Interview Series: Dr. David Turk, M.D.

Dr. David Turk, a Slovenian surgeon, who specialized in urology, lives in Cleveland and is an active member of the Slovenian community.

What is your medical specialty?

Urology.

What is the name of your practice and what do you do?

My practice is known as Southwest Urology, Inc. I have 6 partners in the corporation. We have a total of 9 physicians, a nurse practitioner, and a physician’s assistant. We are a full service urology clinic with our own surgical center, and radiology, laboratory and pathology services. In addition, we have partnered to form the Northern Ohio Regional Cancer Center where we offer state-of-the-art prostate cancer treatment. As a urologist, I manage disorders of the kidney, bladder and prostate. My particular focus is minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopic, robotic, and laser surgery. I am a national instructor of robotic surgery for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. To date, I have performed over 300 robotic prostatectomies and, overall, 10,000 surgeries. I am a Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology at Case Western Reserve University.

In addition, I am currently the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Medina Hospital in Medina, Ohio.

How is your practice connected to Slovenians in Cleveland?

am connected to Slovenians in Cleveland because many Slovenian people come to see me as patients. I speak fluent Slovenian and I can communicate easily with some of the older immigrants who feel more comfortable speaking in the Slovenian language.

Do you have contacts in business or education with Slovenia?

es. I have performed surgery in Slovenia. Last July 4th, I performed surgery on three patients in Maribor in order to demonstrate a procedure I invented called "laser vaporization of the prostate under local anesthesia." I have been in contact with Dr. Meta Zorc and have been a guest of hers at her renowned cardiac institute in Izola. In addition, I will be a guest speaker at the World Slovenian Congress on May 28, 2009.

What part of your work do you experience as the most rewarding and challenging?

The most rewarding part of my work is the ability to surgically cure cancer. I feel a special bond with my patients and they have all become my friends. The most challenging aspect of my career is when I have to witness patients suffer or succumb to their illness.

How would you describe your connection with Slovenia?

I have a deep love for Slovenia. My ties to Slovenia can be seen in both my personal life and my work. For example, I have pictures from Slovenia that decorate the examination rooms in my office. Also, studies have shown that surgeons are generally more relaxed when they are listening to music they like, thus I always play Slovenian polka music during my surgeries. Even the license plate on my car reads "Slovene." With regard to my personal life, my wife is from Škofljica, Slovenia, and I have four boys who speak fluent Slovenian. Our family life revolves around our Slovenian customs and traditions.

What is your involvement in Cleveland's Slovenian community?

I am president of the health care section of the Cleveland Slovenian Businesspersons Association. I enjoy singing with the St. Vitus church choir every Sunday. My wife is a teacher at St. Vitus Slovenian School and my boys attend the Slovenian school. We are members of Slovenska Pristava in Harpersfield, Ohio and we often spend weekends there. In addition, I am the director of the annual Camp Pristava.

Do you travel to Slovenia often and do you plan on going soon?

I travel to Slovenia every year with my family. It is our annual family trip and we look forward to going every year. In addition, I will be going to Slovenia for the World Slovenian Congress at the end of May.

Are there any particular connections between Cleveland and Slovenia that you want to especially point out?

There are a lot of talented people in the Cleveland Slovenian Community and we particularly enjoy helping other Slovenians. There are many organizations that are actively involved in promoting Slovenia and strengthening Slovenian relationships. It is critical that we maintain our cultural and business ties. Speaking from a health care standpoint, we are blessed to have a very strong medical community here in Cleveland, and many physicians from Slovenia come here for conferences and education. On the other hand, I enjoy visiting Slovenian hospitals and being involved with Slovenian conferences. I particularly cherish all the Slovenian physician relationships I have made over the years.