Ann Heise Carrigan
1939-2021
Ann was asked to “help out” temporarily at Carolina Psychiatric Services after some adminstrative staff left precipitously. She pitched in and never left. Whether it was filing charts, making coffee, answering the phone, consoling patients or even in one case picking up laundry. Wherever Ann found a need she filled it. She had an amazing ability to remember the names and faces of patients from decades before.
For thirty-five years the psychiatrists came and went (Messervy, Nelson, Kinard, Butterfield and Grogan just to name a few,) but Ann remained as the centering force of our practice. She was often the mother hen to a brood of headless chicks.
When Covid-19 made working in a public office dangerous for her, Ann took some time off with the intent of returning within a few weeks. Unfortunately she was shortly thereafter diagnosed with ALS. The disease progressed very rapidly and she died on July 11, 2021.
In remembrance and respect we have placed a picture of Ann in the waiting room of Carolina Psychiatric Services so that she can continue the work that she loved, making our office more like home to the people seeking our help.
Robert J. Ornelas, M.D.
