20th Anniversary...some reflection

Okay, if today you are tuning in for some advice about weight loss, sorry....your doctor is in a very reflective mood and today's entry will not be about weight loss.

Twenty years ago I opened my doors to start an internal medicine practice. My family and I moved to Northern Virginia in the summer, 1988, and I had just ended my U.S. Navy obligation as an internal medicine physician in Jacksonville Florida. I joined an internist in Mt. Vernon, and after three months, realized I did not want to continue in his practice. It was a very typical-for-that-time type of solo practice where the doctor would round at the hosipital before hours, see patients in the office from 9-4, and then round again. Quickly, I saw this was not for me: patients waiting hours past their scheduled appointment time, hospitals and nursing homes constantly paging you, admitting patients through the emergency room who had no physicians...all of this was not what I envisioned when I left the Navy to become a private practice doctor. I decided to open my own practice, and at that time, I had two small children, Ellen worked as an assistant county attorney and we had moved into a house that was way more expensive than our house in Florida.

On December, 5th, 1988 I opened my office in Burke and had three patients (all from the old practice) my first day and none the second. I had a total of 7 patients my first week. I was moonlighting at a military outpatient clinic called 'PRIMUS" in Burke, and every patient I would see I would hand them a card telling them about my new practice. I would give lectures at libraries at night to try to meet new patients as well. With great support from my family, I have now had the great fortune of completing 20 years of providing medical care to the wonderful communities of Burke, Springfield, Fairfax, Fairfax Station and the surrounding areas. Over the 20 years I have had hospitals open up pracitce right near my office with lots of marketing bucks behind them, but we still maintained a wonderful, viable practice.

I remember seeing old clips of Lou Gehrig giving his speech to Yankee Stadium, one of his lines was 'Today, I consider myself the luckiest man in the world...." The guy was dying at the time.
Today, I do consider myself one of the luckiest men in the world. The great thing for me is that I am not dying and I get a chance to keep doing the things that make me feel so lucky. I want to thank each and every one of my patients who chose/and keep choosing me to help them with their medical needs...both past and present patients. I know that sometimes when patients come into my office, they ssee weight loss signs, bottles of pills, and other signs that suggest that Dr. Posner is moving in other directions. Let me assure you that at no time during any of these other efforts have I ever not answered your weekend calls, concerns, etc. as this relates to my internal medicine practice. The best way of showing my gratitude is to continue to be the type of doctor you can count on 24/7, 365 days a week to be available to you either in person or by phone. Thank you for a great 20 years!!!!