Meet Dr. Thomas Hicks

A job as an orderly when he was in college helped introduce Dr. Thomas Hicks to medicine. Since graduating from medical school, he has been involved in public health for much of his career as a physician – including being a physician in the Navy and for the Department of Corrections before bringing his skills and experience to Reliant Medical Group.

As an occupational medicine physician, Dr. Hicks helps injured workers deal with back and shoulder problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee and ankle injuries, as well as dermatological problems and other issues. He also works closely with employers, helping to educate employees on the best way to make the workplace safe and accident-free. “For me, the workplace is a really interesting environment, just seeing what people do and how things are made, is fascinating to me,” he explains. “Providing health care for employees is something that I really enjoy.”

One of the things Dr. Hicks encounters in his work is patients exposed to hazardous materials that can cause health problems. “I do enjoy issues around exposures. It’s kind of like detective work, figuring out whether a specific exposure is related to a particular health outcome. You can’t solve the health problem until you figure out what people have been exposed to.”

No matter what type of work he is involved in, for Dr. Hicks it all comes down to the patient. “I always treat patients per the golden rule. Taking care of patients is the ultimate privilege for me. I just treat people the way I want to be treated.”

When he is away from work, Dr. Hicks enjoys spending time with his family. He also enjoys hiking and running to stay in shape, as well as woodworking and reading.