When this happens, he tilts his head back and to his left, blankly looking upwards. The sequences played out in his daydreams are often surreal or about the situations that have just been mentioned or wondered about, but often in an exaggerated manner. Many of these are followed by a comment from him which, although in keeping with his daydream, sounds strange and is often highly unrelated to the initial topic, very often earning him odd looks from nearby characters in the scene. Despite his numerous mistakes, quirks and personal neurosis, J.D. is shown throughout the series to be a very skilled doctor. He is described as having compassion for his patients, as well as determination and enthusiasm for his job. Family life He grew up in Trotwood, Ohio. In a season 1 episode (2001), JD states that 20 years ago he "had a little trouble with his "S’s “” because he was five. In season five JD turns 30. His father, Sam (John Ritter), a failed office supply salesman, was absent for most of J.D.'s childhood, and often mooched off his son when he was around; after Sam dies, however, J.D. realises that his father loved him and was proud of him. His mother is Barbara Turner Dorian. He has an older brother, Dan (Tom Cavanagh), with whom he has a love/hate relationship. Work J.D. begins the show as an intern at Sacred Heart Hospital. After a year, he becomes a resident, then an attending physician in internal medicine, and eventually residency director of another hospital. J.D. begins work at Sacred Heart under Attending Physician Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), who generally refers to J.D. as "Newbie" or by a variety of girls' names. J.D. thinks of Cox as his mentor, which Cox adamantly denies. As much as he hates to admit it, however, Cox respects J.D. as a doctor and even cares about him as a person, even offering him personal advice on a few occasions. J.D.'s faith in Cox is shaken when the latter has a breakdown following the death of three patients. After a deeply depressed Cox shows up to work drunk, J.D. refuses to see him, claiming that he does not approve of Cox's behavior. However, he later confesses to Cox that he still looks upon him as a hero, and admires him for caring so much about his patients that he takes it