Joanna E Brelvi, MD, FAAFP

Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

I chose medicine as a career when I was very young. I enjoyed science of all kinds and had a sincere desire to help others. Growing up in a rural area, family physicians were the only specialty I encountered so this was my role model. When I selected a specialty, it still felt right to be able to work with the entire family.
In 2012, however, my career took a different track. That is when I discovered the field of informatics. By working with the electronic health record, I can help every patient and every physician in WellSpan!

What I want my patients to know about me:

First, I am very straightforward. I believe that you need to know the facts in order to manage your own health. By telling you clearly, it helps you understand. Second, I do try very hard to remain on schedule when I am in the office. Finally, although I am in only in the office part time, I do continue to monitor the information in the chart. My partners do a great job of covering for me when I am not available.

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

At work, I attend lots of meetings to determine how to make the computer system work better for everyone, including you.
At home I have lots of hobbies. I read voraciously. I prefer science fiction and fantasy, but will read almost anything. I work out several times a week, and prefer Zumba, walking/hiking with my family and dog, and yoga. I enjoy gardening, and find that when my hands are in the soil my stress melts away. I also enjoy gaming of many kinds, including tabletop, board games, and video games.