Dr. Craig R. Thompson was raised on the Hilltop in the Holly Hill neighborhood. He attended Georgian Heights Elementary School, Wedgewood Junior High, followed by West High School. He spent his summers at Westview Swim Club as well as taking dune buggy rides with his dad to Moore’s Ice Cream Shop. During the year he would often enjoy a Minelli’s pizza or homemade spaghetti. He always looked forward to attending West. His family included three siblings: an older sister, Jodie; a younger sister, Mindy; and a younger brother, Todd. All are West High Alumni. The spring before his sophomore year at West, his father died unexpectedly leaving his mother, Gloria, a homemaker, alone to raise four children while navigating an uncertain future. She would have to learn to drive and eventually return to work when the younger ones got a little older in order to make ends meet.
He remembers that his sophomore year wardrobe consisted of all buff and brown with a little bit of orange. He even had buff and brown fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror of the blue ’78 Nova that he drove! While at West, Craig participated in the marching band, concert band, and jazz ensemble. Some highlights of his experience included that the marching band recorded an album as well as being selected to dress-up as The Ohio State University Marching Band (in their absence) and appearing in the “Columbus, We’re Making It Great” commercial for the city of Columbus. He was voted Senior Class Vice President and graduated Valedictorian.
After graduation, he attended Otterbein College (now University). With the help of several academic scholarships and working part-time at Westgate Medical Surgical Animal Clinic for Dr. Hal Taylor, as well as helping run the green house at Otterbein, Craig and his mother were able to piece together the funds to pay for the residual costs of tuition and books. When he started at Otterbein, he was able to take proficiency tests and score significant college credits in math, English, and Spanish which he thanks his teachers at West for his excellent education. He completed his undergraduate degree in three years and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry.
He applied “early decision” for medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and got in on his first try. He had a gap-year due to graduating early, so Otterbein hired him as a Teaching Assistant to run the Pre-Med Microbiology Lab and the Nursing Anatomy and Physiology Lab. Craig continued to run the green house and prep for the Botany Lab as well.
He started medical school in the fall of 1985. During medical school he received honors in Anatomy. He graduated with his Medical Degree (M.D.) in June of 1989 just days after his second niece was born. Thankfully, his older sister was still able to attend the ceremonies. After graduation, he started his Pediatric Residency at Columbus Children’s Hospital (now Nationwide Children’s Hospital). During his medical school training and residency, he did some community outreach by running a monthly blood pressure check clinic at Brookshire United Methodist Church (now Crossroads), doing annual Special Olympics physicals for Circleville Schools, staffing a pediatric homeless clinic in Franklinton, helping to teach English to Cambodian refugees. He also participated in the ecumenical homeless program at Brookshire (Crossroads) and was the Pediatric Asthma Camp Doctor for three summers.
Once Residency was completed in July of 1992, Craig started his Pediatric career. He worked for 26 years with Dr. George Messick at Messick & Thompson, MD’s. Inc. It was a private pediatric practice in the Upper Arlington area where he cared for hundreds of children and their families. Craig remembers the 2009 Swine Flu epidemic very well because he managed to see 76 patients in one day – his personal best! Doctors Messick and Thompson eventually sold their practice to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2019. Craig worked there another four years before retiring.
During his career, he worked many side jobs. Those included: working at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Springfield, Ohio; The Bureau of Disability Determination; Medical Evaluation Services; Children’s Hospital ED and Urgent Care as well as Residents Evening Clinic; Ohio Department of Youth Services; and the OSU Nursery and Rehabilitation Care Group. Craig continues working the last job in his retirement years. If you are wondering, no, he did not work them all at the same time!
As an Attending Physician, he always took medical education seriously and precepted many nurse practitioner students, medical students, PA students, as well as family practice and pediatric residents over his 30 years in practice. His very last “student,” a Resident from Children’s, was, in fact, Dr. Messick’s daughter. Full circle.
Craig is now semi-retired and working only 16 hours a week instead of 60! He continues to work at the Rehabilitation Care Group as well as being the Medical Director for Eden Counseling Centers. He provides mental health and addiction services for adult patients.
He currently lives a little north of Powell, Ohio where he is able to enjoy more time with his husband of 32 years, Jeff. He also devotes more time to his adorable dog, Toby. He owes a great deal to West High School and the education he received that led him in the right direction. He is humbled and deeply honored to receive this induction into the West High Alumni Hall of Fame. He will always remain a proud Cowboy!