Collier County Medical Society is pleased to announce that Wallace McLean, MD is the recipient of a CCMS Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors a CCMS member who deserves special recognition for making outstanding contributions to the practice of medicine displaying dedication, commitment, leadership, and excellence spanning their professional career and aligning with the CCMS mission.  

Dr. McLean was selected for his decades of inspirational service as a physician, educator, Army medical officer, volunteer, and leader. He was nominated by his colleague at Women’s Healthcare Physicians of Naples, Dr. Max Kamerman, who described Dr. McLean’s contributions to the community and related that he “is admired and respected for his compassion, selflessness, skill, and dedication to his profession and his patients.”

After finishing his medical residency, Dr. McLean served in the US Army as a medical officer with the rank of Major. His orders took him to Bangkok, Thailand, where he led medical and surgical teams caring for those who served during the Vietnam War. Upon completing his service to the nation, Dr. McLean began his OBGYN practice in Naples in 1974. Since then, he has been a symbol of women’s health care for Collier County. Aside from a thriving private practice that continues to this day, Dr. McLean also dedicated his time and efforts to the less fortunate women of Collier County. In 2001, he created the Women’s Healthcare Foundation, which has provided care to poor and uninsured pregnant women in the community.

Throughout his decades of practice, Dr. McLean has also held numerous leadership positions at NCH Healthcare System, including president of the medical staff, chair of the credentials committee, and chair of the Department of OBGYN. He has taught the art and science of medicine to several generations of OBGYN physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and medical students as a mentor and clinical instructor for the various academic programs that use our patient care settings for instruction. It is estimated that Dr. McLean has delivered between 15,000 and 20,000 babies in his lifetime and has performed tens of thousands of surgical procedures.

Dr. McLean offers advice from his lifelong career in medicine, “medical doctors and nurses will not be restored to their position of respect unless groups of doctors and nurses are allowed to run their areas of excellence”, he said. “The physicians should hire one manager for each area. He or She understands, it is their job to take care of those who take care of the patients. Be careful, the art of the history and physical is lost by electronic medical records and AI.”

CCMS will present the award to Dr. McLean at the CCMS 66th Annual Meeting & Installation of Officers on June 10th, Arthrex One Conference Center. Interested attendees can register for the event online, or by contacting CCMS: (239) 435-7727 or info@ccmsonline.org. Sponsorships are also available, please contact CCMS for details.

“We are honored to recognize Dr. McLean as a highly distinguished physician who has made outstanding lifetime contributions to the practice of medicine,” commented CCMS Board President, Dr. Rebecca Smith. “Congratulations, Dr. McLean, we appreciate all you do and are inspired by your lasting impact on our community.”