L to R: Dr. Toby Bonar, Director of Pastoral Care & Counseling; Dr. Fred Horton, volunteer psychiatrist
After 44 years away, Dr. Fred Horton -- Raleigh born and bred and N.C. State University graduate -- came back "home" in 2010 to begin his retirement after a 40 year career in psychiatry.
Dr. Horton's background includes an undergraduate degree in Zoology from N.C. State University, and an M.D. from Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Horton completed his internship, residency, and fellowship at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and stayed in the area in private practice for over 30 years. He continued to work part-time in in academia, serving as assistant professors within the Psychiatry Department at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine up until his retirement.
“Why is mental health important? It makes you more adaptive and more resilient. Life is wonderful, but it is a struggle birth to death. It doesn’t mean you struggle every day, but there will be some bad days. Do you plummet and not respond in a constructive way? Mental health allows you to identify the problem, come up with a constructive plan, and implement the plan. You have to be willing to review your plan, and modify pieces of it as necessary. Mental health allows you to have resilience in dealing with your world.”
Fortunately for Alliance Medical Ministry, Dr. Horton's retirement includes continuing to practice medicine in a volunteer capacity!
Dr. Horton heard about Alliance through long-time volunteer Dr. Robert Bilbro, and officially joined our Pastoral Care & Counseling team in January, now seeing patients weekly for psychoanalysis.
Dr. Toby Bonar, Director of Pastoral Care & Counseling, says, "Dr. Horton is a gift to Alliance. He epitomizes the benefit of having collaborative relationships within a primary care context. His presence and care empower our patients to equip themselves with treatment in support of their efforts to manage obstacles to well-being. Dr. Horton's work with our patients has encouraged them to take steps forward so they can take advantage of opportunities toward growth."
Thank you, Dr. Horton, for generously volunteering your time and expertise to our clinic and patients!