The distinguished medical careers of four well-known local physicians have come to a close as Charles M. Almond, J. William Eakins, Clifford T. Lewis and Neill Musselwhite retired recently from New Hanover Medical Group-NHRMC Physician Group.

Each doctor spent more than 40 years in practice, with most of their collective 167 years in Wilmington, serving thousands of patients in the community.

“These four providers were truly icons in medicine and shaped the way health care is delivered in New Hanover County. They will be tremendously missed, but their legacy will live on forever,” Jeffrey Warhaftig, president of New Hanover Medical Group, said in a news release.

Almond retired after 45 years in family medicine, 25 of those with New Hanover Medical Group. Almond came to Wilmington in 1978 when he started a private practice in the same location as his most recent office.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate received a doctoral degree in medicine from UNC and then went on to the University of Miami and the Medical University of South Carolina for an internship and residency.

After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Almond joined a practice in Tarboro before moving to Wilmington where he stayed for the duration of his career.

Eakins retired after 40 years in family medicine. Eakins graduated from UNC and received a medical degree from Wake Forest University where he was a Reynolds Scholar.

He served as president of the New Hanover County Board of Health and the New Hanover-Pender County Medical Society as well as chairman of the NHRMC Department of Medicine from 1996 to 1998.

Lewis retired after 42 years in family medicine. He began his career in Wilmington in 1973 at what was then New Hanover Memorial Hospital after completing a residency at the University of Oregon School of Medicine. Lewis is a graduate of UNC for both his undergraduate degree and doctorate in medicine.

Musselwhite retired after 40 years in family medicine. He began his medical career as a pharmacist, opening a pharmacy and using his income to fund medical school tuition at Wake Forest. Among dozens of awards, he has been honored with a Distinguished Service Award from Wake Forest in 2002. He also served as NHRMC chief of staff in 2009 and 2010.