March 01st, 2015

Do you remember the stories of how, 100 years ago, doctors used to go from home to home, taking care of the sick and elderly? Well, that is just what Dr. Fred Richardson Jr. does every day in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago. 
Dr. Richardson works as an employee physician of Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. But during the evenings, you will find him, doctor's bag in hand, making house calls, accompanied by Julie, his wife of 25 years. Julie, having grown up in those very neighborhoods, is familiar with the area, and acts as navigator on all his rounds.
Dr. Richardson is well-loved by his patients; he is gentle, willing to listen, and always ready with a kind word or smile. But it is not just his patients that love him. Three nights a week, after completing house calls, Dr. Richardson returns to the office to volunteer his time in teaching minority students, many of whom would be unable to obtain their medical degrees without his help. 
Dr. Richardson knows what it's like to struggle. Like his wife, Fred grew up in some of the tougher neighborhoods in Chicago. But he was blessed with a mother that cared enough about her children to discipline them and make sure they stayed out of trouble. Fred studied hard, graduating at the top of his class, and earning an academic scholarship to Loyola. He decided he wanted to study family medicine, rather than focus his attention on one particular field.
Now, Dr. Richardson works to help others obtain the goals he was able to achieve through his hard work and perseverance. He continues doing what he loves most - teaching and educating patients, families, and students.

---