When he was growing up in Marshall, young Jim Turner had no idea that he would one day be carrying on a proud tradition. A tradition that has seen Marshall natives care for family, friends, and neighbors as locally based family physicians for more than a century.
“I grew up just two blocks from the office, so really most of my life has been somewhat anchored in that area,” said Turner. “I can remember riding my bike to the medical center to see Dr. (Jim) Buechler.” Buechler was a link in the Marshall medical chain that would have a huge impact on Jim Turner’s career.
“I had some great role models,” said Turner, as he reflected on Marshall’s amazing medical history. “Dr. George Mitchell practiced here for more than 50 years, and his father practiced here before he did, so there was a Dr. Mitchell around Marshall for nearly a hundred years. Jim Buechler was also a Marshall native who not only practiced at the Medical Center but also developed the Union Hospital Family Medicine Residency program. I also had a great mentor in Dr. Steve Macke, another Marshall man from a farm family who practiced here for 25 years. When I came on board I had great mentors around me.”
Jim Turner’s career in medicine began with a bit of a question mark. “Really, when you start off, you don’t even know if you’re going to pass. You could fail.” He didn’t.
Turner would attend the University of Illinois but didn't feel he was prepared for medical school so he made the move to Decatur, Illinois. He would join a full-time ambulance service and in the early '80s would become that city's first paramedic. That experience, which included delivering a baby for the first time, led to the decision that the time was right for medical school. Along with his wife (a registered nurse and also a Marshall native), the Turners moved to Chicago, where Jim would attend the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and Connie would work in a tough Southside Chicago ER.
After graduating medical school in 1986 he contacted Dr. Jim Buechler, eager to return to the Wabash Valley and the Union Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. "Dr. Buechler took a chance on me, and I will be forever grateful," said Turner. Three years later, in late June of 1989, Dr. Jim Turner would graduate the Residency Program. Two weeks later he started seeing patients at Cork Medical Center.
In his 30 years as a Family Physician, Jim Turner has seen thousands of patients and delivered more than 900 babies. He has held many titles, including Medical Director of the Lugar Center for Rural Health, former Director of Emergency Medical Services at Union Hospital, Medical Director at Providence St.Mary's Rehab Center, and a member of the Vigo County Board of Health. He is part of the teaching faculty at the IU School of Medicine in Terre Haute, the University of Illinois and Union Hospital's Family Medicine Residency. He has traveled the world and rubbed elbows with key lawmakers, even spending time in the Oval Office. But, in the end, job one continues to be his role as a Family Physician in Marshall.
"We came home," said Turner. "We came home to family. Where our four children could have grandparents and where we could care for family and friends. We're sure we made the right decision."