06/11/2025
As we celebrate 75 years of caring for our community, we’re honored to share the stories of those who have shaped the legacy of Tanner Health.
E. V. Patrick first came to Carrollton in 1947 to visit two medical school classmates. During a chance meeting with local physician Roy Denney, Dr. Patrick was encouraged to consider Carrollton as a home for his family and medical practice. After visiting twice, Dr. Patrick decided to move to Carrollton to begin a medical career that would span nearly five decades.
Dr. Patrick was the youngest of 10 children born into a farm family of modest means. All of the children completed a college education, with Dr. Patrick earning his A.B. degree from Mercer University. In 1944, he graduated from the University of Georgia School of Medicine in Augusta as a commissioned medical officer and served in the Army until 1947. He completed his medical residency in Greenville, South Carolina, and later obtained an internal medicine fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta.
Starting out in a humble office on Dixie Street, Dr. Patrick practiced general medicine and made frequent house calls, serving a wide region around Carrollton. He worked in challenging conditions with minimal resources, often treating patients at a clinic in downtown Carrollton until the new hospital opened.
Throughout his career, Dr. Patrick witnessed and contributed to the transformation of Carrollton from a small town to a thriving medical hub. He saw the expansion of Tanner Medical Center from a modest hospital into a regional facility offering extensive services, including the new W. Steve Worthy Maternity Center, Roy Richards, Sr. Cancer Center, short stay unit and catheterization lab.
Dr. Patrick was deeply involved in medical leadership at Tanner. He served as chief of staff at Tanner Medical Center and was on the Tanner Health Foundation Board. He and his wife Lucy were Honorary Chairmen of the Magnolia Ball in 1994, helping raise funds for community health programs such as patient access for indigent care and medication assistance. His daughter Carol Dorsey said, “The most important thing that I took away from my parents’ teachings was to be grateful for all our blessings and to always give back to others and to the community. Both Mother and Daddy gave back with quietness and without fanfare.”
Outside of medicine, Dr. Patrick was active in the community and his church. He and his wife reared three children -- Carol, Nancy and Danny -- and were involved in local schools, civic organizations and church activities. Mrs. Patrick held various leadership roles, yet she was a wonderfully supportive wife and mother who would try to “hold supper” until Dr. Patrick returned home in the evening to spend time with the family.
Dr. Patrick held memberships in numerous medical organizations, including the American and Georgia Medical Associations. He also served on several boards, including Peoples Bank and the American Heritage Life Insurance Company. His leadership helped shape health policy at the county level as chairman of the Carroll County Board of Health.
Even after retiring in 1993, Dr. Patrick remained engaged with his community. He and his wife maintained an active cattle farm in Carroll County, continuing their contributions to the local economy and community. His legacy at Tanner Health lives on through decades of service, innovation and commitment to accessible healthcare in the region. Following his passing, his daughter Carol created the E.V. & Lucy Patrick Endowment for Indigent Care at the Tanner Health Foundation as a testament to the incredible impact Dr. Patrick made in serving all patients and to ensure access to care at Tanner, regardless of ability to pay.
Learn more about the Tanner Indigent Patient Care program or make a gift today at https://bit.ly/4e4BSak
