By MADDY VITALE
Ocean City native Dr. Jason Chew didn’t earn his medical degree with the notion of moving away from home to practice medicine.
Chew, a family doctor, wanted to help the people he grew up with and has known for his entire life.
Dr. Chew was one of the original doctors of the AtlantiCare Physicians Group and has practiced in Ocean City for the last 15 years.
But after years of making a difference in a group setting, he decided it was time to make his ultimate career goal a reality.
On Jan. 2, Chew will open his solo practice, OC Family Medicine, and will welcome patients to his new office at 1213 West Ave. in Ocean City.
In an interview this week, he said he wanted to continue to do what he loves best: serve the community, only this time on his own.
“It has always been my dream to go into private practice. I used to think I wanted to rush to retire, but after a few years practicing, I realized I may do this forever,” Chew said. “I’d like to be able to retire, but I’m not sure I ever will. I really enjoy caring for the people in my hometown.”
Chew, 48, and his family love Ocean City. His wife, Suzanne, owns the Yoga Ginger yoga studio in town. They have two daughters, Cove, 11, and 14-year-old Kaia.
His family has been part of Ocean City for several generations. They previously owned Boyer’s Marina at 3rd Street and Bay Avenue in the late 1970s.
He is 100 percent homegrown Ocean City.
Chew went through the Ocean City schools and graduated from Ocean City High School. He then went on to the University of Delaware and completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
After that, he spent three years at San Diego State University studying Pre-Medical Sciences.
The next four years he attended the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he graduated in 2005.
Finally, Chew went on to his internship and residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), which he completed in 2008.
“There are pros and cons to practicing with a large group, but I felt it was time to bring small town back to medicine,” he said of opening his own office. “Think old-school, small-town doctor with all of today’s modern technology.”
Patients always come first, he emphasized.
“I know what patients want. They want clean, they want efficient and they want us to know them,” he said. “The beauty of a small-town practice is that we know our patients –not just their medical information — but actually know who they are.”
Patients can book online easily through their phones. OC Family Medicine also has the ability to secure text and secure email results in a HIPPA compliant platform.
“In today’s world, patients want to be able to do things easily from their phones,” Chew said. “Our website allows them to get all of the information they need quickly.”
There is a lab for blood draws right in the office, offering another added convenience for patients.
OC Family Medicine also accepts all major insurances, offers online scheduling through the website, and video visits in addition to traditional in-person visits. There is a patient portal that allows patients to view their medical information easily.
The medical office decor has a soothing quality to it, merging Chew’s love of the ocean and Ocean City to his medical practice.
Shiplap paneling makes up the facade of the reception desk. The office is streamlined for efficiency with the highest of technology for office equipment.
There are also added touches, from the pale bluish gray paint to garden plants to add to the ambience.
“It has the modern touches, with a beachy, cool vibe to it,” Chew explained of the office decor.
Photos of the Boardwalk, beach and ocean scenes make up the majority of artwork in the office. There is also a photo of the Chew family walking hand-in-hand along the beach, which adds another personal touch.
Chew said he is excited for the next chapter in his medical career and can’t wait to start seeing patients in his own practice in the community he loves, where he grew up and where he has made a home for his family.
To learn more or to make an appointment, visit www.ocfamilymedicine.org or call 609-545-8024.
