Practicing medicine near nature

Who says you can’t live and vacation all in the same place? For physicians interested in practicing medicine near nature and wanting to put down roots in a town where they can recharge and explore the great outdoors when they clock out, there’s Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; Natchez, Mississippi; Litchfield, Connecticut; and Hilo, Hawaii.

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

IF YOU WANT TO LIVE WHERE YOU CAN START vacation at 5:05 p.m. every day, look no further than Sault Ste. Marie, the second largest city in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. That’s what Michael Fitzner, provider recruiter for MyMichigan Medical Center Sault, says, because it’s a destination area for so many people. Not only that, Fitzner says the safety of the community, high-quality schools, numerous outdoor activities and real estate that averages $134 per square foot make it a fantastic place to live.

Known by locals as simply The Sault (pronounced su) or The Soo, Sault Ste. Marie isn’t just a beautiful place to live; it boasts an impressive number of outdooractivities during all four seasons.

One of The Sault’s most well know attractions is the Soo Locks, which raise and lower boats between Lakes Superior and Huron. In the warmer months, there’s plenty of waterfront, inland and on-lake activities: golfing, hiking, biking, fishing, sailing and camping. Motorcyclists have no shortage of scenic rides in the Upper Peninsula. Plus, the pristine lakeside beaches are great for swimming and sunbathing.

During winter, hundreds of miles of trails traversing Chippewa County and the rest of the Upper Peninsula make snowmobiling a fun, adventurous way to get outside and take in the beauty. In fact, the area is home to the International 500 Snowmobile Endurance Race, a week-long event that brings out locals and tourists alike. There’s ice fishing, snowshoeing and some of the best winter bird watching in the nation.

“We’re a community of 18,000, so it’s small and rural, but you have Sault, Ontario, that has 85,000 people, which is just across the bridge, so the area as a whole has 100,000 people,” Fitzner says. “Even so, we’re able to maintain that small community safety environment people are looking for.” With a strong community feel and so much fun to be had on the water and in the great outdoors, it’s easy to see why so many make Sault Ste. Marie their home, like Jeremy Day, M.D.

Originally a computer programmer, Day changed careers after realizing he was passionate about life sciences and wanted a profession with more human interaction. After going on several medical mission trips, he fell in love with primary care and treating diseases, and decided to pursue medicine.

He attended Ross University School of Medicine, then went on to complete his residency at UT Health in San Antonio, Texas. Day’s first practice was as a physician at UT Health East Texas. Looking for a new adventure, he moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 2020 and is now a family medicine physician at MyMichigan Primary Care.

“I was looking for a new job, and my criteria was a broad-spectrum family medicine job where I could work in a clinic and hospital, so that meant smaller towns and hospitals,” Day says. “Then I asked my family where they wanted to live, and we picked a few places. I interviewed in Alaska and here, and we decided we wanted to come here.”

With a passion for outdoor activities and a love of the Upper Peninsula lifestyle, combined with the good reputation, stability and resources of the MyMichigan health system, Sault Ste. Marie was a perfect fit.

“MyMichigan is a well-established system. It has a good reputation with a lot of hospitals and specialists,” Day says. “There’s been a lot of investment in this hospital. We’re upgrading our eMR to epIC, and there’s infrastructure plans to improve the hospital. With small hospitals, you want to know they are sustainable, and us being part of a good system is reassuring that it is a sustainable hospital. It will be around for a long time.”

Fitzner agrees that the hospital is a pillar in the community and has a bright future. He has been with the hospital in Sault Ste. Marie for 17 years. Since starting his career there, Fitzner said numerous specialties have been added, which allows community members to stay local for many of the services and specialized care they need.

“We are proud of what we’ve done here and we think there’s a lot of positive things coming too, especially with the MyMichigan affiliation,” he says.

