August 22, 2024

More than 38 years into a distinguished career, Thomas Eckert, M.D., gastroenterologist, remains energetic about his work and his patients.

“I love what I do every day,” Dr. Eckert said when he thinks about a potential 40-year milestone in 2025. “I’ve taken care of patients for more than 35 years. Retirement is in my future, but I’m not ready yet.”

Close-knit relationships with his patients and co-workers continue to fuel Dr. Eckert’s passion — a journey that began when he returned to his hometown of Madison in summer 1985.

“I’m now seeing my third generation of patients from the same family,” Dr. Eckert said. “Some of my patients will tell me I helped take care of their grandfather. I have so many memories, and I’ve been blessed to see so many wonderful patients.”

Developing relationships with his patients is one of the reasons he chose to come back to Madison. After graduating from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Eckert completed an internship and residency at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis in Missouri, followed by a fellowship at Barnes Hospital in the same city. While both provided incredible opportunities, he rarely had a chance to develop relationships with patients.

“One of the things I didn’t enjoy about St. Louis was that you would often see a patient once and then you may never see them again,” he said. “Here, you care for people that you know. That is satisfying — seeing the whole picture. You can help someone beyond their office visit.”

One positive about his training under the Gateway Arch: He discovered gastroenterology, a specialty he has thoroughly enjoyed for nearly four decades.

“A friend recommended that I apply for a fellowship to Washington University,” Dr. Eckert said. “I originally wanted to specialize in pulmonary medicine, but after an intense internship, I realized that wasn’t for me. I really liked gastroenterology. I wanted to offer something as a specialist to help others.”

Back in Madison, Dr. Eckert joined George Alcorn, M.D., as part of Madison Internal Medicine Specialists, located downtown in the Drusilla Building at the corner of Broadway and Presbyterian Avenue. When the team’s practice outgrew the facility, they moved to 36 Medical Plaza in Hanover, Indiana, which is now home to the Norton King’s Daughters’ Health Hanover Medical Building. Dr. Eckert also provided gastroenterology coverage to Scott Memorial Hospital (now Norton Scott Hospital) in Scottsburg, Indiana, for nearly 20 years, often working there on his days off.

In 1996, King’s Daughters’ purchased the practice, and it became the first of many that would eventually join the hospital’s umbrella.

“It was getting harder and harder to own a practice and concentrate on patient care,” Dr. Eckert said. “I was spending a lot of time with personnel. We had wonderful people, but by joining the hospital we could focus more on patient care again, and that is what we really enjoyed. One of the things I’m most proud of is that so many of our employees came and joined us, and played key roles at KDH, including leadership positions.”

Like everything else in medicine, technology has played a significant role in how gastroenterology has evolved during Dr. Eckert’s tenure. When he first started, his practice involved far fewer procedures than it does today.

These days, Dr. Eckert spends about half of each day completing colonoscopies and other procedures. He sees patients in the office three days a week. By his own estimate, Dr. Eckert has completed more than 50,000 colonoscopies and 40,000 esophageal scopes. By the time he retires, he could well reach an incredible plateau of 100,000 procedures.

“It’s an astonishing number. When I first started, I was doing like 150 procedures a year. Now, it’s between 2,500 and 3,000 a year,” he said. “Early detection (and prevention) makes a huge difference in lives saved. It’s incredible how far colon health has come in recent years.”

In his spare time, Dr. Eckert loves to exercise, read and manage his garden. He values his time at home and with Mary, his wife of 28 years. For many years, he also played the saxophone in the Doctor’s Band, which sold out venues throughout the region.

As for retirement, he has not yet set a timetable.

“When I retire, it will seem like I’m going from 95 miles an hour to 50,” Dr. Eckert said. “I would like to volunteer.”

Norton King’s Daughters’ Health would welcome him any time. He has been an integral part of the organization’s success for nearly 40 years.

“I have been blessed to work with Dr. Eckert for 30-plus years,” said Christi Cahall, R.N., BSN, member of the ambulatory surgery unit (ASU), which supports colonoscopies and other procedures at Norton King’s Daughters’ Health. “He treats every patient with respect. I have learned so much from him.”

Dr. Eckert is equally grateful for his incredible team.

“We have had a really good medical staff over the years,” he said. “I’ve been very confident in our ability to provide quality care. The nursing staff I work with on ASU and my office staff have been unbelievable.”