PL-Playground

Haley Cahill-Teubert

Are you a physician looking to practice in a small town with character? These rural cities might have what you want.

Best rural locations to practice medicine

If you have a family or are looking to start one, you might want to look into these family friendly cities for physicians.

Best cities for physicians with families

Live and Practice Great Outdoors Mrytle Beach

Best cities to practice medicine

<figure id="attachment_17742" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-17742" style="width: 650px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sarah-Miller-044-JB.jpg" alt="Alexandra Moody, M.D." width="650" height="433"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-17742" class="wp-caption-text">&#8220;I keep finding something new, and that’s what I love about it,” says Alexandra Moody, M.D., of her home in Hershey, Pennsylvania. &#8211; Photo by Sarah Miller</figcaption></figure>
Since the start of the pandemic, small towns across the United States have seen a spike in new residents. Many Americans are leaving large cities in favor of small town medical practice and rural areas. Physicians are among that group—and for plenty of good reasons.
Take Hershey, Pennsylvania, for example. A low cost of living and a variety of things to do make it a sweet place to live in more ways than one. And in Sidney, Ohio, physicians enjoy their community’s traditional Midwestern ethos along with a good work/life balance. Meanwhile the small Southern town of Batesville, Arkansas, is perfect for physicians who love to get outdoors. And Starkville, Mississippi, offers a vibrant community with all the excitement and amenities you’d expect from a college town, plus plenty for young professionals, families and retirees.
<h4>The sweet life of Hershey, Pennsylvania</h4>
Nestled in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Hershey has a history as rich as its namesake. In the late 1800s, chocolatier Milton S. Hershey set out on a mission to sell milk chocolate to the American public. At the time, it was considered a Swiss luxury product. In 1903, construction began on his chocolate manufacturing plant in the town of Derry Church, Pennsylvania. And when construction finished in 1905, Derry Church was renamed Hershey.
Today, many of Hershey’s popular attractions center around its chocolate history. Hershey’s Chocolate World offers unique tasting experiences, a 4-D movie, a tour that explains how chocolate is made and the chance to create your own candy bar. Visit the MeltSpa by Hershey for chocolate-themed spa treatments or Chocolatetown in Hersheypark for a variety of restaurants with chocolate-inspired menus.
But the town also has plenty to offer beyond sweet treats. Jessica Mullany, MHA, FASPR, director of provider recruitment at Penn State Health, says “There’s lots to do here. Whether it’s people who are biking or hiking or outdoor enthusiasts. …If you’re a foodie or into the dining scene, we have a lot of great restaurants. We have a lot of great shopping, so there kind of feels like there’s something here for everyone.”
This variety is part of the reason Mullany says Hershey is such a great place to live. “There are lots of different festivals that are happening throughout central Pennsylvania, whether it’s music festivals, art festivals or different food festivals,” she explains. “We have Hersheypark and the Giants Center, which has concerts.”
She adds that there’s also plenty of options for sports fans, saying, “There’s Minor League Baseball. We have the Lancaster Barnstormers and a team in Harrisburg. We have the Hershey Bears, which is Minor League Hockey, so there’s a lot of hockey fans here. Of course, a lot of people are very interested in Penn State football. While it’s not necessarily right in our region, it’s a short drive away.”
Accessibility is another appealing feature of Hershey. The Harrisburg International Airport and the Harrisburg train station are both within a 15-minute drive. And Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., are all within a two-hour car drive.
Hershey has more than 14,000 residents, and Mullany says people are often surprised by its high quality of life coupled with its low cost of living. It’s one reason many physicians, particularly those starting out with significant student debt, are attracted to the region. Their salary goes a lot further in Hershey than it would in a large metropolitan city.
It’s easy to see why physicians choose to put down roots in Hershey—or in the case of Alexandra Moody, M.D., why they choose to return. Moody, an internal medicine specialist at the Penn State Health Lime Spring Outpatient Center, grew up in central Pennsylvania and attended Franklin &amp; Marshall College in nearby Lancaster.
She then went on to medical school at the Ross University School of Medicine before returning to Pennsylvania for the internal medicine residency program at WellSpan York Hospital. Taking a job with Penn State Health let her return to the area she grew up in.
“I’ve been circling Hershey for the longest time. I’m also a violinist, and I’ve played with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra since I was 13 years old, and they always do their July 4th concert on the lawn of the Hershey Medical Center,” says Moody. “So I’ve been eyeing the school and medical center for the longest time, and it never really worked out until after residency.”
Echoing Mullany, Moody thinks central Pennsylvania is such a great place to live because there truly is something for everyone—from nearby ski resorts and hiking trails to attractions like Hershey Gardens and ZooAmerica, plus plenty of restaurants and breweries. “I keep finding something new, and that’s what I love about it,” she says.
Moody’s employer, Penn State Health, is a multi-hospital health system with more than 16,000 employees systemwide. She says she felt comfortable right away while interviewing and touring the facilities, and she knew it would be a good fit for her. The environment and supportive culture make it a great place to work.
“Penn State Health is committed to physicians and making sure they are successful in their career from the time they begin the recruitment process up through not only their onboarding but becoming established in their practice—whatever area of medicine they may be practicing,” Mullany says. “The goal is to make sure they are successful in their role. So, it’s not an every-man-for-himself or every-woman-for-herself mentality. It really is that we want to make sure we have individuals put into positions that can succeed and that are happy and able to give back to the community.”
One hospital within the Penn State Health system is the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the only Level I trauma center for adults and children in Pennsylvania. The 628-bed facility is Penn State Health’s flagship medical center. The Hershey campus also includes the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, Penn State Cancer Institute and Penn State College of Medicine.
For physicians looking for supportive work environments in smaller towns with plenty of activities, Hershey is certainly worth considering. “I’ve been here since 2005,” says Mullany. “When you start your career, you never think you’ll be there this many years later, but I never had a reason to leave. I think that speaks volumes. Penn State Health really is the best place to work.”
Penn State Health has immediate opportunities in neurology, psychiatry and urology.
<figure id="attachment_17743" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-17743" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Simon-Yao-011-Wolters©SimonYaoStudio-JB.jpg" alt="Cara Wolters, M.D." width="400" height="600"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-17743" class="wp-caption-text">Cara Wolters, M.D., grew up in Sidney, Ohio, and returned to practice medicine and raise a family. &#8211; Photo by Simon Yao</figcaption></figure>
<h4>The Midwest friendliness of Sidney, Ohio</h4>
Small-town comfort meets Midwest charm in Sidney. With a thriving job market, exceptional schools and numerous activities, it’s a great place for physicians. The exceptional work-life balance is an especially big draw, particularly at Wilson Health Medical Group.
“Back in the day, physicians just worked, worked, worked, worked,” explains Chris Jones, provider recruiter at Wilson Health Medical Group. However, she says that’s not the case in Sidney. “Sidney and Wilson Health Medical Group allow that time for physicians to have a wonderful work/life balance.”
And thanks to that balance, physicians can take advantage of everything the town and surrounding areas have to offer. In the warmer months, Sidney residents enjoy the weekly farmer’s market, outdoor concerts in the courthouse square, a barbecue festival and the Shelby County Fair, among many other events. There are also plenty of water activities, like paddleboarding on the Great Miami River and swimming or boating at Lake Loramie, a 1,600-acre lake with 30 miles of shoreline.
In the cooler months, the Winter Wonderland Parade kicks off the holiday season with thousands of residents and out-of-town guests in attendance. The Downtown Sidney Holiday Lights Grand Illumination, Christmas of Yesteryear and Holiday Shop Hop are a few other activities to look forward to each winter. Plus, there’s no shortage of unique shops, restaurants or historical sites to explore no matter the season.
Sidney’s population of about 20,000 creates the intimate small-town feel many physicians are seeking. But it also offers close proximity to several Midwestern cities with metropolitan amenities. Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville are all within a three-hour drive, so physicians can get the best of both worlds.
With more than 60 medical providers at its three locations in Ohio, Wilson Health Medical Group is a large employer of physicians in the state, and Sidney is home to its main hospital campus: a 71-bed, short-term, acute-care facility. The work environment and friendly staff here are key selling points for physicians considering Sidney.
“They are willing, encouraging and excited about having people or having providers join their teams,” says Jones. “It’s very much a team atmosphere. [It is] not unusual at all for one physician to call another at nighttime if they need to just ask a question. They partner very easily. It’s just as congenial of a place to work as it is a welcoming place to live.”
Cara Wolters, M.D., is a family physician at Wilson Health Medical Group. She’s also a lifelong Ohio resident and Sidney native, and her experience is a testament to the quality of life that physicians can expect in Sidney.
Wolters completed her undergraduate studies at Ohio Northern University then attended medical school at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. She focuses on natural procreative technology to restore women’s reproductive health naturally.
Wolters started at Wilson Health Medical Group in January 2020, when many practices began shifting as a result of the pandemic. “It was a lot of adapting,” she recalls. “It’s a huge test to a system, whether it’s large or small, of how well you did to adapt to that major change. I thought Wilson Health actually did a really great job.”
While she might not have anticipated starting her career in the middle of a pandemic, Wolters always saw herself working in the medical field. After growing up with medical issues and undergoing several surgeries as an adolescent, Wolters decided in high school to pursue medicine. The care she received then from doctors and nurses inspires her passion for working closely with patients today.
“It’s all about the relationships and quality time,” she says. For her, having great rapport with community members is a big component of practicing in Sidney, as are her memories of growing up there.
“I enjoyed my childhood and my high school years, and I think if someone had absolutely hated and dreaded it, they probably wouldn’t be going back to their hometown, and they wouldn’t have the good warm fuzzy feelings that I did,” says Wolters. “I had a good experience, so yeah, why wouldn’t I come back and raise my kids in the same area?”
Wilson Health is currently recruiting in internal medicine and family medicine.
<h4>The historic town of Batesville, Arkansas</h4>
Located along the 722-mile White River about 90 miles north of Little Rock, Batesville is a small town that’s seen a lot of history. The town dates back to the early 1800s. A large number of pioneers passed through the state on the Old Southwest Trail, as did the Choctaw Nation during the Trail of Tears and various troops throughout the Civil War. Thanks to steamboat transportation along the White River, the town kept growing, especially once the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway was completed in the early 1900s.
Today, Batesville continues to attract both tourists and residents. A small town of about 10,000 residents, it offers a variety of things to do and see. Downtown Batesville is full of shops and local eateries to explore, while Old Independence Regional Museum is a great stop for history buffs. And Jamestown Crag, Lyon College Bluff Trail and Sugarloaf Mountain have plenty of trails to hike, bike or camp.
Water lovers can find a number of places for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming or birdwatching at Polk Bayou, Bridal Veil Falls, Kennedy Park, Spring River or White River. And the community also enjoys Blanchard Springs Caverns, Riverside Park and the Batesville Community Center and Aquatics.
On top of that, the town boasts an impressive number of events and festivals. The annual Artoberfest is a family-friendly event arts and music festival, while the annual Arkansas Scottish Festival hosted by Lyon College is a fun weekend of crafts, competitions, food and history. And the Ozark Foothills FilmFest brings a number of tourists to the area.
There are also free movies in the park monthly from May through October, and sports lovers can find a variety of activities from dodgeball tournaments to 5k races and co-ed volleyball. You can even try out pickleball—a fun blend of ping pong and tennis—at the Batesville Community Center.
Batesville helps the community connect with physicians and vice versa with its monthly Walk with a Doc event on the third Saturday of every month. Part of a nationwide initiative, Walk with a Doc invites a doctor to give a short presentation to community members, then lead them on a walk as a measure to improve health. In Batesville, the event is supported by physicians at White River Health System, a large local employer.
White River Health System has two hospitals and many clinics across Arkansas. They offer a large variety of patient care services from cancer and palliative care to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and surgical services. The 235-bed facility White River Medical Center in Batesville is the first hospital in the region to offer Mako Robotic Arm-Assisted Technology for joint replacement surgeries as part of their orthopedic services. Also noteworthy is their use of da Vinci X robotic system for assisted surgeries.
White River Health System’s emergency facilities are also part of Arkansas’s trauma network, designed to give patients access to appropriate care as fast as possible. White River Health System is currently recruiting in emergency medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, interventional cardiology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics and psychiatry.
<h4>The collegial spirit of Starkville, Mississippi</h4>
Home to Mississippi State University, Starkville is a lively college town with more than 20,000 students and 25,000 residents. Throughout the year, the town is bustling with SEC sporting events. And beyond the campus, the town has plenty to offer young professionals, growing families and retirees.
For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of places for hiking, biking, kayaking, hunting and even birdwatching. History lovers will enjoy the town’s many museums like the Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Music Museum, the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana gallery.
There’s also no shortage of shopping—from college apparel stores to record stores and flower shops. For foodies, the town has more restaurants per capita than any other community in the state. And the Charles Templeton Ragtime Jazz Festival, annual Taco Hop and King Cotton Crawfish Boil are just a few of the fun events the community enjoys throughout the year.
In addition to its own attractions, Starkville is situated close to several larger cities. Memphis, Birmingham and Jackson, Mississippi, can all be reached by car in under three hours.
Mississippi State is the town’s largest employer with thousands of employees. OCH Regional Medical Center employs an impressive number as well, with more than 300 doctors and nurses across its 12 clinics in Starkville. OCH has 20 specialties ranging from family medicine clinics, general surgery and emergency medicine to oral and maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery and sleep medicine.
OCH Regional Medical Center has received several noteworthy recognitions as well. Most recently, it was named a Covid-19 Center of Excellence by the Mississippi State Department of Health, and in fall 2020, it was named one of America’s safest hospitals by Leapfrog Hospital Safety Guide.
OCH has immediate openings in orthopedics, internal medicine and neurology.

