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Donn Turner, M.D., Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery, P.C.

While growing up, “my intention and desire was to be a professional pilot, just like my father was,” Turner relates. Dr. Turner, neurosurgeon with Front Range Center for Brain and Spine Surgery, P.C., is a second-generation Colorado native born in Denver. He and his twin brother, Bruce, both applied and were accepted to the Air Force Academy with the intention to fly. “My brother was the first to change his mind and accepted admittance to Colorado College in Colorado Springs. I also turned down the Air Force Academy after a last minute talk with my dad. He said he thought I would be bored with flying. He felt I could do something more important with my life and encouraged me to go to Colorado College with my brother.”

Dr. Turner’s father had much to do with what he became and the career he chose, but his brother was also a great influence on him. “We were always very competitive and there’s no doubt he influenced me greatly to work hard and excel.” It is interesting, he adds, that both brothers changed careers and did not grow up to become what they thought they would. “My brother always wanted to be a doctor, but turned down medical school to eventually become a diplomat for the U.S. State Department. I always wanted to be a pilot, but turned down pilot training to become a doctor.”

Dr. Turner received his doctorate of medicine in 1978 from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. During medical school, Dr. Turner started thinking about a specialty in neurology but realized he enjoyed surgery even more. “I had two surgical procedures done on my neck during medical school by neurosurgeons and admired them. I decided I wanted to be like them and do that kind of work.” He completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Iowa in 1984, then moved to Fort Collins and joined Front Range Center for Brain and Spine Surgery later that year. Dr. Turner was certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery in 1986 and became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1988.

What he loves most about his career is “figuring out each patient’s individual puzzle, looking at lots of cool images, and then planning the best way to get them back to their life,” he says. Dr. Turner enjoys the act of performing surgery because it requires knowledge, discipline, exactness, and artistic talent, blending these qualities together to obtain an excellent result.

“There is real beauty in an operating room,” he adds, with the efficiencies and camaraderie among the entire crew of nurses, orderlies, technicians, and partners all working together to get the best outcome for the patient. “There is something fantastic about being able to fix a patient’s health problem with one’s hands.”

Even though he loves his career, Dr. Turner says his great passion is his family. “My first passion is truly my wife and children. Though I love neurosurgery and it has shaped me, I try to spend every spare second I have with my family. Skiing has been a great family pastime as was camping and fishing when the kids were younger. As my kids leave the nest, my wife and I are trying golf and a little tennis.”

Dr. Turner met his wife, Mary Kay, while she was a manager for Poudre Valley Health System. Because they were both in their mid-thirties, Dr. Turner says they decided to start a family right away and feels very fortunate to have had kids without difficulty before it was too late. “I truly made the best decision ever with my wife, and I absolutely adore my kids and am extremely proud of each of them. I don’t have many outside interests unless it somehow involves them.”

Dr. Turner and his wife have been married for 22 years and have three children: Kyle, age 20, attending Colorado College in Colorado Springs; Leah, 18, attending University of Denver; and Kara, 16, a Junior at Fossil Ridge High School. “My wife became a stay-at-home mom after our third child was born and is very involved in their schools, the National Charity League, and several other charities. She helps me get involved in the community outside of medicine.” Dr. Turner says he and his family love Fort Collins and are passionate about giving back to the wonderful community that has given them so much.