Hills & Dales General Hospital Recognizes Dr. Surendra Raythatha Upon His Retirement

Cass City, MI, February 17, 2021 – Hills & Dales General Hospital is happy to honor Dr. Surendra Raythatha as he moves into retirement. To most, he is known as “Dr. Ray” and he has been a staple in the medical community of the Thumb for decades.

During his medical career he has provided thousands of patients with health care services. He has always been driven in his quest for providing the best medical care possible. Dr. Ray is known for talking to hospital staff and patients on his personal cell phone day and night. As a hospitalist on the inpatient unit, Dr. Ray would come to the floor and see his patients 2-3 times per day. He also provided care to patients at Northwood Meadows Assisted Living. He has served as a mentor to medical students and enjoyed getting to know each of them. To know Dr. Ray is to understand his life’s passion is medicine. For over 40 years he has taken care of patients and his legacy will live on within the Cass City community for many years to come.

When he was honored as Cass City’s Citizen of the Year in 2016, it was shared that Dr Ray’s humble beginnings included no electricity, no running water, and no luxuries. His household included many siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. The education facilities in his small town were sparse and his education took him hundreds of miles away from the family to another small town. His sharp intellect, fearlessness to take risk, and fondness of reading forged his future in medicine. Despite facing many financial constraints, Dr Ray continued to excel in school and was later admitted to one of the leading and most prestigious medical colleges. He loved medical science and graduated with distinct honors. In 1967, he was not only the first one in his family to graduate from college, but also the first physician. He graduated from M.P. Medical College, India with his M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery).

For the next few years, he settled into practicing medicine, but Dr. Ray wanted to continue his education. His path took him to England where he trained for four years. He gained experience in general surgery, orthopedics, emergency room, outpatient care, inpatient care and much more! He then had the opportunity to come to the United States and received admission to Wayne State University for a residency in family medicine. This led him to do a one-month rural medicine rotation in Pigeon at Scheurer Hospital. The physicians there were so impressed by his experiences, talent and dedication they offered him a job when he finished his residency.

In June 1980, Dr. Ray began practicing medicine at Partner of Pigeon Clinic, P.C. in Huron County. He did this for 11 years before deciding he wanted to open his own practice. It was then that Dr. Ray met his wife Nancy, and they raised three children in the Cass City community while building his practice. In 2012, Dr. Ray became an employed physician of Hills & Dales, where he has been practicing ever since.

“It is hard to put into words what Dr. Raythatha means to our hospital and to our community,” says Jean Anthony, President & CEO. “He has dedicated his life to medicine. The care and compassion he has shown his patients will be missed by anyone who had the pleasure of being under his care. He has always been a voice for his patients, a leader within the medical community, and one of the humblest people I have ever met. It has been my true honor to work alongside Dr. Ray and our wish is that he will enjoy his much-deserved retirement.”

Due to COVID-19, a retirement celebration will take place via Zoom. Staff members, colleagues, family, and friends will celebrate with Dr. Raythatha before he moves to a warmer climate to enjoy time with his family. Everyone at Hills & Dales General Hospital wishes Dr. Raythatha the absolute best as he moves on to the next adventure!