After more than 30 years of service to the greater Plymouth area, Dr. John Richards, ophthalmologist at White Mountain Eye Care & Optical, has announced his plan to retire from practice at the end of May.  Additionally, his colleague, Ophthalmologist Dr. Chris Russo has made the decision to relocate closer to family and will be departing White Mountain Eye Care at the end of June.

“These are wonderful personal transitions for both of these valued members of our medical staff, and we wish them the very best,” notes Speare’s Practice Administrator Charles Hulse.  “To help ease the transition for our patients, two ophthalmologists will be joining us in June to provide on-going care while we recruit for ophthalmic specialists to permanently establish their practice with White Mountain Eye Care and join Speare’s medical staff.”

Dr. Harold Everett received his doctorate from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed further training at the University of California, followed by his residency at Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals.  Dr. Everett is Board Certified in Ophthalmology.  He was in private practice in Port Angeles, Wash., for 25 years and served as the chief of surgery at Olympic Memorial Medical Center.  He and his wife enjoy outdoor activities with their two Labrador Retrievers.

Dr. Thomas Leland has been in practice since 1979 in Charleston, S.C.  He trained at the Storm Eye Institute at the Medical University of South Carolina.  Dr. Leland is a Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow in the International College of Surgeons.  Outside of medicine, he founded Classic Sports International, a full-service travel agency booking sporting trips world-wide.

Together, Dr. Everett and Dr. Leland will provide comprehensive eye care for patients and their families.  Appointments can be made by calling White Mountain Eye Care & Optical at (603) 536-1284.

Speare Memorial Hospital—nationally ranked as Top 100 Critical Access Hospital and 2015 HealthStrong™ Hospital— is a 24-hour, acute care, non-profit community hospital and health care provider serving Plymouth and the communities of central New Hampshire.