From 1990 to 2015, Swope Health patients had the privilege of being served by Dr. James True. He started off as a psychiatrist for six years before holding the chief of psychiatry position until retirement, along with two short stints as interim medical officer when the role was vacant.
The early years
Dr. True kicked off his career with a residency at KU Medical Center for three years, which led to his training at the VA. He was a chief resident in psychiatry at the VA and at KU for six months each. After that, he worked at the Tri-County Mental Health Center – which was the precursor of Beacon Mental Health – as an inpatient psychiatrist.
North Kansas City Hospital had a behavioral health facility within the Tri-County Mental Health Center at the time.
“North Kansas City Hospital was a mental health center there for a while, and the people liked it,” Dr. True said. “Before that, they had to go somewhere south of the river, which was a big dividing point.”
While serving in the role, Dr. True worked with patients from Clay, Platte, and Ray counties. Eventually, he pursued other opportunities.
“At the time, all the mental health centers started off with federal money, but the funding amounts gradually lowered. Tri-County decided to leave,” he said. “I looked around, and my choices came down to the VA and Swope Health.”
His career at Swope Health
After considering the next steps of his career, Dr. True was intrigued by Swope Health, but was prepared to return to the VA. Asari Ratnam, M.D., Swope Health’s Chief Medical Officer at the time, talked him out of it.
“I called Dr. Ratnam to tell him I was returning to the VA, and he asked where I was and told me to wait. He drove right over to me and substantially increased the offer to come to Swope Health,” Dr. True said. “I accepted, and on my first day when I was walking though the parking lot, (Swope Health Founder and then CEO) E. Frank Ellis told me has he was glad I was there, which made me feel good.”
Upon his arrival at, Dr. True immediately noted something about the patients at Swope Health. They appreciated having someone who was concerned and would approach them about their problems on a mutual level.
“Patients were grateful to be seen at Swope Health. It wasn’t an act – they would thank you for listening to them,” he said. “They were grateful that they could come in, see somebody, sit down, and talk.”
In 1996, Dr. True was promoted to the Swope Health Chief of Psychiatry. While one of his main responsibilities was to talk to patients about their medication, Dr. True thought that if he became comfortable with his patients, they’d be comfortable with him. He built relationships with his patients by treating them like they were his friends.
“I would go to the residential houses and play frisbee with the patients, so it was a different feeling. I would talk to them and say, ‘Didn’t you feel better when you were taking that medicine?’ or ‘Are you having trouble with your medicine?’ You feel better when somebody takes concern, so that was what I tried to do. If the patient feels that you care, then they do better,” Dr. True said.
End of an era
Eventually, Dr. True’s 25-year career at Swope Health ended. He retired in April of 2015, but didn’t veer too far away.
“I would still come to see the staff, and I would occasionally run into some of my patients. I had time to read books, travel, and to reflect on my career and all that I learned,” he said. “I still call some of the newer people who work at Swope Health and get to know them.”
Following his retirement, Swope Health Central honored Dr. True by renaming the Behavioral Health Clinic the “Dr. James True Clinic.” Over the last decade, he’s also assisted Swope Health with various needs as a contractor and advisor. Dr. True appreciates his time at Swope Health, and everything that the health center stands for.
“I think of Swope Health as a leader in the field of bringing good health services to an underserved community,” Dr. True said. “The message is to help everybody you can, even the people who have trouble helping themselves.”
