Dr. Craigie steps down at McLeod
Grandchildren Riley Dagon, Caroline Craigie and Rusty Dagon help Dr. James Craigie remove the veil from his portrait that will be hung in McLeod Loris hospital in honor of the 52 years he served the Loris community. (Joyce Graham photo)
By JOYCE GRAHAM
More than a decade after stepping away from the operating table, Dr. James Craigie has retired.
This time, he said during an evening in his honor at the McLeod Loris Center for Health & Fitness, it’s for good.
A portrait was unveiled as family, friends and colleagues celebrated a long career that began in Loris in 1962, when the newly minted surgeon opened his practice.
His decision to retire, in October 2003, was an economic one.
“It’s purely an economic decision,” Dr. Craigie said then. “The cost of staying in business, particularly the high cost of malpractice insurance, and the fact that for every dollar’s work I do I get reimbursed about 35 cents, it’s just too expensive to stay in business.”
Retirement didn’t last long, with Dr. Craigie named Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for what was then Loris Healthcare System, now McLeod Loris Seacoast, in 2004.
Dr. John Charles, Dr. Craigie’s successor, offered heartfelt praise for the now retired medical professional that brought tears to many who attended.
For much more on this story see today’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
