Charles A. Ternent, MD

Colon and rectal surgeon Charles Ternent, MD, wants his patients to know that together, they're a team.

"We're in the same boat through the whole surgical process – preparing for surgery, having surgery, then recovering from surgery and follow-up, sometimes for years," he said. "This is something that we're in together." Dr. Ternent, who sees patients at Methodist Physicians Clinic Colon and Rectal Surgery, believes the most important part of a provider-patient relationship is making sure his patients know what he knows. He strives to make sure his patients are "well-informed and know exactly what they're up against."

To him, The Meaning of Care means taking care of the whole patient, a part of Methodist's culture he admires.

"The culture is such that it's all geared toward the patient – all the way down from the staff that keeps the hospital running, the nursing staff, all the ancillary services," he said. "That's something that as a doctor, it just makes a big difference to know that your patients are going to be well taken care of no matter what."

What Dr. Ternent most enjoys about his profession is guiding his patients through successful outcomes. He recalls treating a recently married patient in their 20s who was diagnosed with rectal cancer.

"At that point, nobody knew where this was going to take us," he said. "And in the end, seeing them come through – now 10, 15 years later, doing well with a family and a great quality of life – that really highlights why we do patient care."

In his free time, Dr. Ternent enjoys spending time with his wife and five children ñ four girls and one boy.