For anyone who didn’t know Dr. Dan Worrell, the impact and legacy he leaves on Carroll County would have been immediately evident had they attended Worrell’s retirement ceremony June 22 at Hillsville Presbyterian Church.
Droves of patients, friends and family continued to pour in during the two-hour floating reception held for Worrell, who logged his last day as a medical doctor Friday after 38 years of serving the citizens of Carroll County. Through all the hugs, tears and laughter, it was evident Dr. Worrell’s compassion and love for his patients were among the chief things that made for such a long and lasting career as a family medical doctor.
“We’ve been seeing him ever since he came to Carroll County,” said Alice Patton, who attended the ceremony with her husband Jeff, a retired state trooper of nearly 30 years in Carroll. “We live in Wytheville now and we never moved our doctor. And we have been over there in Wytheville for 17 years.”
Worrell’s staff said they have patients in Mount Airy, N.C., who did the same thing as the Pattons, traveling to Woodlawn for Worrell’s medical care. Worrell, who finished medical school in 1986 and began his residency in Carroll in 1987, said a lot of that has to do with an incredible staff with many years of experience.
“I think they feel comfortable coming in and it is almost like an extended family. It has been great and a lot of that has to do with I have had a pretty stable staff for years,” Worrell said. “It’s people like Susan Huff, who we have worked together for about 30 years, and that has made a world of difference.”
While golf, bike riding, trout fishing and bird watching will now fill Worrell’s time instead of prescriptions and stethoscopes, the newly-retired doctor is grateful and feels good about what he and his staff were able to accomplish in Carroll County.
“It is kind of a gift to be able to help people. I think that is one of the best things you can do in life. And I look at it that way,” Worrell said. “People say it’s neat to be able to try to help people, and being from where I grew up, that even more made it almost like an extended family. It is kind of how a family feels. It is a challenging profession but it is also very rewarding. I have also had some kids that I have taken care of over the years that have gone into the medical profession. Some of them had shadowed me and that is something I am proud of, too. I was least a little part of their journey.”
But again, Worrell is quick to deflect credit to his staff for making his medical practice into the welcoming and family environment it became. He also is quick to praise the area medical doctors that helped him in the early going in Dr. Mo Martin and Dr. James DeBoe
“I think a lot of appreciation I gets comes from how my staff interacted with and cared for the patients, and I think that is important. I practiced with Dr. Martin for years and I loved working with him,” Worrell said. “When he retired he pushed a lot of people my way, probably most of his patients. Dr. DeBoe was also helpful to me early in my career, so I have had some help along the way. I’ve also enjoyed raising my sons here. I like the rural area and being outside and stuff like that. I think it was a good opportunity and a good place for them to grow up.”
And while it is always a bit sad to see such a long-tenured and respected individual retire, Worrell and staff go out with nothing but love and gratitude for all involved that made the practice so successful and admired.
“It has been an awesome run and it has truly been our pleasure to serve the community,” Susan Huff said.
Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on X@AWorrellTCN
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