Ellington

Familiar with hard times and a witness to his mother's sacrifices, Dr. Justin Turner wanted to make his mom, Janice Armstrong, proud.

"I know that I wanted to do something in life where I would be able to help her," he says. "And as I got older, I realized that I really enjoyed making a difference in other 
people's lives."

Turner was born in Natchez Aug. 16, 1981. He lived in Fayette and Port Gibson for portions of his childhood and then moved to Vicksburg at age 16. Turner is the oldest of two brothers, Wesley, 24 and Quin, 32. He also has two sisters, Megan, 22, and Coshunda, 33.

He recalls that, when he was growing up, his mother spent little money on herself. "She made sure we were cared for first," he says.

He and his siblings had to do without some of the luxuries other children he knew enjoyed. He says he wore hand-me-downs from church members and cousins.

Turner realized he wanted to go to medical school when he attended a career fair during his time at Port Gibson Middle School. "The doctor said, 'If you want to do something in life that will really make a difference in peoples lives, then I encourage you to get a job as a physician,'" Turner recalls.

"That was the first time a doctor came to speak to me. So once I was exposed to it, it heightened my interest," the 32-year-old says. "And from then on, I inquired, I read, I made good grades and met other doctors. I got connected with other people who provided wise counsel, and I decided to be a physician and be the change I wanted to see."

Turner attended Jackson Sate University until 2003 and went on to Meharry Medical College in Nashville, where he graduated in 2008. Turner opened his own practice in Jackson in November 2013 as an internal 
medicine physician.

The doctor sees his patients as individuals and believes that popping pills is not the solution to all medical problems. "The mind, body and spirit are not separate entities," Turner says. "They are all related. I would fail you if I didn't consider the mental and emotional conditions you have. All those factors play a huge role in your total well-being."

Turner believes that his responsibilities as a physician extend to giving back to the 
Jackson community.

"I waited so long for the moment to be a doctor and do something in the community," Turner says. "I want to take something outside of these four walls and speak to students, do health fairs and obesity events."

Even though he enjoys traveling around the country, Turner says Jackson is where 
he belongs. "There is a tremendous amount of resources and talent here," Turner says. "I feel I have the opportunity to make the impact Jackson needs. ... This is home for me."