Sidney, Ohio is one of the featured small towns in this issue's Live & Practice.

Small town medical practice

<figure id="attachment_20006" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20006" style="width: 953px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ross-Perko-M.D.jpeg" alt="Ross Perko, M.D." width="953" height="948"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20006" class="wp-caption-text">Ross Perko, M.D., has raised his family in Duluth, where he also grew up. &#8211; Photo by Derek Montgomery</figcaption></figure>
For physicians wanting families, a very important element emerges in the job search: location, location, location and the best cities for physicians with families. In Duluth, Minnesota, docs find a small city beaming with local pride that’s chock-full of activities on Lake Superior. In Huntsville, Alabama, a historic southern city has outdoor programming year-round with family-friendly activities. In Hanover, New Hampshire, families benefit from the small, college-town atmosphere and proximity to world-class skiing. In Springfield, Missouri, there is a tight-knit community that receives added flavor from the local university.
<h4>Duluth, Minnesota</h4>
Duluth, Minnesota is changing. What was once a blue-collar mining town is increasingly a city popular with young hipsters attracted to the low cost of living and young parents looking for a family-friendly community. Life in Duluth is heavily centered around Lake Superior, the largest of the great lakes that provides entertainment, culture and temperamental weather patterns across Duluth.
For Ross Perko, M.D., serving children runs in his blood. His mother was a first-grade teacher, and he grew up visiting her classroom and even reading books to her classes. Then his mother got cancer, and his father needed quadruple bypass surgery. Thankfully, both parents recovered, and they are well and active today. Perko was introduced to what he calls “the hopeful side” of medicine. And now, Perko is a pediatric oncologist at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in Duluth. One could say his calling is the hopeful side of medicine.
“I feel like I won the lottery,” says Perko. “When it comes to pediatric oncology, usually you have to practice in big cities. We’ve been able to do it in Duluth and keep families closer to home. Now families don’t have to drive to Minneapolis-St. Paul for cancer care. They can do it in Duluth.”
Perko was raised in Duluth and attended medical school at the University of Minnesota. He completed his fellowship in pediatric oncology/hematology at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, then returned to his hometown to practice at St. Mary’s. He thoroughly enjoys Duluth and says that the area is experiencing a boom in new people and new activities.
Anna Tanski, President/CEO of Visit Duluth, says this is 100% accurate. She says, “As a lifelong resident, I can tell you we’ve undergone a remarkable renaissance. There has been tremendous reinvestment and revitalization. We are a mid-sized community of about 86,000 with a number of smaller communities around it. It’s about 220,000 people total. Because tourism is our second largest industry behind the medical field, we have amenities for our residents to enjoy all year long because of 6.7 million visitors.”
Tanski says that Duluth’s second-largest differentiator, after Lake Superior, is the extent to which it is family-friendly. “Our specialty is multi-generational family-friendly amenities,” she says. “We have a culture and tradition of creating memories. There is a sense of coming together and everyone supporting youth in our communities, making sure they feel safe and cared for. It’s intentional because we do have such a strong sense of belonging in the character of our city.”
St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital is part of Essentia Health. Essentia Health is currently building a $900 million medical tower in downtown Duluth; this is the largest-ever private investment in the city’s history.
Perko says that the nice facilities and cutting-edge equipment are an important part of morale for some physicians. The trick is to figure out what makes a career in medicine most meaningful and sustainable. Says Perko, “I love my job. The people that choose to practice here are choosing it because of what the life in our system has to offer.”
Says Tanski, “Our hospitals here do a very good job attracting talent. Because we are a small/mid-size city, they are very cognizant that they want to make sure this feels like home for the physicians who choose to have their careers here.”
Perko says that burnout prevention is an important part of Essentia’s culture. He says, “We have a wellness committee that looks at burnout and people’s enjoyment of what they do. The culture is changing everywhere in medicine. We’re talking about burnout more.
Physicians in their early 40s are people who are looking for work/life balance more than the generation before them. For the previous generation, being a doctor was their entire life and that was their expectation. That’s not always the best when we’re talking about having a sustainable career.”
Perko lives with his wife and three children in Duluth. He says, “I see a lot of great physicians filling their cups. So it’s important to think about how you recharge outside of work. I coach baseball games, I go for a run most days, and my commute is 14 minutes. I want to be doing this for the next 20 plus years, so I think about, ‘How do I keep enjoying it every day?’ Living here, I get to be a dad. I’m a husband and a dad first. I am a pediatric oncologist third. I’m part of a system that allows me to get breaks when I need it. I can reset and say, ‘OK, I’m going to leave early today because I have this game with my kid. We’ll reset and get back on the horse tomorrow.’”
<h4>Hanover, New Hampshire</h4>
Hanover, New Hampshire, is a bucolic New England college town with a tight-knit year-round community of just 11,000 people. Usually, in such scenic and remote areas, it is difficult to chart out a fast-paced career. Unless, of course, you are a physician, as Hanover is a place with major career advancement opportunities, with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center serving as the area’s largest employer.
Hanover is located in central New Hampshire, on the New Hampshire-Vermont border. Hanover was chartered in 1761 and the town’s college, Dartmouth College, was founded in 1769. Hanover High School was founded in 1888 and has been educating Hanover kids ever since.
For a small town of 11,000 year-round residents, Hanover has a lot of hospitals. This is due in large part to the presence of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health is the largest employer in the state of New Hampshire, with 8,000 employees at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center alone. The three main hospitals in Hanover are Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) and Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is a 2 million square foot facility with a Level I trauma center and 396 beds. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center operates the only medical heliport in New Hampshire. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center has a 25-acre acre campus.
The Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth is the only children’s hospital in New Hampshire, and one of just 220 children’s hospitals nationwide. Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital is a small, 25-bed hospital with a variety of outpatient services that provide care for more than 78,000 patients a year.
The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth is the fourth-oldest medical school in the country and is affiliated with Dartmouth College. Doctors at the Geisel School of Medicine are credited with creating the first intensive care unit.
Hanover’s downtown Main Street is the stuff of Norman Rockwell paintings: rows of shops and bakeries with jutting awnings on wide, sidewalked streets. Hanover is close to world-class skiing in Vermont and New Hampshire. Stowe, often called the “Vail of the East” in Vermont, is only an hour’s drive away. Hanover is also an hour’s drive from Burlington, the funky northern Vermont city where more arts and culture activities are available. Life in Hanover itself is upscale: the average household income for a family in Hanover is $129,000.
The Connecticut River is a big part of life in Hanover. The Connecticut River divides New Hampshire from Vermont, and waterfront dining and entertainment are popular. There is notable hiking in Hanover, with part of the Appalachian Trail running through. Nearby Moose Mountain attracts hiking enthusiasts from across the region.
After Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth College is the largest employer and largest cultural driver in the area. Dartmouth College programs a variety of community activities that enrich family life in the area, including Division I sports, lectures and an art museum. The Hood Museum of Art on Dartmouth College’s campus includes a vast collection of ancient art, contemporary art and sculpture.
<h4>Huntsville, Alabama</h4>
If your new-city search terms include “family friendly,” “beautiful” or “historic,” Huntsville, Alabama, will be one of your first results. Huntsville is surrounded by verdant mountain ranges that enclose a tight-knit community. Huntsville has a bustling medical community that serves the town and the broader northern Alabama region.
