Kirkpatrick Family Care's History

After accepting a position with Perviss Internal Medicine Group in Lincoln, Nebraska, Dr. Neal realized that he would prefer to start a new clinic, than to be the junior physician in a large, established group. So, when Longview's first surgeon, Dr. Fred Parke called, Dr. Neal accepted the offer to join his friend from their training days at Mayo Clinic. Their offices were initially located on the 3rd floor of the General Mortgage Building, at 14th and Broadway in Longview. Soon, they moved to a location at 11th and Broadway, partly in order to have ground level access for their patients.

In 1953, Dr. Neal entered the US AirForce and was stationed at Elmendorff AFB near Anchorage, Alaska. Meanwhile, younger brother Dr. Wendell completed his training in Baltimore, and came to Longview to take over and build the practice. When Dr. Neal returned in 1955, the brothers purchased the practices of several local physicians and moved into a new location on 14th avenue, across the alley from Penney's Department Store (now Physical Impact exercise center). In 1956, they purchased a half city block bordered by Washington Way, Larch, and the Civic Center, located between the historic Hotel Monticello and the Post Office. In conjunction with local architect Keith Woolen, Dr. Wendell designed the octagonal 5000 sf building that featured "one-stop medical care", a novel concept in those days. The office was open 6 days a week, and Neal was the internist-diagnostician and Wendell was the Family Doctor who delivered babies and fixed appendixes, hernias, and carpal tunnels.

In the early 1960s, Greg Kim, a Physicians Assistant, joined the practice for 10 years.

In mid July 1976, Dr. Richard Kirkpatrick returned to Longview from Mayo Clinic training, to join the clinic. One year later, he and Dr. John Richards formed Internal Medicine Clinic of Longview, which was initially located in the Heritage Apartments, across the alley from the Clinic. Two years later, they outgrew those quarters and occupied space at 14th and Delaware, before building a major medical facility at 748 14th Avenue. That group grew to include Drs. Thorson, Zeilenga, Gee, Gorton, Peterson, Nash, McGuire, and Pulliam plus nurse practitioner Diane Hawkins before Drs. McGuire, Pulliam, Kirkpatrick, and Gorton left, in that order, in 1995, 1996, and 1997. The remaining physicians then joined PeaceHealth Medical Group in 1998.

On January 1, 1996, Dr. Richard Kirkpatrick joined with Drs. Neal and Wendell to create Kirkpatrick Family Care. Office hours were expanded to 8 to 8 on weekdays, 9 to 1 on Saturdays/holidays, and noon to 4 on Sundays and Christmas. The clinic has been open every day since January 1, 1996. Two weeks later, Carol Sayles, ARNP joined in, and on February 15, 1996, Dr. Rebecca Becker relocated from Lakeport, California. Dr. Robert Marshall joined in 1997 but left in 2002. Karen Joiner, ARNP, completed her internship and became a team member in 1996. In 1998, a second office was opened at 783 Commerce, in Longview.

Next, in 1998 came Dr. Mauro Braun and Dr. Shalini Jacob, both international graduates (Brazil and India); each left 5-6 years later, to join the faculty at OHSU in Portland. In 2000, Dr. Vladimir Bogin and his wife Dr. Irina Stolerman came to Longview after completing their training in Moscow and at the University of Rochester in NewYork, bringing with them twin babies.

By 2002 we were shorthanded again, and Dr. Gregory Khurtsidze came to us from Cleveland. In 2009, he is moving to Kentucky, where his wife has garnered a Pediatric Residency position. In 2003, Dr. Maia Gahkokidze and her husband Dr. Rajden Kutelia, joined their friend and fellow Georgian (Gregory) on our team.

In 2007, Dr. Vivek Murari, originally from India, joined us after finishing his training at Mayo Clinic and spending a year in Colville, WA. Vivek decided to focus on Hospital Work and, as of January 1, 2009, he has been employed by Legacy Salmon Creek in Vancouver. Between 2007 and 2009, Bill Dennis Leigh served our patients as a Physician's Assistant, before leaving to create a Rural Health Center.

In 2009, first Leanne Williams and then Chris Aichele, joined us as part time Nurse Practitioners. September 4, 2009 was Beverly Search, ARNP's first day with us. Dave Kirkpatrick, BA, MA, MS/PA, will return to his childhood hometown to work in the clinic in January 2010.

Throughout the past 60 years, our family's goal has been to help you when you are sick or ill.