By Allen Hamrick
There are few things more important to a community than its health. The human body is like a well set grandfather clock that keeps perfect time. However, when that fine tuning is tampered with or becomes worn out, the alarms will be set off well before the hour. A well trained clock smith is invaluable when that time comes, and it is like so with the human body; a well trained individual in the field of medicine is equally invaluable.
Dr. Lucas Hamrick, a 2010 graduate of CCHS, 2014 graduate of the University of Charleston and 2018 graduate of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, recently completed his double residency in the fields of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at J. W. Ruby/WVU Medicine. Each of these residencies is a three year program in its own right, but both are condensed into four years as a double residency program. During these four years, Dr. Hamrick was not only rigorously trained in the different health care aspects of each field but was the primary pediatrician of many young patients as well as the primary doctor for others at different stages of their lives. He has also been involved in the Global Health Initiative, a group of doctors who travel to different countries offering their medical assistance to impoverished areas.
Dr. Hamrick will now take his extensive training and experience to CAMC where he will specialize in Pulmonology and Critical Care. Hamrick’s desire to specialize is due, in part, to pulmonology and critical care being fascinating and challenging but also because there is a great need for pulmonologists and doctors that have been highly trained to offer effective care in the ICU. As a specialist, he will be the doctor that helps people experience the highest quality of care at different stages in their life. Clay County has produced many highly qualified professionals who have gone on to be in service to others to make life better for all people through medicine, engineering and teaching, among many other fields. Dr. Lucas Hamrick is just another hometown example of the hard work, determination and resolve it takes to succeed in a field as difficult as medicine. Congratulations to Dr. Lucas Hamrick on completing your double residency and your upcoming fellowship.
