DCMS' Office Buildings

Medical Arts Building
The $1 million Medical Arts Building on Pacific Avenue opened in March 1923. The 18-story building supplied offices for more than 300 doctors and dentists.

A DMJ article in January 1922 described the building this way: "The basement and first three stories will occupy a square of 125 cubic feet, upon which is imposed the additional 15 stories in the shape of a Maltese cross, thus giving every room equal light and ventilation… It will readily be seen that the situation will offer opportunity for what is understood as "group practice" not necessarily of co-financial concern, in a most ideal way, a way in which scientific atmosphere can be cultivated, individuality preserved, and for the patient the best benefit secured without the necessity for complication by commercial features."

In 1946 DCMS set up an office in the Medical Arts Building. There were approximately 800 members, of whom about 600 had offices in the Medical Arts Building-it was the hub of medical activity in Dallas.

In the early 1970s, the building was owned by Republic Bank. By then Dallas had spread and medical offices cropped up closer to hospitals, such as St Paul on Harry Hines and Presbyterian on Walnut Hill. The building was half empty and not occupied exclusively by physicians. The Republic Bank began to tear it down, but because it was so well-built, the demolition project took a year and half and cost $1.8 million more than it cost to build.

3630 Noble Ave.
DCMS bought the property on Noble Avenue for $5 per square foot and built a freestanding office. On March 31, 1975, DCMS moved its headquarters.

Not long after, Southland Corp, made an offer to buy the land and building that occupied part of the site where it intended to build Cityplace, an office complex with twin buildings on each side of Central Expressway. In 1982 DCMS sold the land for $35 per square foot and its building for $200 per square foot, netting a $1 million gain from the transaction. DCMS then leased the building back for a mere $10 a month for nearly three years.

140 E. 12th St.
DCMS purchased land for its current headquarters in 1984. Its investment from the sale to Southland Corp had grown to $1.7 million. With its earnings, DCMS bought the property in Oak Cliff, hired an architect, built the office space, and made an endowment of $500,000 to the Dallas Academy of Medicine, without any fund-raising or assessment to members.

The building opened in April 1985 with a boardroom, meeting room, six private offices, and six open offices. The modern architecture is filled with natural lighting and is decorated with enlarged wildlife photographs taken by member Gregory G. Dimijian, MD.

DCMS' Executive Officers

Millard J. Heath
DCMS Executive Officer
1946 to 1974

Millard J. Heath began his service to DCMS as the executive director of the Dallas County Medical Plan, but his responsibilities soon encompassed those of the entire medical society, becoming one of the earliest county medical society executives in the country. His leadership, which spanned almost 30 years, resulted in the development of methods and procedures for medical societies across the nation.

Mr Heath also was appointed executive officer of the Dallas Southern Clinical Society, and in 1972 was presented the Marchman Award, the first layman to receive it. He was one of two people elected to honorary membership in the Dallas Southern Clinical Society.

Robert L. Heath
DCMS Executive Officer
1974 to 1996

In 1969 DCMS asked Robert L. Heath to join the staff as assistant executive officer to ease the transition of the pending retirement of his father, Millard J. Heath. The younger Mr Heath was charged with helping the society meet the challenges of a rapidly growing and changing community.

The years under Mr Heath's leadership were indeed a time of growth: The medical society grew from 1600 members in 1969 to more than 5000 in 1996. His career achievements include the 1972 Measles Vaccination Drive, building the first freestanding DCMS headquarters and the current headquarters, and increasing the medical community's involvement in the legislative process.

In 1989 the DCMS Board of Directors established the Heath Award in recognition of the combined service and exemplary stewardship of him and his father. It is awarded annually to a layperson who has provided leadership and service to medicine.

Michael J. Darrouzet
DCMS Executive Officer
1997 to present

Michael Darrouzet has served DCMS since 1988, first as assistant executive officer and, since 1997, as executive officer.

Mr Darrouzet has taken membership growth to new levels. He has led the Society to become a recognized force in promoting physician advocacy in medical legislation and managed care. He has prioritized relationship-building between physician practices and managed care organizations. He was instrumental in the approval of a centralized credentialing form, initiated the DCMS Web site, and is leading DCMS in other technological advances.