Samuel T Summers, MD

Meet The Doctor

What can a patient expect when they have you as a doctor?

I am a very patient-oriented physician. A lot of my patients have been coming since I first started practicing and I fully expect them to continue coming until they no longer need me. I am a firm believer in the Golden Rule and try my best to follow it. I have had my own health issues over the past couple of years and I feel that experience has made me a better medical provider since I now know what it is to be on the "patient side".

What is the most important factor in a doctor patient relationship and why?

Trust and understanding are the most important factors in a doctor-patient relationship to me. If you cannot trust your provider then something is missing in the relationship. The same goes for the provider being able to trust that the patient will heed my instructions which are in place to help the patient more healthy.

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy when you're not working?

Over the years, free time has been a rarity for my wife and me. We have 5 children and they really keep you busy with their activities. However, they are all grown and pursuing interests of their own now, so I like to piddle in the yard, grow a small vegetable garden, watch movies and spend quality time with my wife and grown children when they have time for good ole Dad.

What about your line of work do you find the most rewarding and why?

I find the relationships you forge with your patients to be most rewarding. Some of my patients I have watched grow from birth to adulthood and feel proud that I was there to see them thru some tough times or just make sure they stayed healthy through the years.