Meet Dr. Charles DeWare: Texan by birth, internal medicine resident by profession, and frog-grabbing enthusiast by reputation, now making his mark at UMMC.
Tell us about you.
I am from Jefferson, Texas, an historic steamboat town in Northeast Texas. In 2015, I moved to Lubbock, Texas on the high plains where I attended the Honors College at Texas Tech University for my undergraduate degree. Between college and medical school, I worked as a soda jerk at an old fashioned 1950s, Buddy Holly-themed ice cream shop. I stayed in West Texas for medical school at TTUHSC and graduated in 2024.
Why did you choose UMMC for residency?
After interviewing with Dr. Calvin Thigpen and Dr. Lyssa Weatherly and after interacting with many of the residents at the social, I knew I was called to come to UMMC for residency. It was very apparent to me that the people of UMMC loved working with one another and loved their patients.
The training, education, and support which the residency program provides is unmatched. The diversity and complexity of our patients’ pathologies is immense and challenging which, in turn, leads to excellent training and medical experiences. I am incredibly grateful and thrilled to be at UMMC for my residency.
Tell us about a memorable experience from training.
Walking through the halls and wards of UMMC, you never know what positive interactions you may have. On one such occasion, I was walking through the halls and recognized a familiar, smiling face walking towards me saying, “Hey Doc.” The pleasant man I had previously taken care of for decompensated cirrhosis and CKD was walking confidently towards me with a grin on his face and with no fluid retention. He hugged me and told me that he had gotten a liver and kidney transplant two weeks ago. I followed him back to his patient room, and his wife was there. I gave her a hug, and we all caught up. At the end of our conversation, I told him, “God wants to keep you around longer for a purpose.”
Interestingly, on that same day, I saw the two adult children of a father I had taken care of in his final days. I gave them hugs and conversed with them as well.
Despite the busyness of a workday, it is always wonderful to be reminded what a privilege and honor it is to serve our patients.
What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
I could give a 40-minute presentation on Jefferson, Texas, my hometown that I love. Jefferson was the furthest inland steamboat port in Texas and played a pivotal role in the westward expansion of Texas and the United States. It is a town on a bayou with numerous 19th century, New Orleans-style homes and buildings.
I could also speak of my adventures in nearby bayous and swamps. I have become known on our campus as the “frog-grabbing guy” based on a picture from Caddo Lake I used on the first day of UMMC orientation. I could talk about the color reflections of swamp eyes in the dark (white/light blue for frogs, red for alligators), how to approach a frog, and the proper hand grip to prevent frogs from causing chaos on the boat. Although I am no Steve Irwin, I would be pleased to bring some residents with me for an experience of a lifetime.
What are some small things that make your day better?
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
The small things of the day that bring me joy are a strong cup of black coffee in the morning, a beautiful day, pockets of humor throughout the day with laughs and goofy jokes, and conversations with family members or good friends. Little things mean a lot.
Where could we find you when you are not at the hospital?
I love nature and history especially where the two converge. Exploring and hiking locally in LeFleur’s Bluff State Park is a favorite activity of mine. You may also find me planning my next trip to historical locations after having read books about them.
When the opportunity arises, I love to dance especially to line dances, the Texas Two-Step, and Latin dances.
On a quieter night, I love watching classical movies especially from directors such as
Alfred Hitchcock.
What profession would you have chosen if you weren’t a physician?
If I were not a physician, I would have been an archeologist. Studying the successes and failures of previous generations has always fascinated me. In addition to watching Indiana Jones growing up, I would frequently discover artifacts from the 19th century or older in my hometown and in my backyard. The individual pieces put together tell stories about how people lived, their culture, and the conditions of their time. I hope to use this curiosity of details to discover root medical problems and to better serve my patients.
Progress Notes 