“By seventh grade, I talked with my parents about becoming a doctor.”
Geisinger Family Bonds
Employees share why they chose Geisinger, and why they stay
Dr. Shane Newhouser, Geisinger Scenery Park, State College
“I knew from an early age that I wanted to help people, to interact with them,” says Shane Newhouser, DO. “By seventh grade, I talked with my parents about becoming a doctor. They were very supportive and encouraged me along the way, as did my aunt and uncle who were both doctors.”
Now a primary care provider at Geisinger Scenery Park in State College, Dr. Newhouser recalls how experiences early on helped to shape the type of doctor that he wanted to be. “During high school, I had the opportunity to shadow local doctors and even see some surgeries. All of them were very caring, very focused on treating the total patient and not just treating the disease.”
A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Newhouser says when he was in residency at Latrobe Area Hospital, he attended meetings on how to run a medical home during which residents from Geisinger described the benefits. “I was struck by how Geisinger seemed to be light years ahead of other health care institutions. It definitely impacted my decision to practice here.”
His first impression upon joining Geisinger was that “it was a tightly run ship, with people providing lots of support. Someone was always there to answer all of my questions, and as a new physician, that’s very encouraging.”
When physicians retired from Geisinger’s local clinics, they transitioned their patients to Dr. Newhouser, which was both an honor and a challenge. “I had gained the trust of these doctors. They were confident that I would treat their patients as they would, and their faith in me meant a lot. The challenge then was for me to also win the trust of the patients whom they had treated for years. I needed to take extra time with the patients, explaining why I was doing certain things, and eventually they too have come to trust me.”
Dr. Newhouser isn’t at a loss when describing what he especially likes about working here. “I truly enjoy getting to know and helping my patients. I love the fact that my wife Laura, who is also a family practice physician here, works across town at our Gray’s Woods facility. And I’ve been blessed to start my career at Geisinger with a nurse, Melissa, who is still, even after five years now, a very close colleague.”
On a personal note, Dr. Newhouser says that having a young son and wife when he joined Geisinger made balancing home/work life a bit complicated. He notes that the Primary Care Redesign project has helped with scheduling, particularly since he and his wife now have two more children. “Even during my second year here, I participated in the engagement survey and I feel that leadership truly listened. Within a few months, they made changes to the schedule of the weekend call center that made our lives as physicians easier. I think that’s one of the great things about working here – not only is Geisinger far ahead of the competition in terms of holistic patient care, but they look for ways to make things better for employees, too. It’s one of the many reasons why I choose to stay at Geisinger.”
