Best places to practice medicine

Physicians looking for a great place to practice and experience the great outdoors to recharge and relax have plenty of options. 

The Finger Lakes Region of New York not only delivers incredible beauty, but also provides terrific activities for families. In Portland, Oregon, you can explore easy access to nature, hiking and biking. If you love the water and all that the ocean has to offer, Ocean City, Maryland, may be for you. And in Charleston, South Carolina, you can partake in Southern charm with cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages. 

Finger Lakes Region, New York 

THE FINGER LAKES REGION OF NEWYORK extends over 9,000 square miles and is an outdoor lover’s paradise! The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 long, narrow lakes that stretch across rolling hills and lush vineyards. 

There’s biking, hiking, golf, tennis and watersports. Winters bring the thrill of downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating and ice fishing. With a multitude of recreational activities, it’s easy to see why Finger Lakes residents love to spend time in the great outdoors. 

The Finger Lakes Region is known as the hidden gem of New York State with its picturesque landscape. “The Finger Lakes people call it a real treasure,” says Cary Sullivan, senior director of physician/provider recruitment for Rochester Regional Health. “It isn’t just the scenery; it’s also the communities that surround the Finger Lakes. It’s more than just a beautiful destination. It’s home to a unique blend of well-respected companies, innovative technology firms and renowned academic institutions.” 

Gorges and waterfalls can be found throughout the Finger Lakes region. Watkins Glen State Park has 19 waterfalls that can be seen in less than two miles and offers well-maintained hiking trails. 

Nearby cities include Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Watkins Glen, Geneva, Canandaigua, Corning and Skaneateles. 

With more than 100 wineries, the Finger Lakes Region is a perfect place for wine enthusiasts. The Corning Museum of Glass is a unique destination featuring live glass blowing demonstrations as well as many other displays. 

“There’s a lot to do, and it isn’t hard to get around as there isn’t a lot of traffic,” says Catherine Craven, M.D. “You can get to the mountains easily, or to the lake. I live 6 minutes from the beach, which is amazing, and the beaches are beautiful! In addition, the cost of living here is decent!” 

Craven is originally from Canada and received her undergraduate education there. At that time, she thought she would do counseling and psychology. Her master’s degree focused on how the brain works and neuroscience—but something was still missing. She decided to become a physician. 

“I wanted to work with people. A blend of neurology where I would still be involved in research and seeing patients would be perfect,” she says. 

“I work at the Unity branch of the Rochester General Hospital,” says Craven. “…I’ve noticed everyone works well as a team. All of the staff is great, and there is so much support from other physicians. It’s a large health system, so we really do have everything here and I would recommend this as a great place to work!” 

There are just shy of 2,000 physicians on the medical and dental staff at Rochester Regional Health, and nine hospitals and 1,951 beds in the system. 

As the second-largest employer in Rochester, they provide high quality, compassionate care for the people of Rochester, the Finger Lakes Region and New York State’s North Country and a full range of specialties. 

“I think Rochester Regional Health offers a unique opportunity to be part of a system that is a transformational journey,” Sullivan says. “We understand that health care is changing, and we need to expand our models of care to meet the future head on. We’re pioneering new approaches and team-based care to allow for more personalized and comprehensive care to support our patients and the communities that we are privileged to serve. …Rochester Regional Health values innovation from every level of the organization. That helps to keep our work dynamic and meaningful.” 

Rochester Regional Health continues to be in a growth mode. “We’re open to all specialties. Like most health care systems, neurology is a particular need of ours. We’re expanding in cardiac services. Emergency medicine is always a need as well as primary care,” Sullivan says. 

Portland, Oregon 

PORTLAND, OREGON, KNOWN AS THE City of Roses, is the largest city in Oregon and is positioned on the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Parts of Portland can also view the spectacular Mount Hood. 

Portland is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. Residents enjoy places like the Oregon Zoo, the International Rose Test Garden, Forest Park, Portland Japanese Garden and more. There’s skiing, snowboarding, miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding against magnificent backdrops. Portland is surrounded by beautiful evergreens. 

