Tim B. Cummings, MD

My philosophy as a primary care physician can be summed up in one word: respect. And as Brant H. McGill once said, “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” 

It is my goal for you to feel respected and, therefore, heard. Every great medical professor has taught that listening to you is the key to every aspect of your medical care – from diagnosis to treatment. I want to listen as you describe your symptoms, your hopes, your dreams, your life goals. I want to hear all about your loved ones, your hobbies and, yes, even your favorite teams. I want you to know that behind my desire to be a great listener is a desire to hold your valued trust, as I believe the currency of a great relationship is trust.

I once made a patient laugh when I told her, “Let me worry for you; I am good at it.” Beyond listening, I want to use all my internal medicine training and experience to diagnose and solve what might be wrong clinically. I want you to feel secure knowing I have considered all the possibilities and what is needed; labs, tests and possible procedures will allow us to illuminate the problem and proceed with a solution. I consider it a privilege to “worry about you” as I would my own family. I want to be your true advocate in a medical world that is not always easy to navigate. 

I want us, together, to make decisions for your ultimate good and well-being. Having carefully listened to you and considered the possible problems and solutions, I want to give you unbiased, up-to-date, practical medical choices. I want to explain, based on your history and interpretation of your test results, what choices you have and why I might recommend certain options. (Some choices we may make together may be standard or routine, while others may show a preference you have concerning less conventional medicine.) I will work hard to keep you informed about what is known/unknown, true/untrue, proven/unproven, as we forge ahead to help improve your health and wellness.