Theodore W. Shively, DO

“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river.

We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”

― Desmond Tutu

I entered medical school in 1974 after finishing my undergraduate degree in biochemical engineering at Lehigh. It was largely due to the atrocities of the Vietnam war that I rejected a career in the chemical industry and went into medicine.

It was a time before bypass surgery, the  Internet, Apple, CAT scans, or MRIs. Google would come along 25 years later. Systolic BPs were acceptable if less than 147; Cholesterols up to 300 were considered normal. LDL levels were not available.

A lot has changed. My enthusiasm for what we can now do in medicine has only grown.

Over the past decades I have given my patients my exhaustive efforts, caring for you nights, weekends, and holidays alike. I have been there to celebrate your victories and support you when you were scared, or in pain, and through the transitions both into and out of this world.

And I want to do even  more. We, as a medical profession, can and must do more.

For the final years of my career, I want to focus my efforts on optimizing the health of a select panel of patients who are interested in taking advantage of what science can offer.  I will focus on prevention, early disease detection when present, and on increasing healthspan. I believe the time has come when we can approach aging as a condition that can be treated effectively.

In this new approach to healthcare, I want to devote my 50 years of experience toward addressing the fundamental reasons patients become ill. Intense PROACTIVE  efforts in PERSONALIZED areas are needed: prevention of cardiovascular disease, early detection of malignancy, exercise, physical strength and stability, mental health, memory,  and curiosity, proper sleep and nutrition.

If you are tired of the endless cycle of rushed doctors, and ever-increasing prescriptions, you do not have to settle for the status quo. From unhurried appointments and direct access to your physician, to proactive health management and personalized care plans, our concierge service puts your health and wellness first. Elevate your healthcare experience and discover the difference with our dedicated team committed to providing exceptional care, whenever you need it. Make the choice that prioritizes your wellbeing — join our concierge practice today. My commitment to those patients who see the value of joining my panel will be to continue to do my best for this much smaller group of patients in a profound attempt to keep you from “falling into the river.” 

Invest in your health and join our select panel. In the process, I will be able to not only take better care of you, but to stay in medicine longer, take better care of myself and my family and together relish the journey in quest of our best lives.