MyMichigan Medical Center Sault, formerly War Memorial Hospital, joined the MyMichigan network in 2022. It is a 49-bed, trauma Level III hospital with more than 900 employees. It has repeatedly been named a top rural hospital and was recognized as a high-performing hospital for COPD in 2022 by U.S. News & World Report. It is also affiliated with University of Michigan Health and has been named a Forbes “Excellent Place to Work” two years in a row.

With the University of Michigan affiliation, Fitzner says physicians have access to the resources and any specialists they may need to work with for patient care. Providing physicians everything they need to thrive and provide exceptional care is a priority at the hospital in Sault.

“We work hard to provide good work/life balance; we want them walking out every day with all documentation wrapped up and there’s nothing hanging over their heads going forward,” Fitzner says. “We work to make them efficient and provide them the support they need because we want long-term relationships too, so we want to set them up for success. We’re also going to give them the time they need to see patients. We’re not cramming in a ton of patients; we want them to have the time they need and that patients feel heard and get the care they need.”

The ripple effect is that physicians are highly respected and valued in town, which certainly supports that it’s a great place to live and practice.

“Family doctors are appreciated and utilized in a way that’s more broad than a bigger city,” Day says. “The gratefulness of patients in the town and the trust for us is above average compared to other places I’ve been.”

MyMichigan Medical Center Sault is recruiting for internal medicine, family medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, urology, family medicine trained hospitalists and pediatrics.

Natchez, Mississippi

KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF MISSISSIPPI, Natchez offers a rich history and vibrant lifestyle for today’s residents, especially those who love being outdoors.

“The semi-tropical climate provides a recreational paradise,” says Kay Ketchings, marketing director of Merit Health Natchez.

“In Natchez, golf and tennis aren’t seasonal activities — you can enjoy them year-round. Hiking and biking trails are some of the best in the country. Fishing? The Mississippi record for largemouth bass was caught at Natchez State Park. Hunting? Trophy whitetail deer are waiting at area hunting camps.”

With the Mississippi River, lakes and two kinds of phenomenal cypress trees, it is an ideal environment for all the fishing and hunting you could imagine—and also kayaking, pontoon boating and canoeing. Cyclists and motorcyclists love scenic rides along the 444- mile Natchez Trace Parkway. The Natchez National Historical Park also offers beautiful waterfalls, campgrounds, hiking trails and trails for riding horses.

If you are a history buff, life in Natchez truly has much to offer, including 18th- and 19th- century homes, Civil War landmarks, Emerald Mound historic landmark and more. If you’re a foodie, you’ll be delighted by the impressive number of local eateries with a vast range of cuisines.

“For a small town, Natchez is surprisingly culturally sophisticated,” says Geoffrey J. Flattmann, M.D. “There’s excellent restaurants, fantastic special events and festivals, a community with deep faith, right in the center of great hunting and outdoor sports, with deep history and great pride.”

Flattmann has lived and worked in Natchez for the entirety of his career—23 years so far. Prior to putting down roots in Natchez, Flattmann attended Tulane University for undergraduate education and medical school at New Orleans School of Medicine. He completed his residency in surgery at Louisiana State UniversityNew Orleans.

Flattmann is originally from New Orleans, but he was looking for a smaller town to practice in when he was recruited to fill a surgeon vacancy in Natchez. Today, Flattman is a general surgeon with Merit Health Natchez.

Merit Health Natchez is affiliated with Community Health Systems, a system with 71 hospitals in 15 states, and part of the nine-hospital Merit Health network in Mississippi. Ketchings says Merit Health Natchez is a Joint Commission-accredited hospital with 179 beds, providing an array of medical services to patients in five Mississippi counties and two Louisiana parishes—known locally as the Miss-Lou.

“We are committed to our community and proud to provide participation and financial support of civic organizations, charities, education, and community and cultural events,” she says.

Merit Health Natchez holds additional accreditations from the American College of Cardiology for Chest Pain Centers, the American College of Radiology for mammography, The Joint Commission and more. Additionally, Merit Health Natchez offers the only in-patient rehabilitation unit within a 60-mile radius. Also noteworthy is the high quality of surgery available.

