Longtime family physician retires from Cox Barton County Hospital

After decades of service, Cox Barton County Hospital is saying farewell to one of our most beloved physicians, Dr. Joseph Wilson.  

Dr. Wilson, who has been in Lamar almost 35 years, has been a steady, trusted presence in our community. Generations of families have turned to him for care, comfort, and guidance, and his patients often describe him as more than just a doctor – he’s a friend.  

Growing up, Dr. Wilson says that numerous people and experiences influenced him to pursue a career in medicine.  

“My grandfather often shared stories about his own grandfather, Dr. Peter D’Alvigny, who was a surgeon in Atlanta, Ga., during the Civil War,” Dr. Wilson recalls. “These stories, along with my own medical issues that required frequent visits to our family doctor, Dr. Parnell, were always inspiring and ultimately motivated me to become a physician.”

Another influence on Dr. Wilson was his grandmother’s physician, Dr. McDonald, who was the family doctor of earlier times, with his office located in his home.  

“Dr. McDonald lived a short distance from my grandmother,” Dr. Wilson recalls. “As a kid, my sister, brother, and I would visit him, and he would give us empty medicine vials to play with. Occasionally, we would talk about medicine, which I enjoyed.”  

Later, the family moved to Alabama, and it was during this time that Dr. Wilson began contemplating a career in medicine. Upon entering Auburn University, he discovered an opportunity to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). At that time, the university operated its own ambulance service staffed by students. The position offered room and board in exchange for work, so he completed the EMT course and accepted the position.  

After several health care roles later, Dr. Wilson began to consider how he could become more involved in the clinical side of medicine. 

"Initially, I attended physician assistant school at Emory University and worked for three years at a hospital,” he shares. “My desire to do more led me to apply to and enroll in the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.” 

 Dr. Wilson explains that he has always been drawn to primary care. “I wanted to practice in a rural setting, seeing patients of all ages and addressing a wide range of health issues.”  

Over the years, he has noticed a significant shift in medicine. There is now a greater variety of medications available to treat various conditions, and technology has advanced considerably. 

“When I first started, few people had glucose meters, but now many use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs),” he points out. “Patients are also becoming more proactive with wellness visits, which is a positive development.”  

Dr. Wilson admits the most rewarding aspect of his career has been the interaction with his patients. He finds it beneficial to get to know the people he cares for and often inquires about their family members, including their jobs, farms, and other relatives. 

“Over the years, I have come to know many people and families, and I have learned a great deal about life in general,” he says. “I have found that simply talking to people can provide great comfort, even when I cannot do anything for them or their loved ones.” 

Dr. Wilson shares that it has been a tremendous honor to practice in the Lamar community for many years. He feels deeply connected to the people and will miss the daily interactions with them.

As he prepares for retirement, he notes that his wife plans to keep him occupied.

“My wife will tell you that I have 30 years' worth of honey-do projects that still need to be done,” Dr. Wilson laughs. “In fact, I just realized today that one of the downsides of retirement is that I no longer have an excuse for not tackling them.”  

He and his wife hope to travel more frequently to visit their grandchildren in the St. Louis area. Dr. Wilson also plans to continue pursuing his hobbies, which include woodworking, photography, fishing, and flying. Additionally, he hopes to become more involved with various medical organizations by participating in their committees.

“I hope people will remember me as someone who truly cared about them to the best of my ability,” Dr. Wilson reflects. “I have always tried to treat people as I would want to be treated.”