HARTFORD, Conn. — Dr. Doug MacGilpin, a pediatrician who says he is “semi-retired,” hasn’t given up his holiday gig.
For the past 50 years, MacGilpin, 78, has changed from his white lab coat and into a red Santa suit.
Once again, MacGilpin is making his rounds to greet kids and their parents at Connecticut Children's. This year, he is going exclusively as Santa to drop off toys.
“I started this in 1974 when I was an intern at Hartford Hospital,” said MacGilpin, who then added, “I tell people this (being Santa) is my favorite job of the year.”
Just a week before Christmas, MacGilpin was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, at Connecticut Children's visiting all the patients and their parents.
“There is nothing greater than looking at the smiles of those kids and they look you in the eye and they believe and they believe Santa is there and it’s a wonderful experience,” he said as bells jingled around his neck.
Abbey Giuliano, a registered nurse in the NICU at Connecticut Children's, said seeing Santa makes a difference for families.
“No one wants their kid to be in the hospital during the holidays so whatever we can do to make everyone happy and bring spirit and cheer is important,” Giuliano said.
MacGilpin thinks his 50-year-long tradition of playing Santa for the patients shows no signs of stopping.
“This is what being a pediatrician is all about, it’s giving to others and to be able to do this job -- it is a really special thing for me,” he said.
Jimmy Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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