Reflecting upon thirty-two years of experience treating patients with devastating brain and spinal cord injuries, James Turner, M.D. has traveled a remarkable path. Upon entering 1st grade in 1953, he didn’t meet the readin’, writin’ & ‘rithmatic developmental milestones regarded as acceptable by school administrators. This earned him the label ‘minimal brain dysfunction, ‘ a euphemism which had recently replaced the term ‘retarded’ in educator’s discussions with parents. In a series of humorous and moving vignettes, the author recounts some of the misadventures of his K-12 educational gauntlet, an abrupt pivot into the US Army at the height of the war in Vietnam, and his eventual path to the doors of Northwestern University Medical School. These escapades, the product of a youngster possessing insatiable curiosity and a remarkable capacity for activity, include some hair-raising tales; from a graveyard in Mexico to snipers on the roof of the White House. Throughout the narrative, the author weaves together stories about unlikely sources of encouragement and hope, the power of perseverance, the remarkable kindness of strangers, and the enormous influence individuals can have on the success and well-being of others.
About the author
Jim Turner grew up in small-town Southern Illinois. His fondest memories of this period are spending time with his grandmother on her small farm and roaming the surrounding woods and fields with his cousins and friends. His maternal ancestors include a long line of oral storytellers. Growing up on family tales told by his grandmother and the WWII adventures of his uncles gave him a fascination for history, and a desire to preserve the accounts of these family stories. Throughout junior high and high school, most spare time was consumed helping his aunts and uncles on their farms. In 1967, the Selective Service System interrupted his rather unpromising educational path for a two-year tour in the U.S. Army. This experience proved transformative. Following his military service, which included stationing at The Pentagon and occasional assignments at the White House, he completed pre-medical studies at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and medical school at Northwestern University.Upon completion of his training, Dr. Turner practiced and taught critical care medicine for thirty years, with special interests in neurological injuries and severe sepsis syndrome. After retiring from clinical practice in the ICU, he began a project to translate the oral history he heard as a child, along with a few of his own experiences, into written form. Time and Effort, published in January 2019 is the first product of this endeavor. He currently divides his time between his home in Northern California and the family farm in Southern Illinois. He continues to provide analysis and advice for complex medical cases, quality assurance issues, and the logistics of health care delivery. Dr. Turner is available for speaking engagements regarding health care, atypical learning patterns, and telling tall tales for fun and profit.
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