For over 30 years, Dr Tim Harris has served the community and the area.
Harris has now retired after 34 years as a surgeon, including private practice and two decades at Newman Regional Health Medical Partners, and he says retirement was a tough decision after lightening his workload the last two years.
Harris joined KVOE’s Morning Show to discuss his career, which started in 1991 — coincidentally with a meeting on the day St Mary’s Hospital closed. A Dodge City native, Harris was previously serving in the US Navy in Spain when he got the call that started his career locally.
Harris says medicine was always a career goal as he was growing up.
Harris also got some advice on what career not to pursue from his dad.
Harris says he has enjoyed serving the community, in part because of the familiarity that develops over time.
Harris says Newman Regional Health is well-positioned to serve the area, and he says the current surgical team including Drs. Bradon Bitter, Dyllan Landry and Matthew Turner is knowledgeable and well-prepared.
Besides lake time, Harris still plans to follow the Kansas City Chiefs as they plan to move from Arrowhead into a new facility in Kansas CIty, Kansas, by 2031.
Newman Regional Health recently announced a shared services agreement with Coffey Health System based in Burlington. Administrators of both hospitals will be on KVOE’s Talk of Emporia at 11:06 am Friday.
Statement from Dr Tim Harris
After more than three decades of surgical practice, this December marks my official retirement from a long and fulfilling career in medicine. It has been my greatest privilege to serve the Emporia community, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and loyalty you have shown me over the years.
Since arriving in Emporia in 1991, my wife Virginia and I have been proud to call this community home. From the early days of private practice to joining Newman Regional Health Medical Partners in 2006, I’ve had the honor of working alongside dedicated professionals and caring for generations of families. Together, we’ve introduced new technologies, expanded services, and continually strived to provide the highest quality care.
As I step into retirement, I do so with full confidence in the future of Newman Regional Health. Under the leadership of CEO Cathy Pimple, the hospital is moving forward with strength, vision, and a deep commitment to our community’s well-being. I believe Newman’s brightest days are ahead.
I also want to express my confidence in the exceptional surgical team that remains. Dr. Matthew Turner, Dr. Bradon Bitter, and Dr. Dyllan Landry are not only highly skilled surgeons—they are compassionate caregivers who embody the values that make Newman Regional Health so special. I know our community will continue to be in excellent hands.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives. I will always cherish the memories, relationships, and experiences that have defined my time here. Emporia will forever be my home.
With sincere gratitude,
Timothy Harris, DO
Go Chiefs!
