I am a board-certified family physician of 42 years. I was captivated by the thought of becoming a family doctor, the opportunity of helping others and the chance to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and namesake, Dr. Ivor D. Fenton. After fulfilling a practice commitment in nearby Sunbury, Pa., in 1991, I returned to Schuylkill County, the home of my entire extended family for five generations.

Over the past several years, the number of family physicians and other primary care colleagues in Schuylkill County has dramatically reduced for a variety of reasons. In 2016, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) began to address this health care challenge by aggressively recruiting primary care clinicians and family doctors. I joined the organization in 2017. 

LVHN has a strong, ambitious and well-qualified physician leadership team with a patient-centered mission. This mission reflects a clear understanding and a true appreciation of its clinicians, its resident physicians and the entire health care team. Perhaps the most powerful example of the LVHN culture and commitment has been our ability to work together on securing a federal HRSA grant, which allowed us to create the Schuylkill Family Medicine Rural residency program.

Currently, I have an active clinical practice with LVHN in Frackville, Pa.; serve as assistant project director for the HRSA Rural Residency grant; aid in the development of community collaborations, as well as the development and expansion of programs to attract and retain high-caliber students interested in family medicine; and assist the philanthropy team in their ongoing gift-giving projects. Teaching has always been a major part of my professional life. Serving as a clinical preceptor and assisting in the design of exciting elective rotations involving direct training and instruction allow me to do what I love while leaving a positive legacy on the community. 

While I love practicing medicine and teaching, I’ve made sure that my career has always left time for a fulfilling life outside of medicine. In my early years, I enjoyed traveling, spending time with my family and golfing whenever possible. As my life’s journey moved on, I found myself enjoying going to my college alma mater’s basketball games and driving to Philadelphia to watch the Phillies. My wife and I also started attending oldies concerts, and we have developed a passion for chasing the Eagles band across the country. I also help a local musician with record production, and I am working on two books: a biography on my grandfather and a self-help book on problem-solving.

My colleagues and I are excited and working hard to make this residency the best it can be. Besides well-developed rotations with dedicated instructors, we aim at delivering state-of the-art electives that will appeal to one's individual interests and skill sets. Our program will provide plenty of opportunity to explore and appreciate rural living outside of a remote wilderness. You will get to engage with the community directly and learn immediately that you are needed and wanted.  And, finally, you will work with staff in a health care system that values you as a person and is committed to helping you achieve a lifetime of joy as a family physician.