LAPLACE — When The Family Doctor Clinic of LaPlace first opened 35 years ago, it was surrounded by acres of cow pasture.

Dr. Christy Montegut, co-owner of the clinic and coroner for St. John the Baptist Parish, remembers the office staff leaving to go to lunch and seeing a cow standing in the middle of the parking lot.

In the years since, LaPlace has expanded rapidly, growing from a population of approximately 12,000 in the early 1980s to around 30,000 today. It’s shifted from a rural town to a busy area bustling with people and activity.

Family Doctor Clinic has withstood the changing times, remaining in its location at 429 W. Airline Highway Suite B., and Montegut and his partner, Dr. Dominic Arcuri III, have worked there full-time since they opened in 1982.

Today, they work alongside Montegut’s son, Dr. Christian Montegut, and Arcuri’s nephew, Dr. Michael Arcuri, who joined the clinic in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

Being able to help people in LaPlace, a town he has always called home, is what draws Montegut to the medical profession.

“I have no retirement plans right now,” Montegut said. “I’m still enjoying it, so I’m going to keep going as long as I can and help our younger associates build their practices.”

In celebration of 35 years, the clinic is giving away commemorative prizes and gifts throughout the month, including daily raffles for drink koozies, insulated soft cooler ice chests and gift certificates to local businesses such as Subway and Walmart.

Montegut and Arcuri first worked together in 1981 in an office located at 104 Ormond Blvd. in LaPlace. After outgrowing the office space, the two joined forces with local attorney Daniel E. Becnel Jr. to construct a medical office plaza in their current location on Airline Highway.

Family Doctor Clinic currently focuses on providing general health and wellness services, chronic disease management and minor ambulatory procedures to families in the River Parishes.

The clinic is unique from others in the surrounding area with its family-friendly, welcoming atmosphere and variety of services, according to Brenda Charles, who has worked at Family Doctor Clinic for 24 years.

“It has a mom-and-pop type atmosphere, yet we offer almost everything including blood work, EKGs and X-rays,” she said.

“We’re more focused on personal care, and it’s easier for people, especially older patients, to come here than to drive outside of the parish.”

She said the doctors do an excellent job of balancing time caring for patients and training medical students.

According to Montegut, many of his patients have stuck with him through the years, resulting in him having an older group of patients while his son and Arcuri’s nephew typically take on younger patients.

“I hope to continue to offer quality health care to the people of LaPlace,” he said.

“We try to help people stay healthy and deal with the cost of illness, and we want to be available whenever they need us.”

— By Brooke Robichaux