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Giles with his family( back row left to right) Eugene Jr., Kimberly, Eugene III, Natasha( front row) Edwin, Amy, Bessie, Eugene Sr. and Lily
Giles with pastor C. M. Daniels Eugene & Bessie Giles
For almost 10 years, Dr. Giles developed a practice at various offices around Louisville. But, in 2002, he made the decision to determine his own location and build a practice from the ground up. That opportunity became the Omni Medical Center at 2746 Virginia Avenue in West Louisville, where he practices Internal Medicine to this day.
Though he practices medicine without any other physicians, Dr. Giles realized he doesn’ t practice alone. Just like that calling in his mind for independence, there was something beckoning him to get more involved in ministry and take a hard look at his personal faith. His family had been members of West Chestnut Street Baptist Church since 1988. Sunday school, choir, bible study and vacation bible school, they’ d done it all, but something was calling to Dr. Giles to give more.
“ I fought that calling for a long time. But, I looked back at my life and realized I wasn’ t successful on my own. I had started to think of myself in terms of what I had done, but I didn’ t do those things by myself. It was God who had opened the doors. I thought about speaking in front of the church and thought‘ Why me?’ Then I thought,‘ But really, why not me?’ I shouldn’ t be worried about making time or putting more on me than I can bear. God would always make a way for me.”
Dr. Giles went back to school and earned a Bachelors in Theology from Simmons College of Kentucky. Today, he may give a sermon at West Chestnut Street Baptist as often as once every other month to substitute for the Reverend, Dr. C. M. Daniels, and its not uncommon for the lines between minister and physician to blur.
I’ ve met, and I think those stories can be encouraging for those struggling in the church.”
For fun, Eugene and Bessie Giles see their four grandchildren whenever possible, taking them to the Fair and to the movies. They travel when possible, recently visiting New York and Las Vegas.
“ My recent hobby is cars. I bought an ' 88 Corvette that I’ m restoring, and a ' 78 Porsche 914 that I’ m also restoring. I had a patient talk to me this past week about a 1931 Red Chevrolet Al Capone style car, but I’ m pretty sure it’ s going to be too pricey. Besides, my wife told me I can’ t bring another car home,” he laughed.
Somewhere in Dr. Giles is still that little boy who made an all-important promise to his mother, and today Eugene Giles has grown into a man of faith and responsibility, blessed with a loving family and a church that’ s a second home.
Aaron Burch is the communications specialist for the Greater Louisville Medical Society.
Giles with his children and grandson, Eugene Giles III
“ If I have the time when I’ m with patients and know they have a problem, I’ ll use my ministerial side in my practice,” he said.“ A lot of people are grateful for that and appreciate it. If a patient is having a hard time, sometimes they ask me to pray for them or with them. And I also can use my medical knowledge when I’ m teaching. Jesus was a healer. I can incorporate stories and people
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