Dr. Swindle prepares for busy retirement
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| Dr. Tyler Swindle is retiring from practicing obstetrics and gynecology at the Woman's Clinic. |
For many people, taking a break requires little effort. Dr. Swindle’s plans, though, include taking the necessary continuing education credits to keep his medical license so he can do volunteer work, continuing his involvement with State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company because of his commitment to tort reform, becoming a master gardener and taking trips with his wife to such places as northern Europe and Alaska.
Dr. Swindle retires from the Woman’s Clinic, where he has practiced since 1974. Over the last decade, he has gradually changed his responsibilities as he first stopped practicing obstetrics and then phased out all surgery, focusing his practice on office gynecology. After looking at his career and accomplishments, it’s easier to understand what he considers to be “taking a break” by retiring.
Dr. Swindle was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and remained in the state for his medical degree at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine at Little Rock. His internship was spent at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock.
From Arkansas, Dr. Swindle and his wife, Kathryn, moved to England for three years with the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Swindle served as commander and director of base medical services and earned a commendation medal as a Major in the Air Force. “One day I was an intern,” he recalls. “The next day I was in charge.”
After his stint in the military, Dr. Swindle had his obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Tennessee at Memphis and stayed an extra year as an assistant professor of OB-GYN.
In December of 1974, the Swindles moved from Memphis to Jackson. “Dr. Don Lewis was my supervisor when I was a resident in medical school,” says Dr. Swindle. “He had moved to Jackson and we decided that it was also a good move for us. The reputation of the medical community was good and has always been good.”
Dr. Swindle has seen the growth of the community as Jackson has more than doubled and positioned itself as the center of medical care in West Tennessee. “I see patients from as far away as Corinth, Mississippi; southern Kentucky; Blytheville, Arkansas; and all the way from Memphis and Nashville,” he says.
During his career, Dr. Swindle has witnessed a dramatic transition in medical care. “With the technology changes,” he says, “there are many more outpatient procedures because of laparoscopic surgeries of all types. There are not as many open surgeries any more.”
Dr. Swindle’s career has been marked with professional memberships and board appointments that support a variety of institutions and causes. He has been chief of staff at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, chairman of the OB-GYN medical committee three times, president of the West Tennessee Physicians’ Alliance, president of West Tennessee Consolidated Medical Assembly, and a clinical instructor in OB-GYN at the UT Family Practice Center. He was elected by his peers to “Best Doctors in America” six times.
In retirement, Dr. Swindle will remain dedicated to a cause that he says has helped define his career. He will continue on the executive committee of State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company, which was formed in the 1970s by a group of physicians concerned by a lack of medical liability coverage. The company now provides coverage for more than 16,000 physicians in Tennessee and the surrounding states. “People recognize me as their advocate on tort reform,” Dr. Swindle says.
Aside from professional obligations, Dr. Swindle has committed himself to the community. He was a charter member of the Jackson-Madison County Library Foundation, served as president of Community Concerts and the Lambuth Tip-Off Club and is a long-time member of First United Methodist Church.
He and his wife are lifetime members of the Jackson Symphony Board and open their home regularly to symphony functions. Mrs. Swindle played the French horn for more than 20 years with the symphony. “Tyler played the trumpet in college,” she says. “We first met when he marched behind me in band. I thought he was better than I was, but he was busy pursuing other things so he had to stop playing.” Each attended Arkansas State University on music scholarships.
Now that he is stepping away from his day-to-day professional activities, Dr, Swindle looks forward to spending more time with family and hobbies. He has two children and four grandchildren. His hobbies include an extensive antique English pewter collection he began while in the military. He also plans to play more tennis with his wife, visit relatives in Arkansas, relax at Pickwick Lake, and take those master gardening classes. You also will find him at the ballpark where he roots for the Diamond Jaxx and the Cardinals.
Dr. Swindle may be keeping busy during his retirement, but he understands what he will be leaving behind when he retires form the Women’s Clinic this summer. “I’ll miss the people most,” he explains. “My patients and the office staff – they are all kind of an extended family.”
“I’ve enjoyed seeing different generations of patients – it’s kind of neat,” he says. “Wherever I go throughout West Tennessee, I see patients of mine. I think women have a special relationship with their gynecologist. It was always such a pleasure delivering babies and then caring for the mothers in later years.”