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Douglas McGraw, D.O. |
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Originally from Emporium, Pennsylvania, Dr. Doug McGraw is more than familiar with small-town living. A sleepy community with less than 2,000 residents, Emporium left everything to the imagination, and that need for creativity pushed Doug to become adventurous at an early age. He would spend most of his time exploring the town’s surrounding forests and creeks, developing a love for all the outdoors had to offer.
Doug’s parents were high school teachers who instilled the importance of seeking a decent and meaningful education. As a child, Doug ran around telling everyone how he would someday become a doctor, and as he grew older, his commitment to that career path only intensified.
When he graduated high school, he applied to the University of Pennsylvania to chase his dream.
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Rather than select a standard major like biology or psychology, Doug elected to study the biological basis of behavior, a major developed by a former pre-med student. The major focused on neurobiology and offered specialized classes like one on the physiology and anatomy of the senses. He fell in love with the visual system and decided to be an ophthalmologist.
While in college, Doug wrestled collegiately and was on track to wrestle in the 2012 Olympics, getting as far as training at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center one summer. Unfortunately, his body had different plans, and after undergoing his third ACL reconstructive surgery, he decided to give up on wrestling. The injuries afforded him ample time in his orthopedic surgeon’s office, and the experience only strengthened his determination to become a doctor and help others.
Doug was accepted to Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006 and received his specialty ophthalmology training in Tucson and Phoenix. After completing his residency in Michigan in 2013, he moved to Northern California and began practicing surgery in Davis. Doug heard through a mutual acquaintance that North Valley Eye Care in Chico was quickly expanding and looking for another surgeon. He met with the company’s CEO, Dr. Isaac Barthelow, who decided he would be a perfect fit for the growing practice.
He says, "Chico has all the amenities one would need but still has the small-town vibe I grew up in. It’s just big enough and has a soul to it. I love that North Valley Eye Care is a younger practice; everyone is trained in the newest procedures and technologies, and no one is stagnant or stuck in the ways of the past. It’s a great group of doctors who genuinely care about their patients, a unique combination."
Dr. McGraw is a surgical ophthalmologist at North Valley Eye Care. As an anterior segment surgeon, he specializes in cataracts, glaucoma, and surface and lid surgeries; he is also the resident ophthalmologist at the group’s Marysville clinic. His residency at North Valley Eye Care further expands the group’s capabilities. It adds four new surgery scheduling opportunities daily for their patients, making their practice even more welcoming.