Written by Doug Goodnough
When David May graduated from Hillsdale College in 1988 with his degree in political economy, he decided to take a sales position with a glass company in the Detroit area.
But something just didn’t seem right. After a couple of years on the job, he started having a conversation with his brother, who was a physician.
“I was looking at what he was doing and I thought, ‘Well, maybe I should be doing that,’” he said.
Returning to college, he completed his bachelor of science degree in Michigan State University’s pre-med program. Entering the Navy Reserve, May took advantage of the Armed Forces Health Scholarship Program, which paid for his medical school tuition. Once he completed MSU’s medical school, as well as his internship and residency requirements, May served a four-year stint as a Navy doctor.
“I was a physician in the U.S. Navy Medical Corridor at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas,” he said. “I was doing primary care family practice for active-duty sailors and their families.”
He said most of the sailors were part of the Navy’s mine-sweeping operation, and when America was attacked on September 11, 2001, many were deployed to the Persian Gulf.
“It was a great experience and an honor to serve,” said May, who rose to the rank of lieutenant commander during his time with the Navy.
When he completed his service to his country in 2004, he, his wife Deborah, and their two sons moved to northern Michigan, where after a brief stint in a family practice, he opened his own business, East Bay Medical. The company, located in the Traverse City area, administers drug testing and other medical compliance for business and government agencies.
“It’s a small practice,” said May, who will celebrate 20 years in business in 2025. “I’m the only doctor, and we do a lot of Department of Transportation physicals for drivers to make sure they are cleared to drive.”
May is also a medical review officer, which means he is certified to review results of drug tests for federal employees.
Although most of his time is focused on his occupational medicine practice at East Bay Medical, he also has some “side gigs.” He spent almost 15 years as the doctor for the Antrim County Jail, and he is also the medical director at Northwestern Michigan College, a two-year institution in Traverse City.
Despite not taking a political economics career path, May said he values his Hillsdale education.
“The major was a good major,” he said. “I always liked English and the humanities and economics. It was a great degree.”
He also appreciated participating in the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program as a student, as well being a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Eventually, some of his Hillsdale friends actually became family.
As a freshman living in Galloway Dorm, May befriended seniors Rick Westerhof, ’85, and Tim Cain, ’85, as well as Westerhof’s girlfriend, Sigrid Lama, ’85, who became Westerhof’s wife. May lost contact with them until about 10 years ago, when Westerhof pulled his car into the driveway of May’s Bellaire, Michigan, home.
“My kid had been playing with his kid, and I didn’t know that until [Westerhof] was wearing a Hillsdale sweatshirt,” May said. “It turned out Rick was living up here, and I didn’t know that.”
Six years later, May’s son, Colin, married Westerhof’s daughter, Johanna, a 2018 Hillsdale graduate. The couple now lives in Denver with May’s first grandchild. Now, the Mays, Westerhofs, and Cains get together each summer in northern Michigan to celebrate a mini-Hillsdale reunion of sorts.
When May isn’t at work, he enjoys the outdoor life northern Michigan offers.
“Hiking, being in the woods, and snowshoeing—those kinds of things I really enjoy,” he said. “And unfortunately, there’s not enough time to do it all. But up here by Torch Lake and Lake Bellaire, there’s tons to do in the water.”
He said there is a strong Hillsdale presence in his area, and he is proud of the reputation his alma mater has built.
“While I was at Hillsdale, I certainly didn’t appreciate what this school was. But this little school has a big reach,” May said. “It’s unbelievable that so many people know about it.”
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s senior director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in January 2025
