ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Jacquelyn S. Turner, MD, FACS, FASCRS

What years were you at UTHealth Houston?

2001-2005 In what capacity? Medical Student

What is your current work position? (Describe what you do in your current position)

I am Vice Chair of Surgical Education and Section Chief of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Tulane School of Medicine, Department of Surgery. As Vice Chair of Surgical Education, I ensure that there is a continuum of education from our pre-med students to our junior faculty. I help to run our pathway programs for high school and collegiate students in the New Orleans area. I ensure quality education with our clerkship, residency, and fellowship programs. Nationally, I’ve helped to improve the UME to GME transition. I am involved in our transition to practice curriculum and helping junior faculty get the tools they need to be educators themselves. As Section Chief of Colon and Rectal surgery, I am working towards the expansion of the colon and rectal services within the Tulane system. I also work to improve the quality of care for colon and rectal patients through outreach, collaboration and embracing innovation.

What are you most proud of accomplishing since you left UTHealth Houston?

UT was my first exposure to academic medicine. This program set great precedents for what accomplished surgeons look like. I looked up to my chief residents on my surgery rotation as a medical student and I wanted to emulate the female surgeons. I am grateful that I have been able to follow a similar path and train several medical students as past clerkship directors and residents as past CCC and PEC chairs. Furthermore, I have also intentionally worked at large urban hospitals whose patients have trouble accessing healthcare and insurance. As an advocate for quality care, I’ve worked with the hospital to provide innovative care (such as robotic services for colorectal patients) to an indigent patient population. Therefore, I am proud of the trainees I may have influenced and the care I have given to a vulnerable patient population.

What is your fondest memory of your time at UTHealth Houston?

There were many good memories at UTHealth Houston!! I have lifelong friends that I met at medical school. I’ve kept in touch with friends who went into colorectal surgery, friends of other specialties, and friends who are not clinically practicing but are dedicated to medical education. To this day, we still talk about some of the events our class of 2005 hosted such as bar-b-ques and retreats. I am so glad to have had them for support then as we got through late nights in the cadaver lab and now as we navigate through life.

What advice would you offer to current students interested in surgery?

Current students interested in surgery should get as much advice as they can from surgery residents and surgeons about this specialty. Students who are interested in surgery should take advantage of the student membership of the American College of Surgeons which has a lot of resources for students. I would also advise 4th-year students interested in surgery to use their fourth year wisely by choosing to rotate on rotations that will help them be good surgical interns. Such rotations include cardiology, pulmonary /critical care, nephrology, endocrine, and radiology. As a surgeon, we still manage a lot of medical issues. Reinforcing medical knowledge with some internal medicine rotations during the fourth year will help students to set up a stronger foundation for being a solid physician.

When you are not at work, how do you spend your time?

I try to stay physically active because I love food. I used to play soccer and tennis. But, as these are group sports, they were becoming difficult with my schedule. Currently, I am staying active by running 5Ks and playing golf. Outside of staying active, I love to travel.