DURING
my medical school training
at the Medical College of Wisconsin
in Milwaukee, I pictured myself as
a pediatric cardiologist or intensive
care physician. But an obligation in
the Uniformed Health Services meant
practicing General Pediatrics before I
could pursue any post-residency training.
A challenge that changed my life
One night, as a senior medical student
on my obstetrics rotation, I was called
to help in the delivery room. Four
mothers were about to deliver, and only
one attending and one Family Practice
resident and myself were available. A
major snowstorm had hit the small city
and there were no reinforcements on their
way. The attending physician stationed me
along with an experienced OB nurse in
Lest we forget
I have studied the military medical
history of the frontline medics. The
legacy of their relief of suffering lives
on in our emergency response teams
today. Our very hospital was dedicated
to the men and women of World War I
and the sacrifices they made for you and
me. Langlade Hospital and the military
veterans will always have a special place
in my heart.
25 years of
serving you
Jay Turnbull, MD, is thankful for his life
James Turnbull, MD, has been practicing Family Medicine in Antigo since 1987. We
feature him in this issue as a tribute to his medical practice, his patients, his family
and his ability to enjoy retirement at the end of this year. Langlade Hospital, the
Aspirus General Clinic and the community wish Dr. Turnbull nothing but the best!
the room with a mother who was about to
deliver her fourth baby. This was my first
solo delivery. The experience was life-
changing. I found out that the only way
you could take care of mothers, babies,
kids and adults was to be a family practice
doctor. My focus changed, and I took a
rotation in geriatrics to learn all I could.
My family practice residency in Saginaw,
Michigan, was a great opportunity to
step into hospice care as well as refine my
exposure to the aging population while
working in several local nursing homes
and enhance my full-spectrum family
care. With completion of my residency in
1987, the search for a position to fulfill my
obligation led me to Munsee Community’s
Health Care Center and the General Clinic
of Antigo, where I practiced full-spectrum
family medicine.
Living history
Outside of medicine my passion lies
in restoring old military vehicles. Each
army truck has a story—where it’s
been, what it’s seen, who it’s carried.
My father had a fear that everyone
would forget his comrades’ sacrifices
in World War II, and that was imprinted
in me early on. My love of all things
mechanical was a perfect fit to maintain
old military vehicles. I feel blessed
to keep alive a working, touchable
presence of those who want to keep the
legacy moving. I do my best never to forget
what my father lived through and what
each generation has to be thankful for.
With my impending retirement, I look
forward to making up for lost time with
my wife, Mary, and our family. I will be
finishing up the restoration of several
more old army trucks and firing up the
legacy flame in my travels.
10
Pathways •
