FAMILY MEDICINE

Avidon Appel D.O., M.B.A., grew up in Northeast Philadelphia where he attended public schools prior to attending Beaver College (what is now known as Arcadia University). Prior to graduating from high-school he received the Good Citizenship Award for the City of Philadelphia, PA in 1992 for his work with local nursing homes. During college he enjoyed the sciences most with physics being his area of interest and expertise. During his summers off he volunteered his time at a molecular biology research lab the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, where he had his first introduction into the medical field. After his second summer there he was offered a part-time position in that same lab where he stayed for another four years. He then decided to pursue a Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) at night. What intrigued him most during his two-year stay at PCOM were the teachings of treating the whole person rather than treating the disease itself and their symptoms. After completion of this degree he matriculated into their Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine Program.

During his medical school education the word on the street from other physicians was how bad the medical industry was since the “Golden Age” had ended. As well as how doctors were being beaten by insurance companies due to their lack of business knowledge. What concerned him most was how insurance companies dictated how to treat patients as well as their level of care rather than physicians and other clinicians. The concerns kept growing and he knew there must be a better way to practice medicine as was done in years past. During his second year at PCOM he entered the Erivan K. Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia to pursue a Masters degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a specialty in Healthcare Administration and Finance.

After completion of his Osteopathic Medical Degree and his Business Degree simultaneously he was accepted to Abington Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine Program where he served as a representative on the Cancer Care Committee. In 2004, during his first year of residency he completed coursework in Health Policy at the New York Institute of Technology. In 2005, he was the recipient of the award for Intern of the year as given by his colleagues and faculty. Always trying to build relationships and foster access between all levels of caregivers and clinicians, the Nurses at Abington Memorial Hospital awarded him with the Partner in Excellence award for Communication and Collegiality in 2006. In 2006, he spent time with a few Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons from both Florida and California in order to obtain the proper training and certification in Aesthetic Medical procedures with a concentration in Botox™ and injectable fillers. During his final year in residency he was also given the Eleanor Widener Dixon Award for Original Completed Research. During residency he also managed to work for Doylestown Hospital’s Emergency room to enhance his knowledge and training.

After residency, he purchased a local medical practice in Willow Grove, PA where he would start his practice of Internal Medicine and launch his new company for Medical Aesthetics known as Botox Dox. Now was his opportunity to act on his main concern: to change the way medicine is practiced, by putting the clinician back at the helm and in the driver’s seat, while using the clinical information set forth by the medical associations as well as the health insurance companies as guidelines for better management of chronic conditions. This partnership gave way to his office achieving the #1 ranking in five counties for Patient and Practice Quality Assessment score for patient safety and quality in 2008. A huge Grand Slam for his first year in practice!

Through his contacts at Doylestown Hospital and the Willow Grove area he had a chance meeting with Dr. Todd Broad and Peter Pirolli who owned an already successful medical practice. Both Dr. Broad and Mr. Pirolli shared Dr. Appel’s desire to change the way medicine is practiced and who were also looking to expand their practice into Medical Aesthetics and in addition to add a new facet of Internal Medicine. In November 2008 a partnership was made installing Dr. Avidon Appel into the position of Medical Director at Advanced Medical Solutions of Doylestown.