During the Civil War, Union officers occupying northern Alabama were housed in the beautiful, large southern mansions in Huntsville. Lower-ranking soldiers set up camps on the wooded grounds throughout the city.
Because the city was essentially a base for Union troops, the city received kind treatment from the northern soldiers. Specifically, the southern mansions that housed the officers went unharmed during the war and after.&nbsp;Today, Huntsville is a meticulously preserved historic town with stately, larger-than-life southern mansions.
Huntsville is seated in a basin in the Appalachian Mountains in northern Alabama. It is a two-hour drive south of Nashville and two hours north of Birmingham.
Huntsville is home to Huntsville Hospital, an 881-bed hospital that is the second largest hospital in Alabama. Huntsville Hospital is the regional referral center for northern Alabama and southern Tennessee. Huntsville Hospital also operates the Mobile Medical Unit that provides preventive community health care throughout the Huntsville area. Huntsville Hospital is a not-for-profit community hospital, and all profits are reinvested into health care services for the city of Huntsville.
Huntsville Hospital Health System’s influence on Huntsville is such that there is a “Medical District” of Huntsville that is largely composed of Huntsville Hospital Health System facilities, as well as the Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children and the Blount Hospitality House.
Blount Hospitality House is a not-for-profit residential facility that houses patients’ families in a comfortable environment, so they can be closer to their loved ones in the hospital. Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children, part of the Huntsville Hospital Health System, delivers more babies than any other hospital in Alabama.
The Huntsville Hospital Health System grew out of Huntsville Hospital. Huntsville Hospital Health System operates small and mid-size hospitals throughout Alabama, with over 2,200 patient beds.
For those interested in academic medicine, the University of Alabama at Birmingham operates the Huntsville Regional Medical Campus and the UAB Medicine Huntsville. The UAB Medicine Huntsville is home to 130 medical students and residents interested in rural medicine. In fact, the UAB School of Medicine offers the Huntsville Rural Medicine Program, for medical students who themselves have rural backgrounds and are interested in practicing rural medicine.
Outside of work, Huntsville had a great deal to offer from its sweeping, hilly vistas to its fun-filled community programming. The Huntsville Botanical Garden is a popular draw, featuring a beautiful wooden pagoda surrounded by reflecting pools. The Goldsmith-Schiffman Wildlife Preserve is 375 acres of woodlands in Huntsville. It has miles of winding trails for hiking and mountain biking, plus a designated area with trails for birding.
Huntsville is very family-friendly, with scores of activities and events scheduled year-round. There are over 60 parks in Huntsville, including “Kids’ Space,” the largest playground in Huntsville. For summer months when the climate might be too-too hot, Huntsville has indoor children’s museums to keep kiddos entertained and cool. The EarlyWorks Children’s Museum provides an interactive experience for kids to learn about Alabama history. Huntsville is home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, a nationally renowned museum that has a full variety of space-related treasure—perfect to pique the interest of STEM-oriented kids.
<figure id="attachment_20007" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20007" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Live-Practice-1.jpeg" alt="Evening At The Springfield Missouri Square Fountain" width="1024" height="684"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20007" class="wp-caption-text">Evening at the Springfield, Missouri Square Fountain</figcaption></figure>
<h4>Springfield, Missouri</h4>
Did you know Springfield is widely believed to be home to America’s animated first family? Indeed, the Simpsons live in “Springfield,” and most signs point to Springfield, Missouri, as their hometown. Springfield is the quintessential mid-size midwestern city, designed to be spread out and family-friendly. Springfield is large enough to have a downtown “Medical Mile” where multiple hospitals and medical campuses are clustered.
Brent Bergen, M.D., a pulmonologist, developed an interest in critical care because of how much variety it introduced into his day. He says, “I had figured out that I didn’t want a sameness to my day. I wanted the variety; I wanted the unexpected. When you’re young and can tolerate the sleep deprivation, it’s a lot of fun to practice critical care medicine.”
Bergen didn’t intend on pursuing medical school until he reached his junior and senior year of college. He attended the University of Oklahoma for medical school with the intent to be a primary care physician.
“When I was doing my residency at Texas A&amp;M in internal medicine, I evolved toward critical care,” he says. “It was somewhat out of respect and admiration for the attending physician I worked with. In residency, if you have a good experience, and you had an attending who made it into a good experience, you could start to gravitate to that specialty more.”
Today, Bergen is medical director of Select Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital in Springfield. Select Specialty Hospital is a freestanding 60-bed facility located in downtown Springfield, two blocks from Cox Medical Center South.
“Springfield is affordable, clean and easy!” says Paula Johnson, admin director of physician practice development and recruitment for CoxHealth. CoxHealth has been in business for 130 years and boasts a 95 percent physician retention rate.
“We have incredibly talented physicians, an engaged staff, and an organization that is supportive to the health of the community,” Johnson says.
Springfield has a “Medical Mile” that is home to Cox Medical Center South, Mercy Hospital Springfield and Mercy Children’s Hospital. Cox Medical Center South’s campus includes a Level I trauma center, a children’s hospital and a neuroscience center.
Mercy Hospital Springfield is an 886-bed facility that includes a Level I trauma center, a burn center and a stroke center. Mercy Children’s Hospital provides outpatient and inpatient pediatric care; they employ providers across 60 pediatric subspecialties. The facilities include a Level III pediatric NICU and an on-premises Ronald McDonald House housed in 8,200 feet on the sixth floor of the hospital.
Donna Shelby is director of physician recruitment at CMH in nearby Bolivar, Missouri. She says this part of southwest Missouri features a low cost of living, easy travel from the Springfield-Branson National Airport, and a respectful, appreciative patient base.
“Physicians love to practice at CMH because it’s an independent, progressive, integrated rural health delivery system,” Shelby says. “Physicians have access to a wide array of services and know the specialists who are easily accessible within the system. You can truly make a difference and enjoy the practice environment that is afforded to physicians here.”
In Springfield, health care employs a whopping 17% of all people. Says Susan Wade, public relations manager for the Springfield Missouri Convention and Visitors Bureau, “The big employers are health care, manufacturing, retail, tourism and education. Within the city, there are 160,000 people. The metro area is 420,000. People are moving here because of the lifestyle, the job opportunities and the low cost of living.”
Says Bergen, “It’s in the Midwest. We’re in the Ozarks near Branson. For people who like the outdoors—hunting, fishing, riding bikes, canoeing—they’ll be very busy. There is a lot of natural beauty out here.” Wade heartily agrees. She says, “Springfield is pretty outdoorsy for people who enjoy trails and parks. There are lots of miles of trails. Within a very short drive from Springfield, there are a lot of nice lakes.” Also, Springfield’s largest mall is an outdoor mall, with over 170 stores and boutiques and a layout designed for strolling and window shopping.
For those in the mood for high culture, Springfield will not disappoint with its variety of dining, arts and entertainment offerings. Says Wade, “The dining scene is amazing in Springfield. We joke that you could eat out every day for two years without eating at the same place twice. There is a great nightlife scene. There is a really healthy and vibrant arts community in Springfield.
We have something really special called The Sculpture Walk. You can walk from one sculpture to another in the downtown area. They change out the sculptures annually, and we have a big celebration when they install the new ones. I like Springfield because it’s big enough to have really anything you’re going to find in a city. We have a great art museum, a symphony, an opera, community theater and another theater at the university that brings in Broadway performances.”
Indeed, Springfield is home to Missouri State University, Cox College, Southwest Baptist University and the University of Missouri Medical School.
In terms of family-friendly cities, Wade says that Springfield is the best of the best. “We have an ice-skating facility, swimming pools and family recreation centers. There is always something for kids to do. We have 100 city parks. Some of them are neighborhood parks, but we also have a botanical center and a farm park with livestock.”

