Faces of Loudoun: C. Damon Moore

Pediatric Healthcare Invests in the Community as a Whole

Loudoun County is served by a multitude of high-quality medical divisions, including Loudoun Medical Group (LMG). C. Damon Moore, M.D., the Managing Partner of Pediatric Healthcare (PHC), an independent pod which celebrated its 50th anniversary this summer.Pediatric Healthcare has been associated with LMG, a physician-owned, multispecialty medical group, since 2007.

Dr. Moore’s own journey of becoming a medical doctor started at the age of six. Since then, he has become not only a sought-after physician, but also a pillar of the Loudoun community.

“From an early age, I knew that I wanted to go into medicine. I wasn’t sure what type of medicine until medical school, when I went through the different rotations. Pediatrics suited me because I had an affinity for talking with parents,” said Dr. Moore. “I had a very good pediatrician growing up who was a mentor to me. I saw him from birth until I was 19. His name was Dr. Jack Segal, and he has the record of being the longest practicing pediatrician in Memphis, Tennessee. He practiced for 63 years and was an incredible man.”

Dr. Moore holds a distinguished education. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi, attended medical school at the highly competitive Johns Hopkins University and attended residency at the University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital. “I was able to go back and visit my former pediatrician, Dr. Segal, after I completed my pediatric residency. He took me to every patient room that day and introduced me as one of his babies. He was so proud of me. At the time, I thought it was strange that he would do that, but I had not become a practicing pediatrician myself yet. Now that I have patients of my own, I know exactly the pride he must’ve been feeling,” said Dr. Moore. “He is a huge reason I chose pediatrics. It was estimated that he cared for over 300,000 people over his lifetime. What a goal to aspire to.”

Having now practiced medicine for around 30 years himself, Dr. Moore has been with Pediatric Healthcare for 27 of those years. He is currently the Managing Partner of Pediatric Healthcare. The pediatric group is composed of three pediatric partners and one pediatric nurse. “Our group was founded in 1974 by Dr. Thomas McGorry. Dr. McGorry was one of the first three pediatricians to come to Loudoun County,” he said.

The medical field has changed dramatically over the years, from transferring paper charts to electronic records, to having a hospitalist take calls. “50 years ago when Pediatric Healthcare started, things were very different,” mentioned Dr. Moore “The American Academy of Pediatrics has only been around for 100 years, so PHC isn’t far behind it. Dr. McGorry, the Founder, was an amazing man who came here with two other pediatricians in the early 1970s when there was not much in Loudoun County. Those were the days of giants, as we like to say in medicine, when pediatricians in the community took all the calls, no matter the time of night. If you were called to the hospital to cover pediatrics for a delivery or a C-section or to admit a pediatrics patient, you didn’t have a choice but to get up and go.”

Dr. Moore appreciates how the medical field has progressed and admires Dr. McGorry, who built the practice, saying, “My colleagues and I have worked to keep the practice going strong. We really believe in what we do here. We are investing in the future, one child at a time .”

In addition to his position as a revered pediatrician in Loudoun County, Dr. Moore pursues many other philanthropic endeavors. He is the Chair of the LMG Charitable Foundation, a tenor and Development Chair for the Master Singers of Virginia, a member of the UVA Club of Washington, DC Executive Board, the past secretary for the D.C. Area Phi Beta Kappa Association Executive Board, and the announcer and anthem singer for volleyball and anthem singer for baseball atLoudoun Valley High School. Dr. Moore is particularly interested in supporting any cause that benefits the youth of Loudoun County.

“Anything involving the youth of Loudoun is important to me. That translates in a practical measure to me singing the national anthem,” said Dr. Moore. “I take it very seriously. As pediatricians in our practice, we try to support the whole child. We try to help them develop. We try to be a part of a community that they’re a part of. To be able to go out there as an American and sing this song that I love, for this country that I love, while seeing those kids out there, there’s nothing quite like that.” Dr. Moore is also a proud volunteer singer for the Master Singers of Virginia, an enormously talented, mostly a cappella ensemble.

His community involvement goes even further than his musical endeavors. Dr. Moore is a dedicated blood donor and emphasized the importance of blood donation for anyone who is able. “Just one whole blood donation can save up to three lives, and it only takes 15-30 minutes of your day,” said Dr. Moore. Dr. Moore has already donated one gallon of blood and is working on completing his second gallon.

Dr. Moore’s volunteer work is a reflection of his appreciation of Loudoun County. According to Dr. Moore, the county has a unique community mindset that is a challenge to find elsewhere. “Loudoun County is big, but it’s still small enough that you know everyone. It keeps you accountable. You’re going to do right by people because you should, but also you’re going to run into them later and you want to keep the relationship strong.”

“I remember going to a volleyball game and looking out at the captains before the game. Two from one team were my daughter and her friend, both patients of my practice. One of the two captains from the other team was also a patient of our practice. On another occasion at a baseball game, I noticed one of the teachers in the crowd was a former patient of mine. One of the senior players on the diamond was a current patient of mine. I looked at the dugout for the opposing team, and the head coach was one of my former patients,” Dr. Moore said. “I think to myself, I know these people. They come to see me, and I see them in the community. I’m singing the anthem for all Americans, but also for them. That means a lot to me.”

Dr. Moore believes his work with Pediatric Healthcare is an investment in the community and in the individual patients who visit his office. Pediatric Healthcare has a vast reach. The group serves counties in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland and has two offices, one in Sterling on the Eastern side of Loudoun County and one in Leesburg. Loudoun Medical Group has 145 locations from Leesburg to south of Washington, D.C. into Maryland and West Virginia. The award-winning medical group offers patients professional excellence and distinguished care from doctors who believe in the health and success of the community as a whole.

“I often tell my patients when they grow up and are leaving my care: “This is personal for me.  I’ve made an investment in you, and I expect a return on my investment–not for me, but for the next generation. You pay it forward.””  Dr. Moore concluded.