SOUTH BEND Dr. David Clayton came from a family of farmers.

My father was a dairy farmer, and my uncles and grandfathers were all dairy farmers, so that was a family tradition, Clayton said. There was always plenty to do and we never had problems finding something to do and I learned good work ethic there.

Clayton thought hed join his father in the family business when he returned to LaPorte after graduating from Purdue University.

Then, he had a talk with his academic adviser.

Between my junior and senior year in college, my counselor at Purdue talked about his son going into medicine, Clayton recalled.

The discussion drifted to the counselors son and what he was doing in medical school and during his residency.

That just planted a seed and I thought of going into medicine and thats when between my junior and senior year in college I decided to go into medicine.

I wanted to do something where I could serve people and be with people.

He switched his major and went on to Indiana University School of Medicine before embarking on a career as a general practice physician in South Bend in a 45-year career that ended with his retirement last week.

During that time, Clayton charted his own path by providing a level of personal care that marked him as one of the the last breed of doctors who remain in independent practice rather than joining a network.

There are not many practices left where the doctor manages his practice and where the doctor does the hiring and firing because the doctor is independent, Clayton said. That is a huge difference from when I started.

Remaining independent allowed Clayton to practice medicine the way that he wanted, and that meant that his patients and staff had more stability.

My office manager has been with me for 23 years and my nurse has been here about nine years, he said. Everybody knows them and likes them.

Joan Heiser, Claytons longtime office manager, said staff longevity has allowed the office to offer patients a personal touch.

We dont have a voicemail system, so we have to answer the phone and try to get patients in the same day, and our patients are so appreciative, Heiser said.

She noted that Clayton has always made it a priority to give his patients a high level of personal care.

There is hardly any office like ours and that are as small as ours, Heiser, who also retired at the end of the month, said. Most offices you need to call and then you have to choose a button to go to whatever extension you may want to leave a message and sometimes you cant get through.

Dr. Clayton has always prided himself on the ability for our patients to be able reach our office and get prompt medical attention, Heiser said.

Those patients became Claytons singular focus once their appointment started.

Ive tried to listen to my patients and not be worried about typing into a computer, Clayton said. I take notes while listening to them and I dictate after I finish and have it transcribed into the charts.

Thats an advantage to the patient to have more eye contact and more individual patient contact.

Renee Milnar has been a patient of Claytons since 1976 when he served as her obstetrician. In March of 1977, he delivered our first child, our daughter, and weve been with him ever since, Milnar said. He was just always very compassionate but thorough.

My husband and I are very healthy and we owe a lot of that to Dr. Clayton and the advice that he has given us over the years like having a proper diet and walking and staying physically active.

Clayton said that watching patients and their families grow over the years has been one of his joys and best accomplishments during his years in medicine.

Clayton worked as on obstetrician, as well as being in general practice for 25 years. That allowed him get to know the mother and father during the prenatal visits and then take care of the newborn.

It gave us an opportunity to know the family well and it was a wonderful experience of having a healthy baby and each time I came away from the delivery thinking what a miracle that everything was perfectly formed, Clayton said.

Clayton worked in general practice for the last 20 years because he wanted to spend more time with his family and being in obstetrics requires a doctor be prepared to go to the hospital at any time.

Besides, its uncommon for doctors be in family practice and work in obstetrics. That is just one of the changes that have come to medicine over the last 45 years. Clayton marvels at the medical advances that have occurred during his career.

A lot of the medicines that we have today we didnt have 30 or 40 years ago, he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in one more change virtual medicine.

Virtual medicine is different than what Im used to in my career. So this might be a good time to retire, he said.

Clayton said he plans to spend time working in the yard and traveling with his wife.

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South Bend family practice doctor retires after 45 years - South Bend Tribune