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Bio:
Lakeport, CA - MCHC Health Centers proudly welcomes its newest medical provider, Jon Guy, PA-C, who is now caring for patients at MCHC’s Lakeport site: Lakeview Health Center. Originally from Ohio, Guy completed his medical training at Ohio Dominican University in 2016. After serving as a graduate teaching assistant for a couple of years, he became a traveling provider, called a locum tenens. As a “locums” (as these medical travelers are called), he gained experience in primary care and family medicine, wound care, behavioral health and more. When the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to keep traveling, Guy became a permanent staff member at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Redding, California, where he provided primary care and managed an addiction medicine clinic. FQHCs receive federal funding in return for high-quality medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare, and they are set up to care for medically underserved populations. FQHCs also offer some student loan forgiveness for medical training. After working in Redding, Guy knew he wanted to work for another FQHC, and when he interviewed with MCHC, it was clear to him that this was a great fit. He was looking for a place where he could make a significant contribution and have a meaningful impact, while also maintaining a work-life balance. Guy said he always knew he wanted to be in a service profession. Growing up, he enjoyed taking care of his brother who had cerebral palsy, which led him to consider becoming a nurse. But when one of his graduate instructors recommended he look into becoming a licensed medical practitioner, he applied to school to become a physician assistant (also knows as a PA). “I sort of applied at the last minute, so I was a little surprised when I got called for an interview,” he said. It was during this interview that he solidified his decision to become a PA. “The director of the program loved being a PA for all the reasons I could see myself loving it,” he explained. He left his graduate program in biology to begin his medical training. Now he is in Lake County, caring for patients, appreciating the area’s natural beauty, and embedding himself in the community so he can make a difference both inside and outside the health center. In his medical practice, his philosophy is to start with listening. “Some patients don’t want a bunch of advice. I usually begin by asking, ‘What are your health goals? How can I support you?’” he said. “We take it from there.” He believes some patients need “a huge number of chances, and that’s okay.” He wants people to feel safe sharing whatever they need to share and to know he is a safe person who is here to help them. MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center and Dora Street Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. It is a community-based and patient-directed organization that provides comprehensive primary healthcare services as well as supportive services such as education and translation that promote access to healthcare.