a benefit.

McGuffey said he looked forward to having more time for following research trials, particularly in wellness, health and lifestyles — "I still really like all of the discoveries that are going on in medicine. It's really exploded, and so I probably will keep learning."

Thomsen said he will fill in for Dr. Michael Havekost when he goes on vacation.

"That gives me a lot … 48 weeks, I could do whatever I want …," he said. "The guys tell me my golf game should get better. … We shall see."

Gloor said he doesn't have a set retirement plan — do some work around the house, eventually some traveling.

"I'll get up the next day, we'll walk the puppies, and then we'll see what the day brings," he said.