“Thanks to Merit, I have been 100% unrestricted in the development of our robotic surgical program, and they have allowed us to update our technology as needed in order to maintain the highest quality and most up-to-date robotic care,” Flattmann says. “Additionally, we are blessed to have the absolute best OR staff and anesthesia, all of which work as a team to deliver the highest quality care to patients with compassion and empathy.”

Flattmann says working alongside “professional, qualified, engaged, compassionate, empathetic people who love Natchez and work very hard to deliver quality care” is rewarding, and the relationships with his patients are long-lasting and cherished.

Natchez is a great place to thrive professionally, and Ketchings says it’s equally wonderful for a fulfilling personal life.

“Offering safe and attractive neighborhoods, a graceful, historic landscape, affordable housing, light traffic and low tax rates, Natchez is truly an exceptional place to live,” Ketchings says. “Once you visit, you will understand how many people come for a visit and end up calling Natchez home.”

Merit Health Natchez is recruiting for orthopedics, urology, neurology, primary care and radiology.

Litchfield, Connecticut

IF THE IDEA OF LIVING WHERE YOU CAN enjoy gorgeous countryside, lakeside scenery and activities, as well as a slower pace of life—while still being close to cities like New York, Boston and Hartford, then Litchfield, Connecticut, is the town for you.

With a population of about 185,000, the Litchfield County area offers the peaceful, safe, family-friendly environment many crave. For those seeking outdoor fun, there is plenty of that as well.

There are state parks nearly everywhere you turn, all with ample opportunities for hiking, birding, camping, snowshoeing, horseback riding and more. Enjoy a day with your toes in the sand at Litchfield Town Beach or Sandy Beach Bantam Lake. Also noteworthy are the numerous farmers’ markets, farms, concerts and festivals that will keep you entertained throughout the year.

For more adventure, the slopes on nearby Berkshires Mountains offer skiing, tubing and more. And if you really want a thrill, central Connecticut is known to have tremendous rock climbing.

Outdoor opportunities are available year- round and play a huge part in what attracts people to the area or influences them to move back. Such is the case for Hugh Cahill, M.D., PhD.

“There are a lot of outdoor activities— it’s kind of like vacation land,” Cahill says. “Growing up, I learned to ski on the slopes and swim in the lakes, so when a job opened up out here, I was attracted by all the outdoor activities.”

Cahill said he enjoys hiking and camping along the portion of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Connecticut and is part of an adult ice hockey league.

There’s plenty to keep you entertained in the Litchfield area, but a nice perk for residents like Cahill is the easy access to urban areas, too.

“My wife is from New York City, so that was another attractive part of this location—we go into the city two weekends a month to go out to dinner, catch a show, take the kids to the museums — it’s nice in that we have a lot of great things in Litchfield but a ton in New York that we can go to every other weekend,” Cahill says.

Originally from Connecticut, Cahill returned in 2019. Cahill always dreamed of becoming a scientist and was on the pathway to becoming one while earning his PhD in neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University. When some of his projects began to overlap with patient care, he developed an interest in working with people and seeing how science interfaces with health. With that, he went on to earn his medical degree at Marshall University and complete a neurology residency at Vanderbilt University. Today, he is a neurologist with Hartford HealthCare in nearby Torrington, Connecticut. 

Hartford HealthCare is the largest integrated health care system in Connecticut. It is a seven-hospital system and has more than 500 locations serving 185 towns and cities. There are more than 5,800 physicians on staff. The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, part of Hartford HealthCare in Litchfield County, is a 122-bed acute care community hospital.

Patti Lowicki, director of provider recruitment and integration for Hartford HealthCare, says it is a top-performing health care system at every measure, and it’s an exciting time to be practicing there.

“MIT has partnered with us inside our clinical care redesign; Google approached us last year, and [we] signed an agreement to be their partner to create the new future state of electronic medical records. We also partner with the state of Israel on innovation,” Lowicki says. “It looks like a small system, but we’re doing incredible work in health equity, innovation and creating a national model for health care delivery that works.”

