Oak Bluffs-born Dr. Thomas Allingham, now of Ridgeland, Miss., was honored as 2011 Alumni of the Year at Cape Cod Community College yesterday.

The 1974 graduate called the college the place where he moved from “lost” to inspired.

Today, Dr. Thomas Allingham is interim chair of the department of anesthesiology, associate professor of surgery and the associate director of the surgical intensive care unit at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

In ceremonies at the Cape Cod Melody Tent, Dr. Allingham was brought on stage by college president Kathleen Schatzberg to receive his citation.

The college was transformational for the Martha’s Vineyard youth. “When I graduated from high school I was lost,” Dr. Allingham wrote, “torn between joining the military and pursuing my education. I decided to try 4 C’s. During the two wonderful years there, I discovered what I really wanted to do with my life. Much of that had to do with the courses and the professors It is because of this that I have so enjoyed the teaching I have done, and the young lives I have touched.

“I am a vocal proponent of the community college system. I have used my example to try to show that you do not have to start out at a prestigious university to be successful in life. I make it a point to let people know that I started out at CCCC.”

After graduating from Cape Cod Community College, he continued his undergraduate education at Fitchburg State College, graduating magna cum laude in 1977, and went on to graduate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1984. His professional training continued with an internship at Clarion Osteopathic Hospital and a residency in anesthesiology at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Dr. Allingham served 21 years of active duty in the United States Naval Medical Corps, retiring in 2006 at the rank of Captain. His duties included service in both Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. His last active-duty assignment was as Commanding Officer of the Medical Treatment Facility of the United States Naval Ship Comfort. In 2005, he had the privilege of taking the ship to the Gulf Coast supporting relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

After his Naval retirement, he worked in private practice in rural Tennessee for 18 months before discovering that he missed the academic aspects of medicine. In 2008, he joined the faculty of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he was named Teacher of the Year in his first year at the institution. He’s published several professional articles including an abstract recently on teaching communication skills to anesthesia residents.

For Dr. Allingham, it’s not all about medicine and academia. He notes, “I have a wonderful family including my wife, five children and soon to be six grandchildren. In addition to my family I try to stay young by competing in masters-age-group track and field. I am the silver medalist for the state of Mississippi, in my age group in the javelin, 100 meter and 200 metre sprints..”