Best places to practice medicine

Small towns offer an appeal for a number of reasons, and there are some small towns that are perfect for physicians. Take Woodstock, Vermont, for example: scenic beauty and four seasons with a lot to do. Physicians and their families who prefer a milder climate, are history fans and enjoy the charm of the South may find Thomasville, Georgia, more to their liking. Meanwhile, the small town of Sedona, Arizona, is perfect for those who love to get outdoors. Bayfield, Wisconsin, offers water-based and other outdoor activities, museums and a charming downtown.

Woodstock, Vermont 

You’ll discover Woodstock while driving through the Green Mountains on the Vermont Scenic Byway. Picturesque scenery coupled with adventurous outdoor activities are some of its features.

If you love historic covered bridges, you’re in luck. If you’re into hiking, Woodstock has access to multiple trails. You can choose from flat to mountain summits such as Mt. Peg Trail, Ottauquechee River Trail, the Appalachian Trail and many more. If mountain biking is your passion, the Woodstock Area Mountain Bike Association, or WAMBA, has volunteers who active expand, maintain and improve area trails. Other popular outdoor activities are skiing, e-biking, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing on Silver Lake. 

“All of the main arteries for the outdoor biking activities go straight through Woodstock,” says primary care physician Ryan Heney, MD. “That’s the main hub for this part of the state.”

Heney and Jessica Heney, MD, are primary care physicians for the Gifford Health Care system. Gifford Health Care includes primary care clinics, a critical access hospital, specialty clinics and senior living facilities. Gifford Medical Center is a 25-bed critical access hospital in Randolph, Vermont, with a wide range of services within a modern, comfortable facility. In addition, it has a newly renovated and highly acclaimed Birthing Center that combines the expertise of OB-GYN care and low-intervention midwifery.

Ryan works at the Bethel Health Center, about 17 miles from Woodstock. He attended the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and did his residency at the Brown Family Medicine Residency in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Jessica Heney practices at Gifford Primary Care-Family Medicine in Randolph, about 30 miles from Woodstock. She also attended the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and the Brown Family Medicine Residency.

“I liked science and in elementary school wanted to be a physician,” Jessica says. “With regards to primary care, I really liked talking to people and getting to know their story. When I met others who were primary care physicians, particularly in family medicine, I felt like I found my match. Family medicine was my mantra without even knowing it was. I liked being there for people, no matter what their circumstance or age.”

Ryan came to medicine a little later, as he’d started as an organic synthetic chemist. “I wanted to do something that helped people and could be useful,” he says. “…I met Jessica in college and we started dating. We shared a lot of values, and she influenced me to become a physician, which was a big leap. …For both of us, there hasn’t been a single day we second-guessed going into primary care.”

Ryan grew up around Burlington, Vermont, and Jessica is originally from Massachusetts. “Our relocation focused on geographic location. We did a significant amount of searching. The Woodstock area had the schools and the culture we were looking for and where we wanted to raise our children. When we found Gifford, it was very clear that this is where we wanted to be. Gifford has a great inpatient hospital and a great core team of specialists,” says Ryan.

Downtown Woodstock has shops, galleries and a number of restaurants. It’s a small town with a rural heritage, and the community has many farmers, artists and craftspeople.

Jessica mentions that although the Woodstock orbit is small, there’s almost too much to do. “There are arts and cultural events and excellent dining. There are tons of community events in general. The schools are small, which allows them to do a lot of different things. They may go on a field trip with a week’s notice. They have a lot of resources for the kids you may not have in a school that has hundreds of students.”

A variety of programs support Woodstock’s artistic community. Residents and tourists will find galleries, museums, studio tours and classes at Artistree for adults and youth. 

Fans of small towns will enjoy Woodstock’s population of about 3,000. It also has four fabulous seasons. If you are a leaf peeper, you’ve come to the right spot. Winter brings deep white snow, spring pops with color and summer brings lush green.

Says Ryan: “With all of the galleries, shops and restaurants that attract tourists, it’s a fun place to live.”

Thomasville, Georgia 

Thomasville has a storied past, award-winning food, exclusive shops and splendid beauty. It is known as “Georgia’s Rose City” for its annual Rose Show & Festival and more than 1,500 roses that bloom throughout most of the year in the Rose Garden. 

Among its many attractions, physicians and their families will want to visit the historic Big Oak. The more than 339-year-old tree is a national landmark and has a limb span of over 165 feet and a trunk circumference of over 26 feet. 

You’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time with the brick-paved streets that complete the historic downtown experience. Although small, Thomasville has over 100 local businesses and is a hub for shopping and dining. 

“Thomasville is a bustling small town that offers amenities and attractions one would typically find in a larger community. Our downtown features upscale shopping and dining options. The family-centered city has strong private and public educational opportunities, as well as sports and fitness facilities for youth and adults. The local arts and culture scene is thriving, and there is a broad range of entertainment and outdoor activities,” says Jodie Hilson, director of physician recruitment at Archbold Medical Center.

Thomasville has hot, humid summers and mild winters with a minimal chance of snowfall. It has a population of about 19,000.

Christopher Daniels, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and chief of staff at Archbold Medical Center. He has lived in Thomasville for 11 years and is originally from Biloxi, Mississippi. Daniels completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and attended medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. He completed his residency at Virginia Commonwealth University and performed his internship and fellowship at Louisiana State University Health Services Center-New Orleans.

