As physicians, we are given many opportunities to provide service to our patients, our communities, and our profession. Some of us do this for an exceptionally long time. Three doctors in the West Central Missouri Medical Society are particularly inspirational having served their patients for a total of 158 years, with all three continuing to practice medicine! William Haynie, MD, (Butler), Curtis Long, MD, (Butler), and John Torontow, MD, (Nevada) have all received their “50-Year Pin” from MSMA and are still serving their communities.
Dr. Haynie, a native of Butler, Mo., graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1962, and moved back to Butler to open his Family Practice in 1964. He has also served in many additional roles – as a hospice medical director, physician for the Bates County Jail, president of the medical staff at Bates County Memorial Hospital, and president of the Butler Rotary Club. At age 88, Dr. Haynie is thankful to “be in good health and continuing to practice medicine.”
Dr. Long, a native of Ironton, Mo., graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1963, and opened his Family Practice in Butler in 1964. He has achieved many milestones in his long career: 50,000 hospital admissions, 10,000 surgical procedures, and 3,000 babies delivered. He is particularly proud to have done “the first laparoscopic procedure in Missouri” in 1974. In addition to a busy, ongoing medical practice, Dr. Long is active in several local and national organizations, and has been a generous benefactor to the MU Medical School.
158 years of practice in Missouri. From left, William Haynie, MD, Butler, 54 years of practice, MSMA member since 1977; Curtis Long, MD, Butler, 53 years of practice, MSMA member since 1977; and John Torontow, MD, Nevada, 51 years of practice, MSMA member since 1970.
Dr. Torontow was born in England, and remembers being evacuated to the countryside during the Battle of Britain. He graduated from Trinity College Medical School (Dublin, Ireland) in 1962, and came to the University of Missouri Medical Center to do an Internal Medicine residency. In 1969 he and his family moved to Nevada, Mo., to co-found the Nevada Medical Clinic—subsequently recruiting an entire generation of Nevada physicians (myself included). He has served on 10 medical mission trips to Haiti. He continues to provide primary care services in El Dorado Springs, Mo., and observes that “medicine is still the best career in the world!”
During the past several weeks, I have continued to travel around our state, visiting physicians, hospitals, and component groups as the representative of the MSMA. Usually accompanied by my wife, Marilyn, we have logged almost 10,000 miles in my green Chevrolet truck. We have now visited 108 of the 114 counties in this state and have met many wonderful people while enjoying the diversity of Missouri’s communities and geography. We have also appreciated the hospitality of adjoining state medical associations, when we have visited in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas for their annual meetings. We have been consistently impressed by the positivity and enthusiasm of Midwest physicians who are “Happy Unsung Heroes of the Hinterland.” I certainly agree with Dr. John Torontow that we are blessed to be part of this great profession.
Ben Wilson, MD, Nevada, MSMA member since 2016, New President of West Central MO Med Society and Bar-B-Que chef extraordinaire!
Elizabeth Wilson, MD, MSMA member since 2001, Columbia, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Boone County Hospital and Dr. Lovinger.
Texas County Memorial Hospital, Houston: left to right, Linda Milholen, MD, MSMA member since 2005, General Surgery, and Cory Offutt, MD, MSMA member since 2009, Family Practice.
White Coat Night at Cardinals Game: left to right, Marilyn and Warren Lovinger, Nevada, MSMA member since 1979; Cindy and Gary Olson, Cape Girardeau, MSMA member since 1994; and Kathy and Joseph Hazan, St Louis, MSMA member since 1977.
Palmyra Clinic, Palmyra: left to right, Dr. Lovinger, Gina Pontius, MD, MSMA member since 2011, Family Practice, and David Knorr, DO, MSMA member since 2001, Family Practice.
John Memken, MD, MSMA member since 1984, Hannibal, Family Physician at the Hannibal Clinic.
Dr. Lovinger and Muhammad Faisal Khan, MD, West Plains, Cardiology at Ozarks Medical Center.
Lisa Rollison, DO, Memphis, General Surgeon at Scotland County Hospital.
Biography
Warren C. Lovinger, Jr., MD, MACP, MSMA member since 1979, and President for 2017–2018, is an Internal Medicine physician, Nevada, Missouri.
Contact: wclovinger@gmail.com
