ROANOKE RAPIDS — The Halifax Northampton Medical Society has honored four physicians for their service to medicine in the Roanoke Valley.

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They are: Dr. Jane McCaleb, Dr. Amada Devilla, Dr. George Fleming and Dr. Gupta Pandarinath, MD. The four physicians received a gift from Halifax Regional Medical Center and the Medical Society.

McCaleb was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership of the Medical Staff and Medical Center. She received the North Carolina Family Physician of the Year Award in 1999 from the N.C. Academy of Family Physicians. She has won awards from the National Health Service Corps for reduction of infant mortality.

In a publication of the N.C. Area Health Education Centers, McCaleb was described as “an outstanding family physician, superb teacher and champion for better health care for our most vulnerable citizens.”

Rick Gilstrap, retired president of Halifax Regional, said McCaleb “has greatly improved health care in the area with her concern, drive and compassion.”

McCaleb served as a family practitioner in Northampton and Halifax counties. She joined Rural Health Group in 1987 and became medical director for the group’s eight clinics. McCaleb served on numerous committees at Halifax Regional, such as Quality Assurance, Utilization Review and the Medical Staff’s Executive Committee, which contributed to an improvement in the quality of care offered to patients at Halifax Regional.

Devilla joined the medical staff at Halifax Regional in 1983 following the completion of medical school at the University of Kentucky. She served the communities of Roanoke Rapids and South Hill, Va., as an ophthalmologist at the Mid-Atlantic Eye Care Centers. Dr. Devilla retired last year.

Dr. Fleming joined the anesthesiology department at Halifax Regional in 1987 and served as the medical center’s solo anesthesiologist for seven years before a second anesthesiologist was recruited. Before coming to Halifax Regional, Fleming served as chief of anesthesiology at locations including Camp Lejeune, Lenoir Memorial Hospital and Altoona Hospital. He still practices anesthesiology part-time.

Dr. Pandarinath, a board certified gastroenterologist and internist, served patients at Halifax Regional for 18 years. He is regarded as the founder of the Roanoke Valley Medical Ministries Clinic (also known as the Free Clinic). After the Free Clinic opened, he served as its medical director and led a staff of volunteers in providing free health care to patients who have no insurance, but suffer from chronic illnesses.