Retired pediatrician continues NICU tradition of spreading cheer as Santa [Video]

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 …