Holdrege, NE, August 7, 2018 – Dr. Thomas Smith, MD of Family Medical Specialties will be retiring after 38 years of service to his patients and communities throughout southwest and south central Nebraska as well as northern Kansas. Patients, co-workers, family and friends are encouraged to attend an open house retirement celebration located in the Plaza Building (outside the Family Medical Specialties entrance and lobby) at 516 W 14th Street, Holdrege, NE 68949 on Friday, August 31, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
It all began when Dr. Thomas Smith came to Holdrege as an Internal Medicine resident to complete a rotation with Dr. H.A. McConahay in 1979 at the Holdrege Medical Clinic at 414 East Avenue (the old Brewster Hospital building). Being raised in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolis, he was attracted to the genuine caring spirit of the doctor/patient relationship in the Holdrege community and convinced a fellow resident, Dr. William Sandy, MD, to also look at the practice opportunity. Dr. Thomas Smith and Dr. William Sandy took over the practice in the spring of 1980. With only two doctors in the practice, he recalls how they had to be on call every other night and every other weekend for their patients in the Holdrege community as well as travel to clinics in Alma, NE and Phillipsburg, KS. With the new doctors’ Internal Medicine training, they provided additional services including allergy and endoscopy.
The Holdrege Medical Clinic evolved into Family Medical Specialties and moved to its current location at 516 W. 14th Avenue in Holdrege, NE in 2008. It currently houses 8 providers and recently brought in three new additional providers. The clinic has expanded its services and welcomes working with numerous medical specialty doctors who travel in from Omaha, Lincoln and Colorado.
With the arrival of the three new physicians, Dr. Jacob Peterson, MD, Dr. Kathryn Thelen, DO, and Dr. Krista Stoecker, MD, Dr. Thomas Smith feels it is a good time to devote himself to his family, grandchildren, medical missions, and other interests. He stated, “It has been an honor to provide care to my patients and I am thankful for the way this community has offered an excellent place for me to raise a family and a practice. I appreciate the medical community as well, and I compliment the Phelps Memorial Health Center staff and Board of Directors for their vision of continuing a quality facility and wonderful care. I will always have a spirit of gratitude for the many fellow physicians, (especially Dr. William Sandy), and to past and present employees with whom I have worked with at the Holdrege Medical Clinic and Family Medical Specialties. The quality of our practice and sincerity of compassion could not have happened without you. Last, but not least, I truly appreciate the friendships and loyalty of my patients over the last 38 years.”
Dr. Thomas Smith received his bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology from the University of Sioux Falls, and a Master of Science in neuro anatomy and a Medical Degree from the University of Iowa. He completed his residency at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. During medical school, he married Shirley Murdoch from Orleans, NE and they have three children: Dr. Mark Smith and Dr. Bradford Smith, both at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and Dr. Rashelle (Smith) Hoffman, Doctor of Physical Therapy working on her PhD at UNMC in Omaha. Dr. and Mrs. Smith are looking forward to spending more time with their children and families, especially their four grandchildren.
About Family Medical Specialties:
Family Medical Specialties is a professional medical corporation originally established in Holdrege, Nebraska, in 1926 and serves southwest and south-central Nebraska and northern Kansas. The Family Medical Specialties medical staff focuses on family medicine and includes five physicians, three certified physician assistants, RNs, LPNs, medical technicians, radiology technicians and a variety of laboratory and support staff. Learn more about Family Medical Specialties on their website: www.fammedspec.com.
