Coworkers, family and friends recently gathered at Hocking Valley Community Hospital to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Charles Keller after more than 40 years of service to our community.
“Dr. Keller is one of the greatest physicians I have had the opportunity to work with,” Stacey Gabriel, HVCH CEO, said. “I have had the privilege of working with him for my entire career. Back in the day before hospitalists, when he’d make rounds on patients, he was always kind and took the time to explain things to us new nurses. When we had to call and get orders from him, he never acted like we were a bother. And after he’d round on patients, they would always share with us much they appreciated having him as their physician. He showed his patients kindness, and compassion, and has been nothing but amazing to the hospital staff.”
Dr. Keller began serving at HVCH in 1984 after being asked to join the staff by former HVCH CEO Larry Willard. Dr. Keller attended Ohio University for his undergraduate degree and went to Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, and was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. He and colleagues from the Air Force opened a family practice in Trenton, Missouri, where he practiced for 5 years before returning to his hometown Logan.
“What has made the practice of medicine for me for the past 40 years in Logan are the people,” Dr. Keller said. “It has been a privilege to take care of patients, to be a part of their lives, and to become friends. It is amazing that our community hospital has stayed afloat in hard times when other hospitals have sunk. That speaks a lot for our community and for the leaders of our hospital system. They have made our hospital flourish and still keep the human touch component in healthcare delivery.”
Dr. Keller resides in Logan with his wife, Debbie. The couple have four children and nine grandchildren.
“Dr. Keller has made quite an impression on the medical community in Hocking County, and there is no doubt he will be missed. We wish you all the best,” Gabriel said.