Liz Funk

Family-friendly cities physicians love to live and practice

<figure id="attachment_19906" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19906" style="width: 822px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jill-Alexander-M.D.jpeg" alt="Jill Alexander, M.D." width="822" height="1024"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-19906" class="wp-caption-text">Jill Alexander, M.D., is a third-generation physician at McFarland Clinic. &#8211; Photograph by Katie Decker.</figcaption></figure>
For big sports fans, it’s not just about the game. Sports contribute to a sense of community and shared excitement that are unique to sports towns. There is medical practice in sports towns: In South Bend, Indiana, a love of Notre Dame sports is practically in the town’s DNA. In Tampa, Florida, residents feel the love for the Buccaneers and have a local affinity for the outdoor sports that are part of their coastal culture. In Charlottesville, Virginia, UVA sports are a huge draw, and fans dress up for weekend football games. In Ames, Iowa, Iowa State unites a small town in an outsized way, bringing culture and Big 12 competitors to central Iowa.
<h4>Ames, Iowa</h4>
Ames, Iowa, is located smack-dab in the center of the state. And in a way, Ames feels like its own small universe. Ames is home to Iowa State University, a university in the Big 12 sports conference. Ames has a population of 66,000, but the town gains additional culture, diversity, arts and entertainment opportunities from being home to Iowa State University. The town’s population grows by 50 percent when school is in session and, by extension, swells with sports fans.
When Jill Alexander, M.D., was a girl, she would go with her father, an obstetrician, to the hospital. “Back in those days, I could even tag along” as her father rounded, she says. Alexander loved seeing the newborn babies and grew up knowing she wanted to be a pediatrician.
“I spent lots of time around kids growing up babysitting and volunteering. Pediatrics was a natural path for me,” says Alexander. “It is such a privilege to be a part of people’s lives and care for their children. I love working with families from that first visit with their tiny newborn baby until I am signing their physical form for college. What an amazing job I have!”
Alexander is a highly enthusiastic pediatrician and the clinic recruitment medical director at McFarland Clinic, a multi-specialty clinic in Ames. “My grandfather was one of the original founders of the clinic back in 1946, and I am now a third-generation physician here,” she says. “I am honored to be part of this legacy.”
Alexander was born and raised in Ames. She attended Cornell College in Iowa for her undergraduate degree in chemistry and earned her M.D. from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.
Alexander is one-half of a two-physician couple; she and her husband spent two years in Iowa City, where her husband completed a fellowship in nephrology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. During that time, they thought about where they wanted to put down roots and raise a family. It was an easy decision to return to Ames.
“I love living in Ames,” Alexander says. “Having a Big 12 university in town brings us diversity, culture, arts, sports and people from all over the world. I love the hustle and bustle when the students arrive back on campus in the fall. And I also love it when many head home for the summer and we get that smaller town feel.”
The McFarland Clinic was founded in 1946. “McFarland Clinic partners with hospitals in the different communities where we have practices. We are not affiliated with a specific hospital but work to secure working partnerships with the common goal of serving our patients and communities where we are needed,” says Jane Eagan, physician recruitment manager for McFarland Clinic.
Retention is unusually high at McFarland Clinic, says Eagan. “Many of our physicians have joined McFarland Clinic as their first job out of training and 30 years later retire after having an amazing career. Longevity in our provider group and staff is incredible. When folks stay that long at one place, you know they are doing many things right.”
Eagan says that because McFarland Clinic is physician-led, there are plenty of opportunities for physicians to hold leadership positions. Eagan is currently recruiting for allergy, immunology, anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, family medicine, gastroenterology, internal medicine, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology and urology.
The organization is innovative in its approach to work/life balance. For her clinical duties, Alexander has a job-share arrangement with another pediatrician. “As a two-physician couple, I wanted more time at home with the kids, and me being part-time allowed us that flexibility,” says Alexander.
Eagan says that Ames has plenty of culture to enjoy outside of work. Says Eagan, “Ames is a great community that caters to residents of all ages. Ames is a Big 12 college community, Iowa State University, which means there is no lack of university activities to enjoy, whether that is sports, academic or culturally related. The university brings a youthful liveliness to our community. It also encourages us to remain on the cutting edge to keep the students here and keep the university thriving.”
<h4>Charlottesville, Virginia</h4>
Charlottesville, Virginia, is an area with a lot of local pride. Those native to Charlottesville grow up with Revolutionary War history as part of their culture, and University of Virginia students and staff are swiftly introduced to the Jeffersonian traditions of the University of Virginia.
UVA football is more than just a popular weekend activity in the area—it is a Southern tradition involving semi-formal attire and hats, even for the undergraduates! Charlottesville is hugged by the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park, meaning it is surrounded by a breathtaking panorama of mountains.
“I was born and raised in Charlottesville, moved away and moved back specifically to work with UVA. Charlottesville is a wonderful place to live and to raise your family,” says Ellen Gilliland, physician recruiter and credentialing coordinator for the University of Virginia Physicians Group. “Charlottesville offers so much for families. You have the mountains for hiking. You are within a little over two hours to the beaches. You have the university here. It’s just tremendous growth that’s going on in Charlottesville.”
“The University of Virginia has a profound influence on the culture in Charlottesville and Albemarle County,” says Courtney Cacatian, executive director of the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The energy swells in the region when the students return in the fall.”
Charlottesville is home to historic sites like Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Monroe’s Highland and James Madison’s Montpelier. The area’s Downtown Mall is also notable: It is one of the oldest and longest pedestrian malls in the country. The Downtown Mall is packed with shops, clothing boutiques, bookstores, coffee shops and restaurants.
Says Cacatian, “Our community boasts an impressive culinary scene with locally-owned, farm-to-table restaurants you would expect to see in a city twice its size. The arts thrive here with theaters, entertainment venues, art galleries and museums.”
When Gilliland is talking to job candidates about Charlottesville, she is quick to mention the appeal of the upscale college town. Says Gilliland, “Charlottesville offers great restaurants; the downtown area is really alive with things to do.”
“Football weekends are huge in the Charlottesville area, attracting visitors from all over to attend an exciting game at Scott Stadium,” says Cacatian. “Throughout the year, the university also hosts special events such as reunions and final exercises (graduation ceremonies) that keep us bustling and energized.”
There are over 900 University of Virginia clinical faculty members who are dually employed between UVA and the UVA School of Medicine. Says Gilliland, “The University of Virginia Health System Physicians Group is under UVA Health. We support the practices in the community. We are continuing to grow, expanding out across Charlottesville.”
UVA Health is a physician-led organization, and Gilliland says that is evident in the day-to-day lives of their physicians. She says, “We support our physicians administratively as well as professionally and clinically.”
Outside of work, physicians will have no problem keeping busy, especially if they tend to be outdoorsy. Says Cacatian, “We are a two-river destination with the broad James River flowing on our southern county border and the Rivanna River winding its way to within 1.5 miles of downtown Charlottesville. Popular activities on the river include tubing, kayaking, canoeing and even fly fishing. Outfitters are available at both rivers to provide visitors and residents with everything they need for a fun day on or near the water.”
The area is also home to several golf courses, and hiking is hugely popular in this part of Virginia: Charlottesville is less than a 30-minute drive from the spot where the Blue Ridge Parkway meets with Skyline Drive, taking visitors into Shenandoah National Park.
For those who enjoy getting outside but do not consider themselves sporty, there is still a great option: the Monticello Wine Trail connects 40 wineries and offers that awe-inspiring, sweeping view of the nearby mountain ranges.
<h4>Tampa, Florida</h4>
2020 was a banner year for Tampa’s professional sports, and Tampa fans are still basking in their glory. Fun fact: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady lives in a waterside mansion on Tampa Bay, a mile from downtown Tampa. He rents the mansion from baseball legend Derek Jeter. Tampa has the feel of a coastal city: Tampa streets are lined with palm trees and the city has virtually year-round sunny, warm weather. (The summers are hot and humid, but it is to be expected; it is south Florida). 
When Olufunke Abiose, M.D., was a child, her sister had a nearly fatal asthma attack. Abiose says, “I was intrigued by the complexity of the human body and the ease with which ‘this very tall man in a white coat’ was able to quickly diagnose and treat my sister. It was in that moment that I felt a calling in my life to become that ‘healer.’”
Abiose’s faith shaped her medical education and influences the way she approaches her work each day. “I chose Creighton University [in Omaha] and Saint Louis University School of Medicine for medical training and residency respectively, because they were faith-based,” she says.
Now, she is an OB-GYN with AdventHealth, one of the largest faith-based nonprofit health systems in the country. AdventHealth has a significant presence in Tampa, where Abiose lives and practices. “I was seeking a not-for-profit Christian organization, as my faith is the most valuable thing in my life, followed by loved ones. Having an opportunity to openly express faith and pray with my patients has made my career more fulfilling,” says Abiose.
There are 11 AdventHealth hospitals in west Florida. The flagship, AdventHealth Tampa, is a 536-bed facility. And they are still building. Says Kirsten Quinlan, a physician recruiter for AdventHealth West Florida division, “We are building the Taneja Center for Innovative Surgery, a new surgical tower opening later in 2021 which will have 18 operating rooms and 96 additional private rooms on six floors.” All 11 hospitals in AdventHealth’s West Florida division have da Vinci robots.
Abiose is glad to have landed in Tampa. “Tampa is a great small town with a big city feel! It has all the bells and whistles including cultural diversity and great culinary offerings sure to satisfy anyone’s palate. There are lots of fun indoor and outdoor activities for people from all walks of life including hiking, biking and amusement parks like Disney. World-class family vacation destinations are one hour away! Tampa also has some of the best beaches in the country and hosts championship-winning sports teams including football, baseball and hockey.”
Says Quinlan, “As a newcomer to Florida last year, I highly recommend the Tampa area to live. There is so much to do here! From manatee watching in Crystal River, horse country in Ocala, auto racing in Sebring, to Tampa’s sports teams in 2020.” Indeed, 2020 was a big year for Tampa athletics: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became Super Bowl Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning became two-time Stanley Cup winners, and the Tampa Bay Rays went to the World Series.
<figure id="attachment_19908" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-19908" style="width: 881px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/John-Whitney-M.D.jpeg" alt="John Whitney, M.D." width="881" height="1024"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-19908" class="wp-caption-text">“South Bend is a nice variety of having plenty of things to do with ease of living,” says John Whitney, M.D. &#8211; Photograph by Cari Clark.</figcaption></figure>
<h4>South Bend, Indiana</h4>
South Bend, Indiana, a “gem of the upper Midwest,” is home to the University of Notre Dame. For physicians, South Bend also carries a varied and diverse patient population full of “Midwest nice” patients and interesting pathology. 
John Whitney, M.D., knew early on that he wanted to be a physician. “It started in high school for me when I started to fall in love with biology and realized, ‘Wow, I want to keep learning for the rest of my life.’ I also had more and more interest in working with people.”
Whitney is from Texas, but he went to Indiana for college and enjoyed it. He attended college at Taylor University in Indiana. He returned to Texas for medical school at Texas Tech University. And back he came to Indiana for the Memorial Hospital family medicine residency with the Beacon Health System in South Bend. Upon completing his residency, he joined the practice.
Beacon Health System was a fit for Whitney because it matches his values and professional goals. “My Christian faith really became my own at that point,” he says. “There’s always the temptation to be more motivated by money or prestige or respect, but what has brought me through all the changes I’ve seen in medicine is that care for people and the privilege of being able to use knowledge to care for others.”
What Whitney enjoys most about his career is the relationship element. He says, “One nice thing about family medicine is building the relationship. In primary care, I see myself as an information broker. I’m the point of contact between patients accessing their whole medical universe. A lot of that work is translating the information and guiding that path.”
In fact, making medical information accessible to his patients is one of Whitney’s main drivers in his career.
Whitney sees a varied patient population. He says, “South Bend is more than just a college town; it has a lot of history as well. I like that mixture, especially working for a health system. While there’s a lot of need here, there are a lot of resources to enable us to give good care.”
Beacon Health System has over 70 inpatient and outpatient locations in Indiana; Beacon Health System is licensed for 750 beds. The system has two anchor hospitals: Memorial Hospital of South Bend and Elkhart General Hospital.
Caren Foster, director of physician recruiter for Beacon Health System, says that Beacon works to keep their hospitals updated with cutting-edge equipment and renovated facilities. Says Foster, “The list is extensive. We were the first in North America to have a NICU where mothers and babies can room-in together. Our robotics includes two da Vinci Xi Robots, plus the latest robots for neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery.”
Foster is currently recruiting for primary care, neurology, cardiology, psychiatry, orthopedics, ENT and pediatric sub-specialties.
Says Foster, “I love the area with so much to do. I can go on for hours, but the gem is really the people! It’s the ‘Midwestern nice’ that you can’t beat anywhere.”
Rob DeCleene, executive vice president of the South Bend Regional Chamber, says, “South Bend is a hidden upper Midwest gem. Our calling card is Notre Dame, and the sporting tradition is tied hand in hand with football.”
In addition to Notre Dame, the South Bend area is also home to Saint Mary’s College, Holy Cross College, Indiana University South Bend, and Bethel University. During the academic year, the student population of South Bend is approximately 25,000.
“Being home to Notre Dame football, one of the most storied programs in college football history, is a very cool aspect of living here. That excitement rolls into college basketball—men’s and women’s basketball has a huge following here. That’s something that’s key. Notre Dame women’s sports are really popular. That’s a community asset,” says DeCleene.
Whitney cites the ease of getting around and a less complicated lifestyle as some of South Bend’s major perks. “We like to go to Chicago and Indianapolis on day trips. We also make day trips to the Michigan beaches. The closest one is only 35 minutes away. My work is a 10-minute drive away and my son’s school is a 15-minute drive away. South Bend is a nice variety of having plenty of things to do with ease of living.”
South Bend’s winter is not for the faint of heart, but there is still plenty to do, with sledding and tubing and cross-country skiing. Says DeCleene, “We do have winter. We can’t shy away from that. But we also get out and enjoy it.”
Physicians new to South Bend will find themselves in good company, as health care is the second largest employment sector there. Says DeCleene, “Health care and education dominate the local employment market. It’s a very noticeable industry here. Being the regional population center, we have two primary hospitals and an extensive network of other health care providers.”
DeCleene says that South Bend is just the right size to be able to make an impact. “You can make a difference here. You can really get involved in the community. You can help make change. You can get on non-profit boards. You can bring ideas from a community you might be from. We’re ripe for new ideas and everyone is encouraged to be involved here.”

