Philadelphia FIGHT Welcomes New Doctor
Courtesy of Philadelphia FIGHT
Philadelphia FIGHT announced that Joe Garland, M.D., has become a new full-time physician in the Jonathan Lax Center at 12th and Locust. The center practices primary-care HIV medicine regardless of whether patients have medical insurance.
Garland, who’s openly gay, first worked with the center during his residency in 2008, and two years later, spent a year of his infectious disease fellowship with Lax Center Medical Director Karam Mounzer, M.D.
“On my first day as a resident in the Lax Center, I met a patient with a complicated medical history, no insurance, and a complex social situation,” says Garland. “By the end of her visit, she left with the medication she needed, temporary insurance set up, an appointment with a therapist, a case manager to help with her housing issues, and an application for Project TEACH.”
The doctor says that’s when he knew he wanted to be involved. “I thought to myself – I have to work here someday,” he says.
Garland began working at FIGHT full-time this past summer. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency and his fellowship in infectious disease at the University of Pennsylvania.
Garland also serves on the board of directors for Prevention Point Philadelphia, volunteers as director of medical education for Puentes de Salud – where he also sees patients – and helped start a clinic for refugees at the Penn Center for Primary Care, and is the co-director of the Global Health track of the internal medicine residency program at the University of Pennsylvania, a program designed to train physician residents interested in global and community health.
“I believe strongly in providing the highest quality care to my patients regardless of their insurance or immigration status, ability to pay, or any other life situation,” he says. “I am privileged to be able to do this work full time at FIGHT, and I enjoy this work and this community immensely.”
Jonathan Lax Center is open Monday through Friday (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.), and until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Please call 215-790-1788 to make an appointment.
