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ARCHBOLD.ORG •
SPRING 2015
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how to handle certain situations that
ED doctors encounter, how to maintain
a positive work environment in the ED,
and how to interact with patients and
their families.
“Dr. Connell has truly taught me what
it means to be a doctor,” he said. “I have
watched as the touch of his hand has
calmed and silenced an anxious patient
who was very scared and concerned
about the symptoms she was experi-
encing. Dr. Connell simply placed his
hand on her shoulder as he listened to
her breathing. The moment his hand
touched her, she stopped talking and
became calm. She began to slow her
breathing and her heart rate. I have
watched this same scene happen again
and again.”
Griner said one thing he has really
appreciated about his experience at
Archbold is that Dr. Connell and the ED
staff has exposed him to every aspect of
their work.
“I have watched people be healed,
and I’ve watched people be brought
back to life,” he said. “I’ve also observed
as resuscitation efforts have ended. But
through it all I’ve seen firsthand how the
doctors and nurses conduct themselves
in a professional and compassionate
manner. The Archbold team has given
me the privilege of seeing their reality
in the hospital for what it truly is, and
they’ve taught me how to handle each
situation with respect and compassion.”
Dr. Connell said that from his very first
day Griner was eager to learn and eager
to help.
“Trent is outgoing, polite, and respect-
ful toward the patients and employees,”
said Dr. Connell. “Most importantly,
he seems to possess the fortitude and
easy-going attitude that are necessary
for a long career in medicine, even when
things get tough.”
Griner will graduate from Brookwood
this spring, and he’ll attend Berry College
in the fall to study biology with a pre-
med concentration and philosophy.
From there, he hopes to attend the
Medical College of Georgia for medical
school. And as one of Griner’s biggest
fans, Dr. Connell is confident he has
taken the right steps to accomplish his
goals.
“Pursuing a career as a physician is
no easy task,” Dr. Connell said. “After
high school, you endure at least eleven
more years of training. You have to be
committed. Most importantly, you have
to be sure this is what you want to do.
I admire Trent for doing his homework
and spending time in the ER. By seeing
firsthand what we do, he can more
confidently make his career choice.
Many students spend years pursuing
medicine, only to find out it’s not what
they thought. I think his experience will
also provide motivation throughout
his higher education. His goal is now
more tangible, and it will be a constant
reminder of why he has to work hard,
study hard and develop himself into the
man he hopes to become.”
“My volunteer experience at Archbold
has certainly encouraged me to one
day return to Thomasville to practice
medicine in the Archbold ED,” Griner
said. “Archbold is a fine institution and it
has become such an integral part of my
life. It would mean everything to me to
be able to return to Archbold one day
to work as a doctor and give back to the
hospital and physicians who invested so
much in me.
The future of care
“I’m proud of Trent, as I know his parents
are. They have done a wonderful job
raising him,” Dr. Connell said. “I always
tell Trent that he is going to be my boss
one day. By the time he’s done with
training, I’ll be ready to cut back a little
anyway. But all joking aside, he’s the kind
of person I would want taking care of me
or my family in the decades to come.
“I’m honored and humbled that Trent
considers me to be a mentor. I think the
same could be said about any of my
colleagues. We have a great group of
doctors who care about this community.
I think it is awesome that we have
someone who wants to pursue a career
in medicine and wants to return to
Thomasville. Of course I’m biased,
but I think there is something special
about providing medical care to the
people you grew up with. Our patients
are our friends and our neighbors. They
are the people we interact with in the
community. It makes caring for the
patient personal to each of us. I imagine
this will be one of the most rewarding
things for Trent when he begins his
practice of medicine.”
Griner has learned much from Dr. Connell, but he says some of the most important lessons
he’s learned are how to handle certain situations that emergency doctors encounter, how
to maintain a positive work environment in the ED, and how to interact with patients and
their families.