Dr. Craig Caldwell, an internist with Internal Medicine Associates of Middle Georgia, retired after more than four decades of serving patients in Monroe County and middle Georgia.
“The best part of this was just the people and the patients,” said Dr. Caldwell. “The people that I work with, the community, has been great. I’ve been very thankful to have been here.”
Dr. Caldwell grew up in Macon, graduating from Lanier High School, then going on to Emory University for his Bachelor’s Degree. After his undergraduate, Dr. Caldwell went to medical school with the Medical College of Georgia, and then completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, serving as chief resident his final year there.
“I actually thought seriously about staying there (in Toledo) and doing a fellowship in infection disease, but I’m glad I didn’t,” said Dr. Caldwell. “We decided to come on home.”
While he grew up in nearby Macon, Dr. Caldwell said his wife, who he met his freshman year of college, was from Monroe County and was a big influence on their coming back to the area to live.
“There was a need for medical people here, and it’s worked out great,” he said about that decision.
Growing up, he said he was always interested in the field of science, but he was really drawn to the field of medicine because he cared about people.
“Everybody has a story, and if you just take the time and listen to them, you can find out what’s going on,” said Dr. Caldwell. “I’ve always thought that’s why God gave me two ears and one mouth. We should listen a lot more than we talk.”
As an internist, Dr. Caldwell worked with adult patients, and he really enjoyed working with the older patients especially.
“In ‘94, I went back to sit for the boards in geriatric medicine,” said Dr. Caldwell. “I thought my older patients had a lot to share with me and a lot to teach me and a lot to give me.”
In his 46 years serving Monroe County, Dr. Caldwell discussed the many changes he’s seen in the healthcare field as a whole, everything from different treatment methods for things like congestive heart failure, changes to the system overall, and the shift towards electronic medical records and more technology.
Through it all, he said the field of medicine never felt like just a paycheck to him.
“I always thought of this as more of a mission to me,” said Dr. Caldwell. “I never thought of this as a job.”
Dr. Caldwell’s last day of practicing medicine was July 21st, and while he said it does feel weird, he’s excited.
“I think it’s good,” said Dr. Caldwell. “My wife’s retiring this year also, and so I’m liking it more and more. I think it was the right decision.”
Dr. Caldwell said he’s looking forward to more time to work out in his yard and visiting with family during retirement.
“I want to get in my yard and do some yard work and gardening,” said Dr. Caldwell. “I love doing that. I’ve never had as much time as I want to for that, so I’m looking forward to it.”
While one of Dr. Caldwell’s adult children lives locally, he said he has one son and his two children who live in Michigan and a daughter and her two children who live in England.
“We plan on seeing them a lot more,” said Dr. Caldwell. “We don’t have to wait now, don’t have to wait until holidays and summertime.”