General Surgery

Success Stories

Grateful Hernia Patient says UM Surgeon Patricia Turner Has an "Aura of Confidence"

My name is Jack Lueben and I am thrilled to share my story about my surgeon, Dr. Patricia Turner of the University of Maryland Medical Center. I live in Urbana, Maryland and saw a local general surgeon for a large bulge that was in my groin. Upon evaluation, this general surgeon felt that my case was complex and that I needed to be seen by someone that was an expert. I was referred to the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Hernia Center, where I saw Dr. Patricia Turner in December 2008.

Dr. Turner spent an extensive amount of time reviewing my notes, as well as discussing some pertinent past medical history. I have a condition in which general anesthesia can cause me to have vertigo and unbalance for a 24-hour or longer period of time. This was a major concern to me when seeing Dr. Turner, but this also became a major concern to her too. What impressed immediately was the way that she did not let this remain a concern, but rather took the time to discuss my case first with an anesthesiologist at the Medical Center. I saw Dr. Turner again in January to further review my case and conditions, and to sign consent for the surgery. I felt very reassured when she took the time to discuss all matter related to the anesthesia as well as the actual procedure.

On February 2, 2009, I had my surgery with Dr. Turner. I was scheduled to only have a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair on the right side, however as I was being wheeled into the operating room, I asked Dr. Turner if she would not mind taking a look on the left side too as I had been experiencing some discomfort. I also asked her if she could look into my abdomen too to possibly determine why I was experiencing pain for many years near the incision site from a prior appendectomy.

When the surgery was done and after I woke up in the recovery room, I saw Dr. Turner’s smiling face. She was there to discuss with me the specifics of what she did. Dr. Turner had discovered that I in fact had a bilateral inguinal hernias and thus repaired both, but she also discovered that the reason for my pain near my appendectomy incision site was due to a lot of scar tissue that had attached to my intestine. Dr. Turner stated that she did a procedure that would help with this and hopefully give me much needed pain relief.

Due to the before-mentioned issues with the anesthesia as well as due to the nature of the procedures, Dr. Turner felt that it was best to be admitted to the hospital for observation. Dr. Turner had to leave town that evening for a speaking engagement, however she discussed some particulars with my wife and son after the surgery, and also made sure that her colleague who was going to be covering for her, knew what was going on. I was happy with the care that I received while in the hospital, as well as with the level of understanding that the physician who was covering for Dr. Turner had in regards to my case. While she was away at her speaking engagement, I was thrilled when Dr. Turner personally called me to check up on me and to make sure that I was on my way to a speedy and comfortable recovery.

I have since had two surgical follow up appointments with Dr. Turner since my initial procedure and can say that she is AWESOME! She is extremely comforting and there is this ‘aura of confidence’ that was around her when she was treating me. I just felt so re-assured by everything that she did and said to me. I knew that I was in the right hands and I would go back to see Dr. Turner for anything that was within the scope of her specialty. I live about an hour away from Baltimore, but it is well worth the drive to come to a place such as the University of Maryland Medical Center and to receive such care from someone like Dr. Patricia Turner. I cannot say enough about her abilities.

In April 2009, I sent Dr. Turner a letter and ended it with the following saying: Esse quam videri…To be, rather than to seem, and I will end this story the same way. Thank you again Dr. Turner.

This page was last updated on: July 16, 2009.

If you would like to make an appointment or talk to someone about our services, please call 1-800-492-5538 (patients) or 1-800-373-4111 (physicians).