Methodist Physicians Clinic welcomes Dr. Turco to family medicine team

According to Michael Turco, MD, his journey to medical school was anything but traditional.

“There was a long period of time where I went through various jobs,” he said. “Everything from being a line cook to working out of a shipping dock for a store. I also worked as a fundraiser before deciding that I wanted to go back to school.”

With interest in law and medicine, he left his fate up to a literal flip of a coin.

“I took a stab at something I didn’t know anything about, and I found out that I loved it,” said Dr. Turco, who sees patients of all ages at Methodist Physicians Clinic. “I absolutely fell in love with it.”

And narrowing down a specialty was easy for the self-proclaimed “dabbler.”

“With family medicine, you learn a little bit of internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, cardiology, pulmonology – every ology you can think of,” he said. “Knowing I could do a little bit of everything is what excited me most.”

Dr. Turco has particular interests in behavioral, preventive, and women’s health. But what he loves most about his job is helping people navigate their health in a way that’s most meaningful to them.

“As doctors, we get to be that person who walks alongside you or kind of meets you halfway and says, ‘I can help you with that. I can give you a sense of direction. I can give you an answer. Let's walk through this together. Let's figure it out.’”

And helping his patients with whatever they need, when they need it, he said, is what The Meaning of Care is all about.

“I may provide the care, but the meaning is generated by the person I’m sitting across from,” he said. “They might need a medical expert in that moment. They might need help figuring out the medication they’re taking. Other times, they may be feeling great and need a simple checkup. Maybe it’s help with prioritizing health goals – and a coach to help them get there. Or, maybe it’s simply an honest conversation – a shared human experience. That’s The Meaning of Care, and it looks so different for each person.”

Outside of the time he spends with his patients, Dr. Turco enjoys tending to his pet fish, weightlifting, cooking – “not baking, terrible at baking,” he admits – and spending time with his family.