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One of the long standing hospitals in our area, Terrerbone General Medical Center (TGMC) celebrates its 60th year of service in the Tri-Parish Community because of the generations who have helped establish it as a mainstay in the area.
“The health of a community depends largely on its access to quality healthcare,” said TGMC CEO Phyllis Peoples. “But the health of a community is more than that; it’s the compassion and dedication of its citizens to each other.
TGMC has over 30 families whose legacies in the medical field have been carried on by sons, daughters and grandchildren. The TGMC community believes that it is the families who are the catalyst that keep the institution running.
“We have an extremely talented staff even though our hospital is not as big as hospitals in New Orleans or major areas, and the difference is here you are taking care of neighbors, family or friends,” Peoples said. “That makes it a much more comfortable place.”
In just the last decade, with generous support from the community, TGMC has significantly expanded services in the Tri-parish area. Between developing the comprehensive Women’s Center at TGMC, opening Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC, completely renovating TGMC’s Rehabilitation Center which is housed in the Healthy Lifestyles Center, and includes the Community Sports Institute, Wellness 360 and Workout 360 TGMC is partnering with our community to meet their needs for years to come and so that community members no longer have to travel long distances to receive critical health and wellness services
Dr. Phillip L. Cenac Sr., FACS, was one of the nine active staff members of TGMC’s inception, which was called Terrebonne General Hospital upon opening. Joining him were Dr. H.L. Haydel; Dr. Saul Landry, Sr.; Dr. Willard Ellender; Dr. Philip L. Cenac Sr.; Dr. S. Ernest Ellender; Dr. S. Clarke Collins; Dr. Buford J. Autin; Dr. Rudolph Ellender and Dr. Roy J. St. Martin.
Dr. Phillip Cenac Sr., was the first board certified general surgeon to practice in the community. His son, Dr. Christopher E. Cenac Sr., FACS orthopedic surgeon currently works at TGMC today, with his son Dr. Christopher E. Cenac Jr., AAOS an orthopedic spine surgeon.
“From a medical standpoint, my family – my father, myself and my son – we have been associated continuously with the practice of medicine at Terrebonne General H-hospital since it opened in 1954,” Dr. Christopher E. Cenac, Sr. said. “We are an old family here in Houma, one of the earliest pioneer families.”
Dr. Cenac Sr. added that it is unusual to have three generations of orthopedic surgeons in one family and said that it just happened. It was not an issue that was pressed or forced.
Due to the length of time Dr. Cenac Sr. has been practicing, he has seen the technological advances in the medical field first hand and describes it as “mind-boggling” and “remarkable,” even with the smallest changes in technology. When he was a resident at Charity Hospital, a beeper was cutting edge at the time. When he first began to practice, they had cell phones that weighed two pounds, which have been replaced iPhones.
“I was able to practice medicine with my father and use the technology at that time in the 1970s and 1980s. Then, I was fortunate enough to practice with my son when he got here in 2005 and saw what he was able to do with the most recent advances,” Dr. Cenac Sr. said. “I can tell you that it is unusual for someone to have that experience. I have had the benefit of practicing with a doctor since 1942 and seen all of the changes occurring to the present day.”
In all of that time Dr. Cenac Sr. has been in the medical field, he was adamant about two things that have remained the same and stood the test of time. The first is the doctor and patient relationship; 96% of TGMC patients today say their physicians communicate well, according to 2013 Consumer Reports. The second is the belief that medicine is an art and not a science.
“The patient goes to a doctor in the 1940s and he asks the doctor to help solve the problem and they still do that today. Medicine is an art and not a science. Everyone with a belly-ache does not have anappendicitis. The physician is trained to practice the art of medicine and that has never changed,” Dr. Cenac Sr. said. “With recent technological advances, you may go about it a little differently, but the doctor patient relationship is still personal.”
In light of the 60th anniversary, TGMC decided to dedicate one of the Suthon Oak Trees in front of the original hospital as a symbol to all of the families who have been involved for decades. Not all, but most of the trees have stood through the test of time much like some of the families. Those trees have been registered with the Louisiana Live Oak Society which helps preserve the cultures of oak trees.
“The trees were there from our start and we want to honor the numerous generations who have rooted the hospital in our community,” Peoples said. “You can see how strong those roots are and you can see how strong we’ve grown. I believe it fits.”
Peoples has been the CEO at TGMC for 12 years, but been with the organization for 19 years. She left Houma when she was younger, but returned when it was time for her to raise her own family.
As she traveled across the country, she said that there are skilled employees everywhere, but there is one special thing that brought her back.
“The thing about roots is you never forget where you started,” Peoples said. “Here in south Louisiana, we have the Cajun culture and that brings families home.”
The mission of TGMC is to provide exceptional healthcare with compassion; for their employees to “give their heart” and to help others. Part of that stems from the rich family history within the organization.
“I have a personal interest in the success of Terrebonne General because it is truly part of my family,” Dr. Christopher E. Cenac Sr., FACS said.
Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC) is rich in generational history. Pictured are TGMC physicians and employees who have contributed to the TGMC legacy throughout the last 60 years under the beautiful oak tree on its campus that has been designated as the “TGMC Family Tree” to honor the numerous generations who have rooted TGMC in the community, and helped it grow through the years.