view of palm trees in an example of sports towns

Medical practice in sports towns

<figure id="attachment_20139" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20139" style="width: 821px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Tia-Chakraborty-M.D.jpeg" alt="Tia Chakraborty, M.D" width="821" height="1024"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20139" class="wp-caption-text">A role at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids helped Tia Chakraborty, M.D., both live near family and pursue her career as a neurologist. &#8211; Photo by Alfield Reeves</figcaption></figure>
In Grand Rapids, Michigan, the craft beer brewing culture and the many hiking and biking trails come together to form the Grand Rapids Ale Trail, a self-guided tour of 80 local breweries.
Provo, Utah, attracts skiing enthusiasts and movie stars as it plays host to the annual Sundance Film Festival.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Mississippi River hugs the city, and the Mississippi River Levee Path provides an opportunity for locals to enjoy getting outside and being right on the river.
The picturesque town of Stowe, Vermont, has six distinct seasons, two of which—fall and winter—draw tourists from far corners of the country for leaf peeping the northern Vermont foliage and skiing the Stowe slopes.
These are some of the best places to practice medicine:
<h4>Grand Rapids, Michigan</h4>
Grand Rapids is primarily known for two things: outdoor activities and craft beer. There are more craft breweries per square mile in Grand Rapids than anywhere else in the world. (There are more than 80 breweries in the city of 198,000 people).
The Grand River runs through the city’s downtown, which underscores how nature and urban life are knitted together here. There is easy access to hiking, biking and golfing, and Lake Michigan is only 40 minutes away.
Tia Chakraborty, M.D., had an indirect but informative introduction to medicine: She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering. But once she entertained the pharmaceutical device industry, the work was less meaningful than she expected.
Chakraborty decided to pursue medical school and attended Wayne State University Medical School in Detroit. “Simultaneously, I was shadowing a neurosurgeon who I did engineering research with at the University of Michigan,” she says.
“That experience really piqued my interest in the neurosciences. I ultimately chose neurology based on the problem-solving and localization aspects of the specialty. Then I chose the critical care subspecialty since I gravitated towards the dynamic nature of acute care, fusing systemic medicine with neurology, and helping loved ones navigate goals of care decisions.” Chakraborty completed her residency and neurocritical care fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
When Chakraborty was finishing her training, she looked for a role in Michigan, because that’s where she grew up and where her family still lives today. “The stars aligned,” she says, because the neuro ICU at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids was hiring.
“I had heard about Spectrum Health from a co-fellow when I was at Mayo, who spoke extremely highly of her time as a medical student there,” says Chakraborty.
Butterworth Hospital includes a children’s hospital, a cancer hospital and a heart center. Butterworth Hospital has 476 beds and is a Level I trauma center.
When Chakraborty interviewed, the kismet continued. “When we visited for my interview, my husband, Paul Berglund, and I had a <a href="https://magazine.practicelink.com/magazinearticles/physician-interviews-notes-from-the-other-side-of-the-interview-desk-summer-2018/">great interview experience</a>. The people we met were exceedingly warm and welcoming…I continue to be so impressed with how genuinely kind everyone is that I’ve met and worked with thus far. People are eager to go out of their way and above and beyond for their patients. The culture is very collegial while fostering academic curiosities.”
Plus, Grand Rapids felt like a strong fit for Chakraborty and her husband.
“We liked what we saw of Grand Rapids in that it was somewhat metropolitan while having a small-town charm. After interviewing in various parts of the country, we ultimately chose Grand Rapids based on my career goals, proximity to my family, and on Paul’s career goals as a chef with Grand Rapids having a growing and exciting culinary scene.”
“Grand Rapids offers a great blend of big-city amenities with small-town charm,” says Kate Lieto, director of marketing for Experience Grand Rapids. Lieto says that there are over 80 breweries in the area and a thriving local food scene.
In fact, some call Grand Rapids “Beer City, USA” or “Brew City.” The Beer City Ale Trail is a tour of all 80+ breweries in Grand Rapids. Those on a quest to try all of Grand Rapids’ breweries are called “brewsaders” and there’s an app for them to track their progress.
In Grand Rapids, they are also serious about the great outdoors: The city was designed to integrate city life and nature.
Says Lieto, “One can find excellent biking, hiking, fishing, golfing, boating and more all within close proximity to downtown. In fact, the Grand River runs right through downtown and is undergoing an extensive revitalization to allow for even more recreation opportunities right in the heart of Grand Rapids.”
Lieto says that many people who are new to the area are surprised that Lake Michigan is so close to the city and so beautiful. Says Lieto, “Within a 30 to 45 minute drive, you’ll encounter beach towns similar to those in Cape Cod, only without salty water!” With 22,000 square miles of surface area, it’s not surprising that towns along Lake Michigan resemble oceanside communities.
There are also ample cultural opportunities in Grand Rapids.
There is an African American Art and Music Festival, the Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Festival, and of course, craft beer and food festivals. The arts are also a major focus in the city. “ArtPrize is our ‘Superbowl’ event at Experience Grand Rapids,” says Lieto. “ArtPrize is a 19-day international art competition that takes place in Grand Rapids. Historically, the festival has featured over 1,500 artists competing for over $500,000 in prize money. It is a sight to see.”
<h4>Provo, Utah</h4>
Provo, Utah, is home to Brigham Young University, the nation’s most well-known Mormon-affiliated university. It’s also close to Sundance Resort, a destination ski resort spanning 5,000 acres. Many people in Provo like to ski or enjoy some form of outdoor sports. The beautiful scenery and proximity to nature inspires locals to get outside.
Christopher Gordon, M.D., a sports medicine physician at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah, always knew he wanted to be a physician. But his love of learning drove him to pursue a well-rounded education. He majored in business at Brigham Young University, always planning to attend medical school. After his basic medical training in the Cayman Islands for medical school, he spent the bulk of his specialty rotations in New York City.
Says Gordon, “Though I loved almost all specialties, I wanted a job that allowed me to sleep in my bed every night and spend time with my family on the weekends. Medicine can be tricky when trying to balance work and home life, but sports medicine has allowed me to work hard during the weekdays while also having the opportunity to tuck my kids into bed each night and plenty of time to play with my wife and kids on the weekends.”
With work/life balance and a high quality of life as priorities, Gordon returned to Utah, where he works with student athletes at Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University. “As physicians, we have opportunities to make small differences in the lives of the patients we care for,” he says.
“It has been a long time since I completed my training, but my education has not ended. After my sports medicine fellowship here at Utah Valley, I was hired as a full-time physician, sports medicine fellowship faculty and team physician for BYU and UVU. I often joke that my fellowship never ended because I continue to learn from my partners in all specialties, particularly my orthopedic and radiology colleagues. My learning has really never stopped.”
Utah Valley Hospital has a distinct and positive culture. He says that the organization has a focus on treating the whole individual.
Says Gordon, “I am able to see and help patients from all walks of life, young to elderly, without bias toward seeing only those with private insurance. Most of all, we have great colleagues that are supportive of one another. Though I am quite experienced in my field, I do not claim to know everything. If I have questions regarding a diagnosis or treatment, I have well-trained and knowledgeable partners, specialists and colleagues to draw on their expertise, which helps me provide some of the best care you’ll find in the valley.”
Gordon enjoys living in the Utah Valley. “We have two amazing universities within minutes of each other with competitive sports…Within 20 minutes from home, I can be skiing in the winter or mountain biking, boating, and kayaking in the summer. Utah Valley has activities that can occupy all who want to be active.”