Some of the achievements of the health system include national recognition for their heart transplant program, “A” grade from the Leapfrog Group at all seven hospitals, and recognition as one of the best regional hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report.

For Cahill, it is an exciting time for neurology in particular at Hartford HealthCare.

“The primary stroke center has been the feather in our cap,” Cahill says. “We started working on that in 2019, and the Joint Commission awarded Charlotte Hungerford a Primary Stroke Center in 2021. That has been a very rewarding thing to be part of.”

Cahill says Hartford HealthCare providing all the necessary resources played a key role in earning the certification. Giving physicians the support they need to be successful and provide high-quality care is a priority there.

“The physicians receive an incredible amount of support, from reducing burnout to reducing clicks— anything to make a physician’s life easier,” says Joan Palmer, director of physician practices at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. “It’s not about how many patients you can see in an hour or how many procedures you can get done; it’s about when you get here, we’re providing you an environment that is fulfilling, advances your career to the extent you want, and gives you the work/ life balance everyone wants.”

Hilo, Hawaii

TO REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU’RE ON VACATION THE minute you’re off the clock, consider living and practicing in Hilo, Hawaii. Located on the island of Hawaii (also known as the Big Island), Hilo isn’t just for tourists; it’s for outdoor enthusiasts who love truly unique adventures in a breathtaking environment.

Hilo has all the water-based activities you’d expect in Hawaii: swimming, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, surfing, stand- up paddleboarding—the list goes on and on. There are also waterfalls aplenty on the Big Island, like ‘Akaka Falls and Kulaniapia Falls.

To take in all the beauty, try rappelling, ziplining, Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth—and it’s open for exploration. helicopter tours, nature tours and ATV riding tours on the Big Island. You’ll never tire of the views on the many hiking trails. For a hike through a lush rainforest, try visiting Kalōpā State Park-Hāmākua. Climb to the highest point in Hawaii at MaunaKea for a breathtaking view any time of day, but go at sunrise for an extra special experience.

The Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is the perfect place to explore volcanic craters and scalded landscapes, but it’s also home to one of the most active volcanoes on Earth — Kīlauea — which you can explore 24 hours a day except holidays. With so many volcanoes in the state, there are lava tubes to explore as well. A lava tube is a type of cave created when lava flow thickens to form a roof while active lava continues to flow beneath. Check out the Pohoiki hot springs, which are heated by underground lava, or head to one of the very unique black sand beaches, like Punaluu Black Sand Beach, with sand made black from volcanic eruptions.

The activities in Hilo and on the Big Island are endless— it truly is the ultimate playground for an outdoor lover, but there is plenty more to experience as well. Appreciate the local agriculture with a tour at a local vanilla, coffee or tea farm or by shopping the produce from more than 200 local growers at the Hilo Farmers Market.

With so much adventure to be had, you might just want to plant roots in Hilo. The good news for physicians is that there are plenty of professional opportunities in this tropical oasis.

Hilo Medical Center is a Level III trauma center with 166 acute care beds and 45 beds for long-term care. The hospital has 1,500 employees with a medical staff of 250, offering care in more than 30 specialties. Their emergency room, one of the busiest in the state, sees more than 44,000 patients each year.

It is the only hospital in the state to have earned two Beacon designations, in the Intensive Care Unit and Progressive Care Unit. Additionally, the hospital has been nationally recognized as a top-performing hospital and is also a Primary Stroke Center.
Hilo Medical Center also has a network of primary and specialty care clinics in the area that are currently managed by the East Hawaii Health Clinics.

Also on the Big Island is the Kona Community Hospital (a Level III trauma center with 94 beds and 100 medical staff providers) and Queens North Hawai’i Community Hospital (a 35-bed acute care hospital).

With a population of about 45,000 in Hilo and about 200,000 on the Big Island, the island of Hawai’i is an exciting place to consider living. It has a rich history, abundant activities, unmatched scenery and numerous opportunities to grow as a physician. •