The city has a population of about 630,000, and there’s no shortage of entertainment, dining and shopping. 

“There are activities for just about every interest in Portland and the surrounding Northwest area,” says Tad Lowder, D.O., a family medicine physician at Legacy Medical Group in nearby Camas, Washington. “We are about 90 minutes from the Pacific Ocean and wonderful beach towns to the west and about 90 minutes from skiing on Mount Hood. You can be on a trail or in the water close to town or in the Columbia Gorge within a matter of minutes.” 

Lowder is the regional medical director for primary care in southwest Washington. Besides the Portland Metro Area, Legacy Health extends to outside Portland proper and the southwest Washington area. 

Lowder moved to Vancouver, Washington, a suburb of Portland on the Washington side of the Columbia River, when he was 13. He left the area to obtain his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University and attend medical school at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, but returned to complete his residency in Vancouver, Washington. 

“I tell everyone that my grandmother was my inspiration for becoming a physician,” Lowder says. “I can recall as a young child hearing her tell me that I needed to grow up and become a doctor so I could take care of her and my grandfather when they were older. …My best friend’s father growing up was a family medicine doctor in this community, so I had a lot of exposure to what that career path looked like. I enjoy the opportunity to connect with my patients and be a part of their health journey throughout their life.” 

“The Portland area has been a wonderful place to live and raise a family,” he adds. “Usually, the temperature is comfortable. The summers are beautiful with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The winters can be a bit rainy, but we often don’t have to deal with the snowy conditions.” 

Erin Pendergraft, a physician recruiter for Legacy Health, was born and raised in the Portland area. She mentions what she likes about Portland: “The beautiful outdoor activities…the beach, mountains and the central Oregon desert. Also: fresh, clean air and four distinct seasons.” 

If physicians and their families are looking for originality in a city besides great outdoor activities, Portland fills the bill. Some streets serve as art galleries, and there are unique restaurants and shops. 

Lowder has been instrumental in aspects of recruiting and hiring new primary care physicians for the primary care clinics in the southwest Washington area. 

“I practice at the Legacy Medical Group-Camas Clinic. I have been with the clinic for 14 years,” he says. “…We have been hiring and expanding the primary care providers in our clinics in southwest Washington due to a significant increase in the population and demand for more providers. We provide care for patients from birth through the end of life. We provide comprehensive management of chronic diseases as well as focus on preventative care to try to keep our patients as healthy as possible.” 

Legacy Health is committed to the highest standards of care. Part of Legacy’s mission is good health for the community. They offer over $8.4 million annually in support of local organizations. Legacy Health operates six hospitals, with a total of approximately 1,626 beds, a full-service children’s hospital and over 70 clinics in the Portland and Vancouver area. They employ 14,000 employees and nearly 3,000 health care providers. 

“Many of our providers and staff have been with the clinic for several years now, so we have a wonderful team of employees that enjoy the work we do and being around each other,” Lowder says. “We are excited about adding some new providers to the clinic and incorporating them into this culture as well as discovering what they can bring to enhance that culture. We have a good mix of patients that are loyal to our providers and to Legacy Health. The local administrative staff, as well as Legacy Medical Group, have done a great job supporting providers to be as autonomous with their practices as possible.” 

Ocean City, Maryland 

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND, has 10 miles of sandy beach, a 3-mile boardwalk and an abundance of outdoor activities. 

One of the many reasons outdoor lovers and their families love Ocean City is for its parks and playgrounds. Northside Park is Ocean City’s largest and consists of a 58-acre complex and 21,000-square-foot multi-sports arena. There are also three lighted softball/baseball fields, a lighted soccer field, paved walking paths, water access with a lagoon pier and a fishing and crabbing pier. Indoor features include meeting rooms, gymnasiums, a soccer field and pickleball courts. 