There is great hiking in Provo, but the trails may be a bit intense for some. “The hiking here is different and more intense than other places around the U.S., but the locals here are introduced to this at a very young age and you will be surprised how many people with little ones go hiking,” says Dan Cogburn, marketing manager for Explore Utah Valley.
Other popular outdoor activities include riding ATVs, wakeboarding at Utah Lake, fly fishing on Provo River, rock climbing at American Fork Canyon and mountain biking. Skiing is a huge part of the culture in Provo. Sundance Resort, 13 miles northeast of Provo, is a major attraction. Purchased by Hollywood actor Robert Redford in 1968, the ski resort became a year-round resort, which eventually spawned the Sundance Film Festival.
The Sundance Film Festival is a huge local event, as is the Fourth of July. Provo takes the Fourth of July seriously with the Freedom Festival. It is one of Utah’s biggest annual festivals that include a full week of activities such as parades, carnivals, art shows and hot air balloons. The week’s headlining event, the “Stadium of Fire,” is a concert usually featuring an A-list musician.
Cogburn is emphatic that Provo is a family-friendly city: “The number of kid-friendly activities will blow your mind, not to mention scenic places to take your kids for a picnic or a quick walk in the woods.”
Gordon was a student athlete and is a lifelong outdoorsman. “In high school I ran cross country and swam. I loved being in the outdoors: boating, skiing, hiking, cycling and camping. In college I was always on an intramural team, swam and played racquetball. As a physician, my current sports include skiing, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and boating. I can hardly believe my older kids are now better skiers than I am.”
Gordon encourages other physicians to round out their educations and seek continuing education opportunities.
“Knowledge and education has always been important to me. Being a physician was always something I wanted to do. I often use skills from my undergraduate in business management and graduate degree in health service administration… My fellowship in faculty development has helped me become a better educator. Most of all my sports medicine fellowship provided me with the skills, knowledge and confidence to care for my patients in an effective manner. I chose to diversify my education, and it has benefited me in my practice as a sports medicine physician.”
<h4>Baton Rouge, Louisiana</h4>
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is known to be much less raucous than its sister city, New Orleans. But Baton Rouge still offers a culture of celebration, where a year-round warm climate is marked by seasons of celebration. Mardi Gras and Louisiana State University football season rival one another for the biggest community events of the year.
“Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise!” says Kelly Bienn, senior vice president of marketing for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce. “Baton Rouge offers more than 184 parks with free activities ranging from rock climbing to paddle board lessons, fishing and golfing. Residents enjoy the walkable and bikeable Mississippi River Levee Path, and recreation on and around the lake system surrounding LSU’s campus.”
The city also recently launched a “Gotcha” bikeshare system and is undertaking a Ped-Bike Master Plan to coordinate greater integration of walking and biking pathways throughout Baton Rouge.
There are a wide variety of hospitals and health care organizations for physicians considering a move to Baton Rouge.
Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge is a 150-bed medical center with 13 subspecialty clinics on its campus. Ochsner Medical Center is unique for its Birthing Center, with eight dedicated labor and delivery rooms and four built-in birthing tubs.
Baton Rouge General Hospital is the flagship organization for a health system of hospitals, outpatient clinics and primary care offices throughout Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge General Hospital is licensed for 600 beds across three facilities. Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet campus is a 201-bed facility that includes an outpatient burn unit, a Crohn’s and colitis center and an oncology clinic, among other specialties.
LSU Health Baton Rouge is a not-for-profit health system that is operated as a collaboration between Louisiana State University, the state of Louisiana and Our Lady of the Lake, a health care ministry.
“Baton Rouge is also home to LSU, the state’s flagship university, which produces incredible research through institutions like LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, one of the top nutrition centers in the country,” says Bienn.
Baton Rouge is unique in that its medical community comes together—literally.
“The metro has an incredibly collaborative and forward-thinking medical community, formalized by the Baton Rouge Health District, which brings together the health systems to leverage unique capabilities to deliver high-quality health care in a way that is greater than the sum of their parts,” says Bienn.
Member organizations include virtually all the hospitals that operate in Baton Rouge, as well as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
“I’d put Baton Rouge’s climate as one of our most competitive advantages,” says Bienn. “Sure, it gets hot in the summer, but we have a fantastic sub-tropical climate that sees more sunny days than the average U.S. city. Baton Rouge enjoys pleasant weather all year round, so we don’t always experience your typical four seasons. Our culture has instead molded its own seasonality with life down here revolving around things we love like football season, Mardi Gras season, crawfish season, the holiday season and more.”
<h4>Stowe, Vermont</h4>
<figure id="attachment_20140" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20140" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JP-Begly-M.D.jpeg" alt="JP Begly, M.D." width="1024" height="620"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20140" class="wp-caption-text">For JP Begly, M.D., Stowe, Vermont, provides both access to outdoor activities and a family friendly community. &#8211; Photo by Jesse Schloff Photography</figcaption></figure>
Stowe is a destination for the outdoorsy set for its sweeping views of the Vermont mountainside. In the summer, Stowe is traversed by hikers with their packs and attracts skiers from across the country in the winter. Stowe is approximately two hours south of Montreal and 40 minutes from Burlington, Vermont.
J.P. Begly, M.D., was strategic in moving to Stowe, Vermont. He and his wife were living in Vail, Colorado, where he hiked weekly. If he were going to accept a new position, it needed to be near good skiing.
Appropriately, Begly is now an orthopedic surgeon at Central Vermont Medical Center, a rural hospital in Vermont that provides easy access to Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in all of Vermont.
Begly attended McGill University in Montreal for his undergraduate degree and went directly to medical school at Johns Hopkins University. After a residency at NYU, Begly landed in Vail, which rekindled his passion for the slopes. Stowe doesn’t disappoint.
Central Vermont Medical Center is part of the University of Vermont Health System. “It’s been nice to be part of the network,” Begly says. “We can see things from a small rural hospital perspective, but if someone needs multidisciplinary care, the University of Vermont is right up the road. The sports medicine surgeons up there are terrific. So, it’s nice to have an academic medical center available, while practicing somewhere that’s smaller.”
Stowe is surrounded by the northern Green Mountains and Worcester mountain range and dotted with rivers, reservoirs and farmland. In the winter, locals and visitors alike enjoy snowy outdoor sports.
Another hospital in the area is Copley Hospital, a 25-bed not-for-profit community hospital that was founded in 1932.
For those who want to be part of a larger organization, the University of Vermont Health Network cares for communities on both sides of Lake Champlain, from the Adirondacks in northern New York State to the Green Mountains of central Vermont and beyond.
The system’s flagship is the University of Vermont Medical Center, affiliated with the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont and the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Says Sarah Child, a physician recruiter for Central Vermont Medical Center, “Central Vermont offers a great lifestyle for folks who enjoy being active outdoors and seeing the impact their work has on a community. It’s so satisfying that year-round I have easy access to the things I love to do, such as trail biking, kayaking and snowshoeing.”
“Our medical staff benefit from very collegial and respectful relationships. The true understanding that no specialty is more important than another facilitates strong collaboration between departments,” says Child.
The University of Vermont Health System is currently recruiting outpatient family medicine physicians, a rheumatologist and a neurologist.
Says Begly, “From when I started out, everyone has been really helpful and really approachable in the new role. Specifically at Central Vermont Medical Center, I work with three partners. I’ve been really impressed by everyone’s expertise. Even though it’s a small hospital, people are so smart and experienced.”

