As I talked to Dr. Mark James about his retirement recently, I realized it was such a bittersweet conversation. Dr. Mark has been my physician since I was in the eighth grade. He treated me for a severe sunburn way back then. Years later, it was Dr. Mark who gave me the joyful news that I was having my first child. In all these years as my family doctor, he has treated me for pretty much everything else.
I have such mixed emotions. I am so happy for him being able to enjoy the freedom of retirement, but I feel sad for his patients who, like me, are so sorry to see him go.
Mark James, son of the late Judge Clayton James and the late Nell James, is a 1973 graduate of Bowling Green School. He graduated from LSU in Baton Rouge and then went on to the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. He followed with his residency at Earl K Long Hospital.
Dr. James started working in the emergency room at Riverside Medical Center in July, 1982. His career then moved to Family Medical Clinic in Franklinton on July 1, 1984, where for many years he worked with Dr. Gerald Foret and Dr. Libeau J. Berthelot --- and later with Dr. Chris Foret.
Family Medical Clinic moved to Folsom six years ago, and with it went Dr. James, Dr. Berthelot, and Dr. Chris Foret.
Dr. James’ last day before retirement will be December 30. He and Dr. Berthelot are retiring at the same time.
He credits his initial interest in the medical field from his mother's employment with Dr. Gerald Foret when he was a child.
When asked what he enjoyed the most about practicing family medicine, Dr. Mark replied that he has had the privilege of treating some of his patients from an early age, moving with them to adulthood, and then being able to treat their children and their grandchildren. He has seen some families into the 4th generation.
The feeling of love and trust he gets from a relationship with his patients at times makes Dr. Mark feel like more like a family member than a physician.
Of course, with all of its benefits, family medicine also has some drawbacks. He mentioned the night calls and having to miss family events, as he had to do recently by not being able to see his grandaughter in a stage performance. Being a family doctor in a small town like Franklinton means you are never really off duty. Dr. Mark sees his patients in the grocery store, at the post office, any place he might go. But he says that is part of the "family practice" and he never minds his patients’ questions.
Dr. James has had many memorable experiences during his career. These include putting three patients on ventilators after an accident on the bridge just north of Franklinton during the Fair. He pitched in to help victims of a plane crash at the Franklinton Country Club, and he saw more than 200 patients who had been affected by the Gaylord chemical spill.
Dr. James assisted Dr. James Cody in the first laparoscopic gallbladder surgery performed at Riverside Medical Center. The technological advances such as MRI's and CAT Scans stand out as most noticeable during his career, as well as the amazing pharmaceutical advances in today's market. But what he sees as the downside to these advances is the lowering of physical contact and personal conversations with patients.
In addition to his career as a physician, Dr. Mark has been crowned not once but twice, as Mardi Gras King for the Krewe of MCCA in Bogalusa and the Krewe of Pepe in Franklinton.
•Please See Page A5
He rode in multiple Mardi Gras parades during one season. Seeing the Eagles and James Taylor live in concerts demonstrates that he also has great taste in music (a personal opinion there).
Dr. James does realize that he will be going thru major changes as his career comes to an end. He knows it’s going to be difficult not being in the clinic treating patients. He plans to stay busy by resuming his hobbies of deer hunting, speckled trout fishing, and picking up his new clubs to get back to his golf game.
The grandfather in him can't wait to travel to visit his grandchildren and other relatives around the globe, here in Louisiana and in Georgia, Alaska, Australia and Italy. His wife, Holly, children Mark II, David, Katie and Andrew along with his fifteen grandchildren are foremost in his mind and in his future plans, insuring that he will enjoy his retirement.
Good luck, Dr. Mark. Your family of patients will miss you tremendously and your shoes will be hard to fill. Washington Parish has been a better, healthier place during the more than 37 years of your service and your ability to get us "fixed right up!"