Ocean City Boardwalk dates back to 1902 and is a wooden walkway well known for eateries, shops and carnival rides. “Obviously, the big draw is the Boardwalk and access to the Atlantic Ocean, but there is so much more to see and do around here,” says Amy Thompson, executive director of Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. “A short drive to Assateague Island provides the unique opportunity to share that space with wild ponies and other animal life that call the island home. Biking, boating, fishing, golf, jet skiing and parasailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding and surfing are mainstays in Ocean City.” 

Ocean City is a great place to raise a family. Maryland is well known for the quality of its public schools. Worchester County Public Schools has a long history of high-quality education and is also home to several private schools offering pre-K through 12 education. 

“We have a nationally rated school system and offer a small student-to-teacher ratio,” says Toni Keiser, vice president of public relations for Atlantic General Hospital. “That’s a huge benefit to physicians who are looking to start a family or have young children who are looking for a very nice, family-oriented community where they can raise their children in a safe environment.” 

Sally Dowling, M.D., is a family medicine physician and vice president of medical affairs for Atlantic General Hospital. She’s lived in Ocean City for 32 years and been with Atlantic General Hospital for 5. “I’m an avid walker,” Dowling says. “The nice thing about running, hiking or walking around here is that everything is flat. I also paddleboard and kayak. Ocean City is not only on the Atlantic Ocean; we also have a bay that runs on the west side of Ocean City.” 

“I wanted to become a physician ever since middle school,” Dowling says. “I was very interested in helping people and in science. So, I thought medicine would be a good fit for me. I never veered from that once I made the decision.” 

Atlantic General Hospital is located in the charming small town of Berlin, 8 miles outside of Ocean City. It has 62 beds and has a staff of more than 1,000, with more than 200 board-eligible and certified physicians. 

“Atlantic General Hospital is a small community rural hospital,” Keiser says. “We are in a medically underserved designated area. We have a very nurturing culture. …When patients from other areas are in our hospital, I would say 9 times out of 10, we receive a letter from them stating they have never received care like that in any other organization. That’s the culture of our hospital and the same is true of all of our offices in the community.” 

Atlantic General Hospital is now recruiting for numerous specialties. 

Charleston, South Carolina 

LOCATED IN SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA, Charleston is a major port on the Atlantic coast. It is located midway between Myrtle Beach and Savannah, Georgia. Charleston is a charming historic city with no shortage of things to do. 

Joseph Alagna, Jr., D.O., has lived in Charleston for 2.5 years and works at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). “The state parks around here are something like I’ve never seen,” he says. “They’re gorgeous!” 

The Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site is one of the many parks that historians, nature lovers, bikers and hikers all enjoy. There are seven miles of paved and unpaved trails. Visitors can walk along the marsh or through 80 acres of park-style gardens. There is a history trail, animal forest trail, biking trails and bird watching. 

Vanessa Diaz, M.D., is a native of Panama who has lived in the Charleston area for several years. She received her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed her residency at Savannah Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. 

“My mom swears that when I was a little girl, she would sneak into my room when I was sleeping and whisper in my ear that I needed to become a doctor,” Diaz says. “I have always enjoyed communicating with people, and I wanted a job that was mentally challenging. I was lucky to be able to do that and develop relationships with patients to guide them to their best health. It’s been a real privilege to do that.” 

For Alagna, it was a different path. “I have my bachelor’s degree in nursing and have always been interested in medicine and becoming a doctor,” he says. “For the next step, I had to make a decision between getting my master’s or becoming a physician. I thought I’d give it a shot and applied to medical school and got in, went into internal medicine, and here I am.” 

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy sailing, fishing, golfing, biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, tennis and more in the area. “In a matter of minutes, you can be on the beach or walking on a hike,” Alagna says. 

Residents of Charleston enjoy a coastal lifestyle, a rich culture, a booming economy and embrace the charm of Southern living. “I love the fact that Charleston is a perfect size city that has a great community feel but still has really good restaurants, entertainment and night life,” Diaz says. 

MUSC Health University Medical Center is South Carolina’s top academic medical center and has 700 specialists. According to its website, it is nationally recognized and comprised of four hospitals: Institute of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital, Ashley River Tower and University Hospital. It also has a NCI-designated cancer center, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. •