Undergraduate Education: University at Buffalo, BS in Exercise Science with a minor in Nutrition
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie PA
Osteopathic Internship & Residency Training: Saint Vincent Family Medicine Residency, Erie PA

Practicing medicine in our community since 2008

Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine

Clinical Interests: Family medicine for patients of ALL ages including preventative health and the management of both acute and chronic conditions.  I enjoy in-office procedures including joint injections, minor surgeries, and osteopathic manipulative medicine.

Many things in life are one-size-fits-all, but the practice of family medicine shouldn’t be one of them.  My philosophy is that each patient is an individual, each has their own story with distinctive experiences, successes, trials, and personalized health goals. To borrow from the tenets of Osteopathic Medicine, “the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit”.  This is why I believe family physicians must know their patients far beyond their ailments. My mission is to take my training and combine it with my patient’s needs to provide the best possible healthcare.  

From the first day of medical school, I was determined to practice family medicine and I was blessed with multiple opportunities to train under like-minded physicians.  I witnessed firsthand deep and meaningful relationships between doctors and their patients; the type of relationships that form only when a doctor slows down and really listens to their patients.  But as I began residency, the doctor-patient relationship took a back seat as I saw a different reality emerge.  Patient interaction was reduced to “relative value units (RVUs)” and patients became just consumers and doctors became just practitioners.

As my patients will tell you, I don’t fit this mold.  I hate staring at my laptop during our visits. On the contrary, I like to chat, cut up, and get to know my patients and their stories. I talk about my faith, my incredibly talented wife, and our five children. If we talk long enough, I’ll tell you about the world of foster care and adoption, my exercise routine, or even my attempts at woodworking.  Most importantly, I enjoy teaching and explaining the ‘why’ behind medical problems and medications and I like to share in decision making with my patients. 

In my eyes, family medicine is more than just the practice of medicine; it’s a long-term relationship.  Unfortunately, this just can’t be done well in the traditional model which prioritizes volume first. This is the reason I have decided to start Gaston Family Practice along with Dr. Wysong and Dr. Stephens, it is my opportunity to practice medicine according to my values by allowing me to practice high-quality preventative medicine, personalized chronic disease management, and build meaningful trusting relationships with my patients,  all while allowing me to be more available to my patients.