Orthopedic Surgeon Timothy Gray, MD, was raised on a family farm in Cullom, Ilinois, the youngest of six children. “My dad really valued education and he passed that value on to all of us. He said, ‘That’s how you get ahead,’” Dr. Gray recounted. “I knew that I didn’t want to work as hard as a farmer.” So he entered what had become the new family business: medicine.
Dr. Gray’s siblings were already forging their way; they would go on to become a hematologist/oncologist, ophthalmologist, veterinarian, chiropractor and nurse.
“I love working with my hands. I worked in construction in the summers framing up houses, being the ‘mud man’ on a bricking crew, and roofing, so knew I wanted to do something with my hands. Orthopedics is really just carpentry on people. I love my job!” Dr. Gray said.
To prepare, Dr. Gray attended University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and then University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago Campus. During his residency, Dr. Gray was fortunate to rotate through five hospitals and learn from five attending physicians, all with different styles and characters.
Dr. Gray found his passion in general orthopedic surgery and now treats trauma; issues of the ankles, hips, knees and shoulders; long bone fractures and wrist fractures.
“I really enjoy the physical nature of the job, but the most rewarding aspect is when patients return for their six-week check-ups and they don’t need to be seen again,” he said.
Dr. Gray readily puts people at ease with his sense of humor, something that comes naturally to him. “I try to keep my interactions with patients light-hearted and share information with them in a fun way to help them understand the situation or procedure. It’s their body and they have to understand the procedure,” he said.
A practicing orthopedic surgeon since 1993, Dr. Gray appreciated being able to balance family and work commitments while his children were at home. “I work to live and have been able to modify my schedule to accommodate my kids’ school and activity schedules. I’ve never missed an event!” he said.
Dr. Gray and his wife, Diane, have four adult children – Natalie, Nicole, Nate and Naomi – and five grandchildren. They all live in Effingham.
Always on the go, Dr. Gray is a published author of fiction and an occasional stand-up comic. He also enjoys golf and snow skiing.
To make an appointment with Dr. Gray, call the SBL Bonutti Clinic at 217 342-3400.