Harlan, KY – When Dr. Tim Jenkel gives a patient his personal cell phone number, it’s more than an act of accessibility — it’s a reflection of the trust he believes should exist between a surgeon and the people he serves.

“If you trust me to perform your procedure, I trust you to have my cell phone number,” he said.

In just a short time since arriving at Harlan ARH Hospital, Dr. Jenkel has done more than build a busy surgical practice. He has expanded access to care, earned a reputation for putting patients first and become deeply invested in the future of the community he now calls home.

“Dr. Jenkel practices medicine the way it was meant to be, especially in a smaller community. He sees his patients as neighbors,” said Joseph Horton, CEO of Harlan ARH Hospital. “He didn’t have to come to Harlan County. He chose to, and he is choosing to become part of the community. We are fortunate to have him.”

Dr. Jenkel brings advanced surgical training and a wide range of services to Harlan, including emergency and trauma surgery, hernia repairs, gallbladder removal, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, colorectal surgery, endoscopy and dialysis access, helping local patients receive care closer to home.

His arrival has expanded access to specialized general surgery services, allowing more patients to receive advanced surgical care close to home instead of traveling outside the region.

But for Dr. Jenkel, choosing Harlan was about more than medicine.

His grandfather and uncle were underground coal miners in Illinois and Indiana, giving him a personal connection to the values he sees throughout Appalachia.

“I can identify with blue-collar, hard-working people,” he said. “I chose to leave New England and come to a community where access to surgical care is important and where I felt my skills could benefit the community.”

“I want to thank all the members of this community who have welcomed me and put their trust in me to be their surgeon,” Dr. Jenkel said.

That trust, he says, goes both ways — and it shapes the way he practices medicine.

Beyond giving patients his personal cell phone number, Dr. Jenkel reviews CT scans with them in his office, uses photos and whiteboards to explain their care, and believes taking time to educate patients is just as important as performing their surgery.

He has also listened to what his patients need outside the exam room. After polling patients on social media, he expanded clinic access by adding evening hours from 5 to 9 p.m. on two Thursdays each month.

“My goal is simple,” he said. “Provide high-quality surgical care close to home in a way that works for real schedules and real lives.”

Outside the operating room, Dr. Jenkel has become just as invested in strengthening the community he now calls home.

He has sponsored local sports teams, funded field trips for elementary students and looks for opportunities to encourage young people to become invested in Harlan County’s future.

When Evarts Elementary thanked him publicly for helping fund a Dollywood field trip, he responded, “Happy to help. These kids deserve every opportunity to get out, learn and experience more. The thank you post from the school lifted my spirit on a tough day.”

His support stems from his belief that today’s students will become tomorrow’s community leaders.

“To me, youth are the future of the area,” he said. “I want to see them interested in bettering the area and not feel they need to move away. I understand this takes investment in the area, which I am trying to help provide in the small way I can.”

He believes extracurricular activities help build confidence, leadership skills and stronger connections to the places they call home.

“Supporting young people in our community is important to me because every opportunity we provide can help them grow, build confidence and discover what they are capable of,” he said.

This summer, Dr. Jenkel is taking that commitment a step further by launching the Harlan County Community Impact Challenge, a student competition designed to empower young people to identify local problems, develop practical solutions and make a measurable difference in their community.

The tagline captures the goal: Your Idea. Our Community. A Better Future.

“The idea behind the challenge is simple,” he said. “I want young people invested in the future of Harlan County.”

Students will submit proposals addressing local needs, complete with implementation plans, budgets and measures of success. Projects may focus on beautification, recreation, education, tourism, environmental initiatives or programs benefiting youth or seniors.

Full details will be released later this month on Dr. Jenkel’s professional Facebook page, with winners announced in January 2027. Because he is still relatively new to Harlan County, Dr. Jenkel said a panel of local community leaders will evaluate the proposals.

“The future of this area depends on investing in the next generation of leaders, innovators and problem solvers,” he said. “This challenge will help students learn how to take an idea from concept to reality and hopefully encourage a sense of investment back into Harlan County.”

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