Dayton Doctor uses Air Force background to help patients soar

Dayton, OH, December 6, 2021 -- Working on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors have not only served their patients, but also their country. But for one Dayton doctor, serving her country is nothing new. Jan Froehlich, MD, family practice physician at PriMED Physicians, started off her medical career in the Air Force. And while Dr. Froehlich has since traded in her military boots and camo for sneakers and a white lab coat, the lessons she learned in the military continue to inform her work in caring for senior patients at PriMED Beavercreek Family Practice.

Following medical school at the University of Cincinnati in the 1990s, Dr. Froehlich was offered the opportunity to join the military as part of a health professional scholarship program—in the same branch of the Armed Forces where her father served. She trained as a military doctor at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama with a dual focus on operational readiness and retiree healthcare.

Since her return to civilian medicine in the Dayton, Ohio, area 17 years ago, Dr. Froehlich has become well-known for her support of senior patients. Indeed, she was one of 32 physicians nationwide who was awarded “Best Physician” for delivering excellence in health care to senior patients. Winners were selected by medical directors at agilon health, a company transforming health care for seniors by empowering primary-care physicians to focus on the entire health of their patients. The criteria for selection included how frequently they met with patients, time spent with those who are chronically ill and efforts to keep patients out of hospitals/emergency rooms.

When asked the biggest difference between practicing military medicine versus civilian medicine, Dr. Froehlich believes it is the abundance of pharmaceutical options in civilian medicine—which can sometimes be overwhelming for patients. This is especially true when patients come in with ideas about the treatment they need based on facebook or TV advertisements. Dr. Froehlich admits, “in the Armed Forces, we had a very, very developed pharmacy, but it was limited to only the best and most cost-effective medicines. When you are choosing from three medicines instead of 50, that takes a lot of the noise out of healthcare.”

As evident by her recent “Best Physician” award, Dr. Froehlich’s time in the military made her the determined physician that she is today, one who demonstrates unwavering support for her patients. When asked about the most valuable lesson learned during her time of service, Dr. Froehlich says, “whether military or civilian, a lot of retirement medicine is understanding patients’ lifelong journey through healthcare.” She admits, “I help guide people to continue their health into their senior years…while delivering consistent, guideline-based healthcare.”

PriMED is made up of a team of healthcare professionals in Dayton, OH who share a commitment to provide the best possible care to patients. Follow us on Facebook.

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