Lovers of the great outdoors enjoy living and practicing in these four cities

Best places to practice medicine

<figure id="attachment_16611" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16611" style="width: 532px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-16611" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Tim_Gangi_-_StevenLewis_201222_0128_JB.jpg" alt="Steven Lewis, M.D." width="532" height="600"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16611" class="wp-caption-text">A native Chicagoan, Steven Lewis, M.D., first visited Allentown on a recruitment visit. Now, he says, “There’s so&nbsp;much to the Lehigh Valley itself.” &#8211; Photo by Timothy Gangi</figcaption></figure>
Looking for a place to call home outside of the big city—but with enough amenities to make a night out exciting? These small cities with medical practices in rural areas offer the best of big-city living coupled with small-town charm.
<h4>Allentown, Pennsylvania</h4>
Allentown, Pennsylvania, is on the rise again as young professionals gravitate to the area to live in chic lofts refurbished from their origins as industrial-era warehouses. Located in a lush valley surrounded by the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania, the city is close enough for weekend trips to New York or Philadelphia (or daily commutes for the daring). But why leave, when the Lehigh Valley area’s health care jobs have expanded in the past five years?
“Location is a key advantage for us. This is what really attracts people,” says Karen Fay, executive recruiter for Lehigh Valley Health Network. “You can reach anything that you’re interested in a very short distance. We are an hour and a half from New York City and an hour from Philadelphia. It’s not expensive to live here. It’s easy to live here. There are 10 colleges and universities, so it gives the area a very lively feeling.”
Says Fay, “Our office is in Center City Allentown, and we have some brand-new luxury apartments that are right downtown in the center of the city. There is a marketplace with all these restaurants and shops all around. It’s very much a city feeling, but it’s all very clean and new. Most of our physicians live in the new luxury high-rise buildings.”
The total population for the Lehigh Valley was 628,000, as of the most recent 2019 count.
Says Steven L. Lewis, M.D., chief of neurology at Lehigh Valley Health Network, “My first impression was both how beautiful the area is, how large it is and how nice the people are… I did have some knowledge of the legacy of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) in neurologic care and neurologic education, but as a native Chicagoan, I had limited knowledge of the Lehigh Valley and had never visited here prior to my recruitment. Since coming here, I’ve really enjoyed the Lehigh Valley’s unique combination of urban, rural and suburban, which includes the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton region and a very large geographical region beyond it. The Lehigh Valley region is incredibly diverse in all respects. The proximity to other major regions of the Northeast (including being only a little more than an hour from both New York City and Philadelphia) is a plus, but there’s so much to the Lehigh Valley itself that that proximity is only one of the many perks of being here.”
It was during his second year of med school at Stanford when Lewis discovered, to his surprise, that neurology was his calling.
“Neurologic patients are so appreciative of our help and guidance, even in situations when there is no definitive treatment; the effective neurologist always has something to provide to help make patients’ quality of life better,” he says. “My patient population is very diverse and comes from an incredibly large catchment area. …The diversity of neurologic pathology we see is truly remarkable. Our patients are always appreciative of our neurologic specialty and subspecialty expertise.”
Fay says that excellence in practice and a positive internal culture can be traced back to the organization’s structuring as a physician-led organization.
“What sets us apart is our culture. We’re a physician-led organization. Our chairs, our CEO and our CMO are all practicing physicians, and they are so engaging. You can tell when you talk to the chairs that there’s a lot of energy. It comes from the leadership. People enjoy being with them,” Fay says.
Says Alicia Quinn, VP of marketing and strategic alliances for Discover Lehigh Valley: “I think Lehigh Valley really is a place that is super accessible and affordable. It truly is a wonderful place to grow up, to raise a family.”
She echoes recruiter Karen Fay in noting the downtown revitalization occurring in Allentown. “We’ve been going through a resurgence—maybe even a renaissance—at least the last five years,” says Quinn. In fact, Discover Lehigh Valley was experiencing such a high volume of inquiries from new residents that they created a relocation guide. “It was written primarily with the health care industry in mind,” as that is one of the largest areas of job growth in Allentown, says Quinn. “Great workforce, great education, great health care—it’s all tied in together.”
Then, naturally, there’s the food and drink scene that accompanies any trendy area with access to terrain: a local food and drink scene. “We have a lot of farm-to-table sourced menu items and a farm-to-table restaurant,” says Quinn. “There is a big brewery-winery-distillery scene and they use ingredients that are grown here. It gives you a real sense of authenticity and sense of place.”
<h4>Dayton, Ohio</h4>
Dayton is a city in southeast Ohio known for its high quality of life and its friendly people. The geography of the greater Dayton area allows for new residents to take their pick of the kind of lifestyle they want to lead. The city of Dayton provides some big-city amenities, and there are manicured suburbs beyond the city limits. And just a short drive out of the city, you can find farmland and country homes. Physicians coming to Dayton have the opportunity to live spaciously, but have big-city careers as part of Dayton’s thriving medical community.
Bryan Ludwig, M.D., had an affinity for neurosciences starting in college. During his medical training, a number of treatments for strokes were emerging, many of which involved minimally invasive surgeries and cutting-edge endovascular tools and treatments. Says Ludwig, “I knew instantly I wanted to be part of this changing landscape, which would leverage my interest in stroke care and endovascular surgery. I have never regretted my decision to be on the front lines trying to reverse the damage brain aneurysms and strokes cause patients and their families.”
Ludwig grew up in a suburb of Dayton but moved quite a bit for education over the next 15 years after graduating high school. Ludwig and his family returned to Dayton in 2010 so Ludwig could take a position with Premier Health. “My family and I have enjoyed the small-town feel of Dayton while still having access to bigger-city amenities,” he says. “I am proud to again be part of such a diverse and unique city and community. Most who live in Dayton find it welcoming and are impressed by the commitment of our residents to their own community.”
Eric Sedwick, system director of recruiting for Premier Health, says, “We are dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve. Premier Health offers inpatient hospital campuses, seven emergency centers, seven outpatient surgery centers, home health services and more than 100 outpatient facilities. Premier Physician Network is one of the largest groups of primary and specialty care practices in southwest Ohio, with 650 physicians and advanced practice providers.”
Premier Health’s hospitals in the greater Dayton area include Atrium Medical Center, Miami Valley Hospital and Upper Valley Medical Center.
Diversity and inclusion are a core part of Premier’s culture. Says Sedwick: “We realize the best way to care for our patients is to understand them. Patients and all our employees make up our diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Employees help us relate to our patients on a personal level and understand their expectations so we can provide health care to meet their needs. Along with our commitment to diversity is one to inclusion. We leverage our diversity to create a fair, equal environment where differences are valued and respected.”
Ludwig says that his favorite aspect of Premier Health’s culture is the quality of the people on the team.
“I am surrounded by dedicated, highly motivated, award-winning teams of compassionate people every day. I interact with dedicated subspecialists in all areas of medicine and surgery, as well as talented primary care doctors all partnering together for the patients in Dayton. I consider myself fortunate to have found such a compassionate group of individuals to work with every day. The technicians, staff, administrators, therapists and nursing care providers are all aligned to provide excellent care and amazing patient outcomes. What is not to like about that?”
Says Ludwig: “I have helped recruit many physicians to Dayton from all over the country and world. Most are pleasantly surprised with the facilities, the amenities, the housing and the opportunities here. I have had excellent retention of physicians to the area, which is a testament to both the hospital and practice environment, and to the city itself. We are the quintessential Midwestern medium-sized city with a smaller town atmosphere.”
Sedwick is currently recruiting for vascular surgery, primary care, neurosurgery, neurology (stroke, neuromuscular, epilepsy), OB-GYN, cardiology (non-invasive and interventional), urology, ENT, orthopedic joint surgery, general surgery and pulmonary critical care.
“Dayton and the surrounding cities have so much to offer both families and single people,” Ludwig says. “All types of events are accessible and affordable, whether you are into sports, outdoors, arts/music or the many area festivals. The housing market continues to demonstrate area homes gaining value and selling quickly. As a medium-sized metropolitan area, Dayton has all variations of affordable living and with a revived downtown area, numerous suburbs with excellent schools and even rural farms with lots of land.”
<h4>Manhattan, Kansas</h4>
Manhattan, Kansas, is a Midwestern small town in northeast Kansas, with special flavor from playing college town host to Kansas State University. Some graduates return to the area to practice medicine and reconnect with Kansas State’s beloved football program. Manhattan is nicknamed “the Little Apple,” a play on the name it shares with New York City’s most famous borough. Manhattan, Kansas, has a population of approximately 55,000 (versus New York City’s population of 8 million).
“Manhattan is known for its unsolicited friendliness,” says Karen Hibbard, director of the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our active community is a buzz of activities year-round.” Hibbard says that the city has some fun with sharing a namesake with another city that, for all intents and purposes, is its mirror opposite. There is even a midnight “apple drop” as part of the town’s public New Year’s Eve celebration.
Kansas State University is considered a Big 12 school, a member of an athletic division that includes Texas Christian University, Baylor University, Iowa State University and the University of Texas-Austin. “Big 12 sports: football and tailgating, volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer—there is always a collegiate sport to enjoy,” says Hibbard.
Says Chris Stipe, CEO of Manhattan Surgical Hospital, “A lot of our surgeons went to K-State. There is a draw to come back, be part of the games, be part of the university.”
Stipe says that when a physician joins Manhattan Surgical Hospital, “You’re part of an independent practice. It’s more of a traditional kind of a practice where you have that independence, but you also have the opportunity to invest. We own the surgical hospital, a radiation center, an oncology center and a primary care arm. Physician-run facilities tend to be run very much by the needs of patients and their families. Our culture is one that is very focused on family care, quality and interaction with physicians. Physicians expect that they can take time to support patients.”
Says Stipe, “I think the independent medical community holds us to that standard of high customer service and focus on our patients. That’s not something that ever should be taken for granted—putting the patient first.”
Stipe says that Manhattan has an unusually independent medical community. Says Stipe, “In a lot of communities around the country, physician employment is something that has been increasing and accelerating. Manhattan is an intriguing small town, with a good school district and a few big businesses like John Deere with major locations here. It makes this its own little special area.”
Manhattan offers a wide variety of unique dining options as well as familiar chain dining as well. There is an IMAX theatre, as well as plentiful shopping downtown in “Aggieville,” the oldest shopping district in Kansas.
Other elements that make Manhattan special include the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Fun Run, the Flint Hills Festival outside the Flint Hills Discovery Center, and Symphony in the Flint Hills. The Bill Snyder Highway Half Marathon is named after Kansas State’s legendary football coach and includes a finish line on the football field.
<figure id="attachment_16612" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-16612" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-16612" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC01807_JB.jpg" alt="Julie Wei, M.D." width="394" height="600"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-16612" class="wp-caption-text">Julie Wei, M.D., fell in love with Florida after moving from the Midwest. She’s recruited three colleagues to the area as well. &#8211; Photo by Lauren Schoepfer</figcaption></figure>
<h4>Winter Park and Orlando, Florida</h4>
If, when you picture Orlando, you think of theme parks and the world’s most famous mouse, think again. Of course, the impact of tourism on Orlando’s economy and workforce can’t be understated. But there is an entire city beyond the theme park gates with a unique flavor all its own. Winter Park, a town within Orlando, was initially founded as a winter retreat in the 1880s for the well-to-do. Today, Winter Park’s historic main street Park Avenue offers shopping, dining and entertainment in a beautiful setting with a lot of local flavor.
“I can’t believe it was seven years, four months ago that I started working for Nemours,” says Julie Wei, M.D. “I interviewed the second day after it opened. I had been practicing in Kansas City. I spent 10 years there. Orlando was never really on my radar; I never thought I’d become a Floridian.”
Wei knew of Nemours from colleagues. Wei is a pediatric ENT surgeon and active in her subspecialty. She had met people employed by Nemours in the past and was aware of the unique Nemours mission for children’s health.
Wei heard through the grapevine that Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando was looking for a division chief of pediatric ENT. “The truth is, I thought, ‘OK, why not?’ I never thought of myself as a potential Floridian, but I was looking at jobs in other parts of the country,” she says.
Visiting the facility was immediately a delight; it had only been open for a single day when Wei toured it. “You are overwhelmed by the stunning architecture, the lights. I’ve never been in an operating room that is all glass. Everything is like the 22nd century.”
Working for Nemours Children’s Hospital has been a satisfying experience for Wei on both a personal and professional level. Says Wei, “They were ahead of their time, meeting the needs of Floridians. &#8230;What’s more impressive than the building are the people in it: the colleagues that I work with. They are leaders.”
“The Nemours footprint is huge. Seventy-two percent of our patients use Medicaid or are underprivileged people who deal with social justice issues,” says Wei.
“At Nemours, pronounced Nuh-moors, there isn’t much room for generalists,” says physician recruitment manager Brian Richardson. “Our recruitment is about 80 percent specialists or subspecialists. When we hire someone, we always consider, ‘Can you advance with us, clinically, academically or in research?’”
Richardson echoes Wei’s emphasis on the facility’s beauty and how energizing it is for staff and patients alike. Says Richardson, “There is no hospital I’ve seen that is like Nemours Children’s. It’s hard to be somewhere in the hospital where you can’t see the outdoors. Whenever physically possible, there is natural light. Every child’s room has floor-to-ceiling windows. That was part of the feedback from patients’ families: more space for families, more nature.”
For Wei, the road to becoming an otolaryngology surgeon was not a direct one. “I went to medical school, and I spent the summer after my first year with a hematology-oncology doctor who walked on water. I was hooked. There was no need to look at anything else. In my fourth year of medical school, I did a surgical residency. I trained in New York.” It was initially not a match at all. She did not like some of the egos around her, and she never thought she would be a surgeon, anyway. But on her last rotation, in pediatric surgery, Wei met a surgeon who told her, “‘You are a surgeon. You have the gift.’ She took me under her wing. She is the reason I am an ear, nose and throat specialist. I keep winning the lottery.”
Outside of work, there is even more to marvel at, especially for residents of Winter Park. Says Laureen Martinez, Orlando Economic Partnership’s senior director of marketing and communications, “postcard moments abound within the posh neighborhood characterized by brick-paved streets and live oak canopies draped with Spanish moss.” Winter Park is also known for its plethora of, appropriately, parks.
Martinez is emphatic that one of the most important and understated aspects of living in Orlando is its arts scene. Says Martinez, “From exclusive art collections at the Alfond Inn to the many public art galleries in the City of Orlando, the region’s vibrant arts community is well-represented in both historic and contemporary galleries.”
Wei offers very specific high praise for living and practicing in Orlando: She has recruited three colleagues to join the otolaryngology specialty at Nemours.

