1943 Dr. Frankel

Wayne County has a long history of great doctors. In 1943 Dr. Donald B. Frankel returned to Fairfield and opened a downtown medical clinic. The clinic was located on the northwest corner of the Courthouse square in a building referred to as the Oil Exchange Building, and boasted nine rooms.

At the time, in 1948, Dr. Frankel’s clinic was one of the most elaborate and up-to-date medical clinics in southern Illinois. The exam and surgery rooms were fully equipped and the clinic boasted a full sized x-ray and fluoroscope unit.

Dr. Frankel was a general practitioner and helped people with all types of ailments. Being from Fairfield, he was familiar with sinus problems. As part of his medical studies, Dr. Frankel had conducted a study of the use of a new drug to treat sinus problems. He had used the new treatment on more than one hundred cases and it was proven highly successful, according to his study. Dr. Frankel published an article concerning the sinus treatment study in a medical journal and was awarded a prize of $2,000 for the article.

Fairfield was grateful to have a local clinic and a doctor trained in modern medicine. At the time, Dr. Frankel did not want any publicity on the matter when inquired about his prestigious publication and the monetary prize. He commented that “the money is a wonderful prize, but helping people is a richer reward.”

WC Record Newspaper 1943 / ScrapbookG 3/2020 DGS 8/2022