Daniels always had a passion to become a physician. He says, “Of course, at a younger age, I did not necessarily realize I was going to become an interventional cardiologist; I just knew I wanted to be a doctor. However, during training, I gravitated to the challenge, compassion, consistency and dedication required to practice this particular specialty of medicine.”

Daniels says, “I absolutely enjoy the Thomasville area. While the area may seem small geographically on a map, Thomasville and the region offer a variety of activities, such as hiking, biking, boating, world-class golfing and hunting.”

He adds: “I currently have the privilege of serving as chief of staff at Archbold Medical Center. It is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility. …Archbold Medical Center has continued its efforts to recruit providers who practice cutting-edge, evidence-based medicine to benefit the region. There is a collaborative effort between administration and clinicians. The cardiology and oncology departments are both very active with clinical research, with a number of trials actively taking place. Archbold Medical Center also allows you to give back to future generations as there are many medical students and now medical residents rotating through the system.”

Archbold is a not-for-profit health system that includes four hospitals, four nursing homes and over 200 specialty physicians. Across 45 points of care, Archbold serves the Southwest Georgia region bordering Alabama and Florida. 

The opportunity for growth is one of the things Daniels likes best about working at Archbold Medical Center. “As a team, we have brought new technologies and services to the region. We have been successful at treating a large patient population, resulting in a positive impact on the lives of the patients we serve,” he says.

Archbold Medical Center is recruiting for general and interventional cardiology, gastroenterology, interventional radiology, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery (sports medicine), family medicine/OB, hospital medicine, pediatrics and urgent care.

Sedona, Arizona 

If a picturesque desert town speaks to you, Sedona, Arizona, might be what you are looking for. With a population of just under 10,000 residents, it has an intimate small-town atmosphere while still offering sophisticated amenities. The community strikes a unique balance between natural beauty and cultural richness.

Families can enjoy world-class hiking and mountain biking trails, and famous formations like Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock offer everything from easy family walks to challenging climbs. The area also provides excellent opportunities for camping, rock climbing and photography.

Neil Singer, MD, is an internal medicine physician practicing concierge medicine in an independent solo practice. He attended medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York, and did his internship and residency at Mount Zion Hospital and Medical Center in San Francisco. After practicing in San Francisco, he and his wife decided to move to Sedona to allow more time for him to spend with his family.

“It’s a small community and almost everything you would need is easily within reach,” Singer says of Sedona. “It’s a beautiful place. Anywhere you are in the city, you look around and you have these beautiful red rocks. It inspires you to want to spend more time outdoors.” 

Singer was raised in New York and considered a few professional options growing up. A physician was one of them. “To be a physician was interesting to me. I wanted to help people when they needed it. I wanted to do something that was beneficial to society. My parents had some health issues as I was growing up, and I saw the care they received. I was impressed by it, and I wanted to emulate that.”

Sedona hosts numerous art galleries, music festivals and theatrical performances throughout the year. Many art galleries are within walking distance of each other on Gallery Row. The Sedona International Film Festival and various wellness retreats add to the community’s vibrant cultural calendar.

The area offers good schools, especially for motivated students, and the natural beauty provides an exceptional outdoor classroom.

Doug Hughes, marketing and communications director for the Greater Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, says: “Sedona presents physicians with a unique combination of professional opportunity and lifestyle benefits. There’s a genuine need for medical professionals here, plus interesting business opportunities in wellness-related ventures that you simply won’t find in traditional markets. While the cost of living requires careful consideration, many physicians find that the ability to practice in such a stunning natural setting, combined with the strong sense of community, creates both professional fulfillment and personal well-being that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere.”

Bayfield, Wisconsin 

Charming Bayfield is on the northern tip of Wisconsin and provides primary access to the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior known for sea caves, sandstone cliffs and historic lighthouses.

Crowned the “berry capital” of Wisconsin and one of the state’s smallest cities, there’s no shortage of outdoor adventures to explore. Kevin Roy, vice president of providers and clinic operations at Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center 23 miles outside of Bayfield, says, “This area is a true outdoor playground. There is something for everyone: camping, hiking and biking trails, skiing, kayaking, boating, fishing, hunting, and ATV/UTV trails.” 

A trip to the Apostle Islands is a must, and museum and gallery lovers will enjoy the Bayfield Heritage Association, Bayfield Maritime Museum, Madeline Island Museum and Washburn Cultural Center among numerous art galleries.

Mark Sneed, MD, is an ophthalmologist at Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center. He attended residency and medical school at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and did his medical internship in Portland, Oregon. He became a physician because he loved the anatomy and physiology of the human body and was attracted by the opportunity to positively impact people’s lives.

Sneed says, “Tamarack Health is a small but vibrant and growing regional health care organization that is committed to providing area citizens with high-quality, personalized health without the large, impersonal corporate oversight of many large health care entities.”

Tamarack Health has a wide range and quality of services for the area. “From a growing primary care practice to multiple specialties and behavioral health services, we have so much to offer the community. We pride ourselves on access to local care. We are rural, so minimizing the travel for patients to receive medical care is important,” Roy adds.

In addition to the number of outpatient specialties Tamarack Health offers, its two hospitals are 25-bed critical access facilities. They serve a diverse patient population, are 100% rural and have Level IV Trauma Centers.

“Tamarack Health provides a positive work culture, and the many people who work there reflect that focus,” Sneed says. “The nurses, techs, administrators and all the other individuals are pulling in the same direction. It’s rewarding and they’re fun to work with. The physicians who practice here are engaged in the community, trained at a high level in their individual specialties and are committed to excellent patient outcomes and a positive and supportive work culture.” •