THOMAS WARREN II, MD

Tom’s journey is a twisting turning path that shows it is critical not to be afraid of change.

Tom received his BS in Biology from Baylor University in 1990, his medical degree from Texas A&M Medical school in 1994, and general surgery residency at Scott and White in Temple, TX until 1999. After practicing general surgery in both private practice and academics, the climate of medicine was changing during that decade and he was ready to reinvent himself so he then went on to do a vascular surgery fellowship from 2009-2011. He practiced open and endovascular surgery but continued to work on his own personal balance and then changed gears again in 2018. At that time, he had spent over 20 years literally putting band aids on illnesses and diseases that were “end stage”. Very little surgical or medical intervention could truly change the course of these patients’ paths. They had been making choices for years that lead to their problems. As a result of his own response to medical career demands, his career path changed. He wanted to try to intervene earlier in their lives before the die was cast. In 2018, he entered a psychiatry residency at Baylor Scott and White in Temple to focus on mental health and overall wellness.

He brings a very interesting set of skills and knowledge to the table. He has lived with intense stress/sleep deprivation and highly demanding careers. He truly knows the challenges people face and can offer empathy at a very deep level. Through his own personal journey, he has found that every choice has repercussions and with mindful decisions, choices can have positive repercussions. Daily decisions add up to decades of habits. Those habits can make the difference between enjoying a balanced, meaningful, purposeful life rather having a life of anxiety and fear.

Tom has been a guest lecturer at medical conferences to discuss burnout and resilience. Local school districts have called upon him to discuss healthy lifestyle options and self-care.

He has actively sought knowledge about mindfulness and has successfully completed the MBSR (Mindfulness Based stress reduction) course through the University of Massachusetts. He has been able to use these techniques to help people learn to handle themselves and their choices without judgement. Awareness is the first step towards improvement, operating in a kind and gentle manner to the self, which is a critical step to self-love. We need to be happy with ourselves while also recognizing areas we can change. Avidly reading books and listening to experts discuss their own personal successes has allowed Tom to add to his tool kit for himself and for others.

Tom has a deep Christian core that keeps him focused on loving his neighbors. We are all important to God. Tom has a talent for seeing a person’s worth through spiritual eyes. Daily practice in prayer and Bible reading allows him to stay humble knowing that we humans need God’s grace to truly be free.

As an Eagle scout, outdoor activities hold a special place in his life. He has been an active bicyclist his entire life. Road cycling, mountain biking, cyclocross and gravel racing all play an important role for him. He learns from his training and racing and sees parallels in training his body with training his mind. He also loves backpacking and hiking. He has successfully summited a few 14ers. His family works hard to keep up with his enthusiasm and he in turn is very forgiving when he has to slow down to help encourage them to keep going.

Through his psychiatry training, he knows there is no one size fits all method. It is not possible to make a rigid plan that is the perfect solution for all comers. Taking each person, where they are and with their skills/strengths and weaknesses, he hopes to personalize a plan that works for you. He wants us all to be our best selves because the world needs you to be the best you, which makes it easier for me to be the best me.

Instead of waiting for an appointment to discuss diseased and dying body parts with the surgeon Tom Warren of the past, it is time to wake up and turn off the auto pilot and meet with the mental health expert Tom Warren of the present. Make informed, mindful decisions every day and your future self will thank you.