Image of Dayton, Ohio, as an example of rural towns to practice medicine

Medical practices in rural areas

<figure id="attachment_15599" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15599" style="width: 390px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-15599" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/EricaSun-36_JB.jpg" alt="Erica Sun, D.O." width="390" height="600" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15599" class="wp-caption-text">The Chickasaw Nation Department of Health gave Erica Sun, D.O., a patient-centered, family-friendly and flexible place to work. &#8211; Photo by Josh McCullock</figcaption></figure>
They say it takes a village to raise a child. When you have a profession that is needed everywhere—medicine—you can choose the kind of community and the kind of atmosphere you want and the best cities for physicians and their families as you think about raising kids. Oklahoma City has a revitalized downtown area, but Oklahomans take advantage of the opportunity to spread out. Just north of Boston is Salem, Massachusetts, which is part of a stretch of communities known as the “North Shore.” Families can easily access the city, though, by hopping on the 15-mile commuter train from Salem to Boston. In Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, the weather lends itself perfectly to raising sporty children, with ice skating, cross-country skiing, and of course, hockey, as favorite local pastimes. And in Omaha, Nebraska, where there are many young families, there are scores of activities to keep everyone entertained.
<h4>Oklahoma City, Oklahoma</h4>
Oklahoma City is one of the most geographically spread-out American cities. It is the eighth largest American city in terms of the reach of its borders, but 25th largest in terms of population. Those who want a taste of city life can enjoy walkability, a vibrant food scene and a popular downtown entertainment area that is constantly expanding. For those who want more space, it is there. For physicians who are interested in rural medicine, practicing with a federally recognized Native American nation is a rewarding option, and Oklahoma has 39 federally recognized tribes.
Love and marriage brought Erica Sun, D.O., to the Oklahoma City area. She met her husband while they were medical residents at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Says Sun, “He was going for his residency in ophthalmology, and I was going for my residency in family medicine and psychiatry. He grew up in Oklahoma, and his family is still here.”
There are several large hospitals in Oklahoma City, such as Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City and INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center, a facility with over 500 beds.
Sun attended Johns Hopkins University, where her multi-passionate nature found its outlet. “I’ve always been interested in the interface between physical and mental health. It’s why I majored in both biology and psychology as an undergrad, and it’s one of the reasons I became an osteopath, with its emphasis on holistic care,” she says.
A holistic approach to patient care is modus operandi at the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, where Sun practices psychiatry in person and via telemedicine. Rural health organizations and federally recognized Native American nations were early adopters of telemedicine, as technology empowered them to serve patients in any location.
Says Sun, “The Department of Health works alongside other Chickasaw Nation departments to really provide great comprehensive care for its patients. We work closely with therapists housed under the Department of Family Services. They also have residential facilities for job reentry, rehab facilities and a youth and adolescent transitional living center.” The Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada is a facility with more than 70 beds, and there are three outpatient facilities operated by the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health.
Says Ronnie Shaw, a physician recruiter for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, “Being a tribal facility, we serve the Native American population. I think one of the greatest compliments I repeatedly hear from people who are familiar with our system, but unable to access their care with us, is ‘I wish I could get my health care at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center/Clinics.’”
Sun was very impressed by how flexible and forward-thinking the Chickasaw Nation was when she started her family. “The Chickasaws were great with working with me on figuring out how to juggle my professional life and personal life. At one point in 2011, I had four babies under the age of 3, and I was nursing in between my patient visits. Using telemedicine, I was able to keep up a full-time schedule with the help of nannies, and I never missed any firsts,” says Sun.
Another key item Sun says makes Chickasaw Nation a really special place to practice is the organization’s commitment to patient care above all else. Says Sun, “I love that I have never been pressured on revenue, but have always been supported in providing the safest and best quality care to the patients I take care of. This is becoming a very rare thing in medicine now.”
Another metric of success for the Chickasaw Nation’s health care organizations is how easily they retain their physicians. Says Shaw, “We have numerous physicians who have been with us in excess of 10 years, and some over 20 years. However, we have also attracted a number of newly trained physicians bringing fresh skills and energy to balance and complement the depth and experience of our medical staff.” A new family medicine residency program, launched in 2018 at the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, provides training for new physicians and deepens new physicians’ interest in rural health care.
Shaw is currently recruiting obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, endocrinology, general surgery and core faculty for the family medicine residency program.
Native American culture is an important aspect of Oklahoma living. The First Americans Museum is scheduled to open in spring 2021, located in downtown Oklahoma City along the bank of the Oklahoma River. “This will be a 175,000-square-foot facility that aims to be a world-class showcase for Oklahoma’s American Indian heritage and will house artifacts that tell the history of the 39 federally recognized tribes located in the state,” says Shaw.
Additionally, “Bricktown” and the Boathouse District have been the leading force in the downtown revitalization of Oklahoma City. Says Shaw, “The Bricktown Canal is a beautiful place to stroll or take a river tour on the boats. The Boathouse District is a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training site for rowing and kayaking.” Children can also take kayaking lessons and try kayaking camps in the summer.
“I live 30 minutes south from Oklahoma City. My family has backyard chickens, and we are growing tomato, corn and okra. Our chief of family medicine raises goats, and I work with other physicians who raise cattle and horses,” says Sun. In addition, Sun enjoys palette knife painting and gardening at home, and kayaking out on the water. But, “I have four children and a German Shepherd and they take up most of my free time.”
<h4>Salem, Massachusetts</h4>
When you think of Salem, Massachusetts, you may think of black cats and witch trials. Indeed, Salem is chock full of New England history, and it’s an exciting place to live in October. Another major impact on Salem’s local culture is its proximity to Boston; Salem is just 15 miles north of Boston by car. The cities and towns north of Boston on the Massachusetts coast are referred to as “the North Shore.” The North Shore Physicians Group operates scores of outpatient facilities and specialists’ practices, and doctors have admitting privileges at the major Boston hospitals.
Says Maury McGough, M.D., a primary care physician at North Shore Physicians Group, “I had completed my residency in the Boston area, and I liked the doctors I met from the North Shore Physicians Group. There was such a depth of subspecialty support. I wanted to have great specialists to turn to, to learn from,” says McGough. Rather than join a hospital, McGough joined the North Shore Physicians Group. “Now we have a large multispecialty group based out of Salem with 450 docs. We can offer a lot of collegial support. You’re big enough to have a sophisticated infrastructure, but the focus for docs is medicine. They want to practice medicine and be really good doctors, and we give them that opportunity. It’s not an academic rat race.”
Says Louis Caligiuri, director of physician services for North Shore Medical Group, “We have 27 outpatient locations in 10 communities all along the North Shore. We’re far-reaching. Five of those locations are in Salem. Our hospital affiliate is North Shore Medical Center-Salem Hospital. Salem Hospital has been in Salem for over a hundred years. In addition to our outpatient practices, North Shore Physicians Group also staff the hospital. We employ the ER and hospitalists, intensivists, neonatologists, pediatric emergency medicine, adult psychiatrists and geriatric specialists.”
Michele Gorham, a senior recruiter for North Shore Physicians Group, is currently recruiting for primary care/internal medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, psychiatry, hospitalists and geriatric medicine. Says Gorham, “We have a team of nurses and nurse practitioners who will round in the local nursing homes. We’re looking for another physician to round out that team as well.” The North Shore Physicians Group recently added an orthopedic surgery group. Says Gorham, “We’re looking to add more orthopedists, as well as sports medicine specialists and spine surgeons.”
Says McGough, “We’re one of the largest multispecialty groups in Massachusetts, and that’s one thing that makes us unique. We’re deeply embedded in the community. Most of our docs choose to live in the community where they work. The docs who work in Salem, they might not live in Salem, but they live in the town that touches it. One town blends into the other along the North Shore. I live in Marblehead, and I’m looking out my window across the water toward Salem. I can practically see my office in Salem. It’s easy living,” says McGough.
Gorham says that for candidates, the geographic location is as important as the job itself. “Salem is a historic city 14 miles north of Boston. Salem is known for its seaside beauty and rich cultural history. It’s a very walkable, family-friendly city. There is great public transportation, including a commuter train that goes into Boston and a train that goes up and down the coast of Massachusetts.”
“Young people are the fastest-growing cohort in Salem,” says McGough. “There is a nonstop express train; it takes 20 minutes to be in Boston.”
McGough had a very positive experience raising three kids in Salem. Says McGough, “The school systems on the North Shore give you a lot of options, so you can pick the option that is right for your child. It’s one of the safest communities in the area. It’s safe, easy and community-focused. There are lots of after-school opportunities. What we find is that a lot of the doctors in our group have gotten together to share after-school responsibilities. Their kids are the same age, interested in the same activities, and that collaborating works out really well for everyone.”
<h4>Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin</h4>
Looking for community? Come on in. Chippewa Falls is a town of 15,000 where knowing your neighbors (and family ice fishing competitions) are part of life. With a health system dedicated to serving Wisconsin even in its most rural stretches, physicians in Chippewa Falls will find a satisfying career with patients who are said to be abnormally nice and easy-going.
Ken Johnson, M.D., knew he wanted to work in health care from a young age. He just wasn’t entirely sure which species he wanted to care for. He completed his bachelor’s degree in zoology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and then decided to focus on humans. He attended medical school at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. “I went up to Chicago and did a three-year emergency medicine residency at the University of Illinois. They have a Level I trauma center,” says Johnson. While he was there, Johnson also earned a master’s degree in public health.
Johnson has a funny analogy for how doctors often choose their specialties. “In Harry Potter, the wand chooses the wizard. I think it’s the same thing in medicine.” To generalize, some doctors are known for certain personality traits, and they tend to end up in similar specialties. “I like figuring out what’s really wrong, fast. I don’t like long-term chronic care,” says Johnson. And so, to the ER he went.
Today, Johnson is the chief medical officer for Prevea Health. His transition into hospital administration was gradual. “When I was a physician, I would see things that would frustrate me. I figured I could bring these issues up and try to make things better.” After enough time thinking about the hospital in an operational way (no pun intended) and speaking up about opportunities for improvement, Johnson was invited to join the hospital board. He slowly started taking on more administrative responsibilities and decreasing his amount of time in the ER.
Says Dolly Willems, a physician recruiter for Prevea Health, “We are physician-owned and physician-led. If you have a problem and you want to talk to someone in administration, you’re talking to another physician. You’re taken seriously and listened to. The physician leadership is huge for us.”
Prevea physicians work at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. HSHS is a health system that has partnerships with physician groups around Wisconsin and southern Illinois. In nearby Eau Claire, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is another facility owned by HSHS and staffed by Prevea.
Says Willems, “Chippewa Falls is one of those hidden gems that Wisconsin is known for. It comes across as a small town. But we’re 20 minutes from Eau Claire, which is 60,000 people.” Williams is currently recruiting for OB/GYN, allergy medicine, addiction medicine and rheumatology.
Physicians coming to Chippewa Falls can enjoy a large array of outdoor and family-friendly activities.
“Our population is just over 15,000, and there no doubt is a sense of community. From Friday night football games to community events, there is something for everyone. Walking into a coffee shop where your order is known or a handful of familiar faces greet you gives you a sense of belonging. This is felt throughout the community,” says Jackie Boos, tourism director for the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.
“From parades to Oktoberfest, to music festivals and community events, you would be hard-pressed to find a weekend in the summer or fall months that does not have a planned community event. There are also events like family ice fishing tournaments. Winter is a very beautiful time of year; however, the cold can be challenging with school and other outdoor activities. People adjust their plans according to the weather,” she says. “But the list of fun is quite long: sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fat tire biking, ice fishing, ice skating, hiking, hockey, to name just a few.”
<h4>Omaha, Nebraska</h4>
<figure id="attachment_15600" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15600" style="width: 509px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-15600" src="https://bpplplayground.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Lindsey_George_-_Emily_Kean-Puccioni_Lindsey_George_Photography-11_JB.jpg" alt="Emily Kean-Puccioni, M.D." width="509" height="600" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15600" class="wp-caption-text">Omaha’s strong school districts and resources for students with special needs make it a great place to raise a family, says Emily Kean-Puccioni, M.D. &#8211; Photo by Lindsey George Photography</figcaption></figure>
Omaha’s population of 480,000 makes Midwest city living very manageable. The city’s two academic medical centers make it a hotbed for medical students and residents to learn and hone their skills.
Emily Kean-Puccioni, M.D., was born and raised in Omaha and practices there today.
After a brief stint in Ohio for undergrad, Kean-Puccioni returned to Omaha to attend medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She also completed her residency in Omaha, opting for an OB/GYN residency at Creighton University Medical Center, then headed to Dallas for a fellowship in female bladder dysfunction and reconstructive pelvic surgery. She returned to Omaha to practice urogynecology.
Adult and Pediatric Urology and Urogynecology, PC, was established in Omaha in 1994. Today, the practice is a team of seven board-certified urologists and three board-certified urogynecologists, as well as physician assistants and support staff. The practice operates an advanced prostate cancer clinic and an accredited outpatient surgical center. The practice also specializes in female urogynecology conditions and pediatric urological conditions.
Other major employers of physicians in Omaha are two large academic medical centers. The University of Nebraska Medical Center is a teaching hospital with 5,000 students. CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy is a private teaching hospital licensed for 391 beds.
Says Kean-Puccioni, “I love raising my family in Omaha. I have three beautiful children. We are incredibly lucky to have multiple extremely strong school districts and private school options. One of my children was born with Trisomy 21. He is 15 now and doing extremely well. Omaha has excellent schools for special needs students as well and numerous therapy services, support groups and recreational activities.”
Says Kean-Puccioni, “Omaha is also home to Munroe Meyer Institute who leads the world in transforming the lives of all individuals with disabilities and special health care needs, their families and communities through outreach, engagement, premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care. Munroe Meyer has a recreation department that provides Saturday morning camps, summer camps, after-school activities and teen and adult activities for their participants. My son has been utilizing these programs since age 4, and it is a very important part of his life. He has made lifelong friends and connections.”
Kean-Puccioni appreciates that while Omaha is so family-friendly, it also has an eclectic restaurant scene. “There are multiple neighborhoods, such as the Blackstone District and Benson that have unique vibes with their collection of live music venues and other entertainment,” she says. “We have venues that provide everything from live comedy, Broadway shows, gritty bands, symphony and opera. There is more to do here than any one person could exhaust and something for everyone.”

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