Mission Statement:

Our goal is to use the knowledge gained through schooling in combination with the wisdom and grace God provides to offer appropriate, holistic, compassionate, primary care that enables us to partner with our patients to promote life and healthy lifestyles while preventing future disease.

This is who we are

The care we provide is based on three very important aspects :
1) Universality: care for all regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, age, or belief system
2) A reverence and respect for all life
3) A special sense of caring for our fellow human being

Christopher Pichay DO

Dr. Christopher Pichay was born in Chicago, IL and raised in southeastern CT. He graduated from St. Bernard High School in Uncasville, CT and received a BA in biology from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Dr. Pichay then spent the next two years teaching biology and anatomy & physiology at St. Mary's High School in Westfield, MA. He attended medical school at The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME and did clinical rotations at St. Michael's Hospital and UMDNJ University Hospital in Newark, NJ, St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, NJ, UMASS Medical Center in Worcester, MA, and rural medicine in Machias, ME. Dr. Pichay completed his internship and residency at the Middlesex Hospital Family Medicine Residency in Middletown, CT. From there, he joined Harbor Medical Associates as a primary care physician in Clinton, CT, and was an attending physician at the Middletown STD clinic. Dr. Pichay then relocated to Massachusetts where he worked for Jordan Physican Associates at an outpatient office in Marshfield, MA. There he provided primary care services to patients of all ages. His special health interests include preventative medicine, fitness, and dietary allergies. He can converse in Spanish and Tagalog. Dr. Christopher Pichay is board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Jennifer Pichay DO

Dr. Jennifer Pichay was born in Dorchester, MA and raised in Quincy and Hingham, MA. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, MA and received a BS in biology from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. After graduating from MIT, Dr. Pichay worked at the Genetics Institute in Cambridge, MA doing biochemical research before attending medical school at The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME. There she was a member of Sigma Sigma Phi, an honorary osteopathic service organization. She did clinical rotations at St. Michael's Hospital and UMDNJ University Hospital in Newark, NJ, St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, NJ, UMASS Medical Center in Worcester, MA, and rural medicine in Machias, ME. Dr. Pichay completed her residency at the Middlesex Hospital Family Medicine Residency in Middletown, CT. She then became a primary care physician at Harbor Medical Associates in Clinton, CT. After relocating to Massachusetts, Dr. Pichay worked when needed as a hospitalist for Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, MA, but primarily held a position as a family physician for Jordan Physician Associates in Marshfield, MA. Her special health interests include caring for special needs individuals and developmentally delayed patients, women's health, integrative medicine and dietary allergies. Dr. Jennifer Pichay is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine.

What is Family Medicine?

Family Medicine is the specialty of taking care of the entire family no matter what the age. This includes newborns, children, teenagers, and adults. Graduates undergo a 3-4 year family practice residency program after graduating from a 4 year medical school. In this residency they are trained in internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, obstetrics, psychiatry, general surgery, and other numerous medical specialties in order to provide the most appropriate and comprehensive primary care possible. They are also trained in communication and social skills adapted to cater to each person as an indvidual and/or as part of a larger family. Family doctors are trained to assist with your primary medical care from the beginning of this life until your transition to the next.

From FamilyDoctor.org/American Academy of Family Practice:
"Unlike other physicians who specialize in treating one particular organ or disease, your family physician is uniquely trained to care for you as a whole person – regardless of your age or sex. In addition to diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses, your family physician provides routine health screenings and counseling on lifestyle changes in an effort to prevent illnesses before they develop. And, if a health condition arises that requires care from another specialist, your family physician will be there to guide you and to coordinate all aspects of your care. You and your family physician will work together to achieve the best possible outcome in the most cost-effective manner. "

What is DO?

From the AOA website/brochure:
DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathy/Osteopathic Medicine. Both Osteopathic doctors (D.O.s) trained in the United States and Allopathic doctors (M.D.s) are fully qualified physicians licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery. They are similar in several ways but different as well. Osteopathic doctors belong to a separate yet equal branch of American medical care. It is the ways that D.O.s and M.D.s are different that can bring an extra dimension to your health care.

History of Osteopathy

Osteopathic medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was started in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O. Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19th century medicine. He believed that many of the medications of his day were useless or even harmful. Dr. Still was one of the first in his time to study the attributes of good health so that he could better understand the process of disease.

In response, Dr. Still developed a philosophy of medicine based on ideas that date back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. That philosophy focuses on the unity of all body parts. Dr. Still identified the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health. He recognized the body's ability to heal itself and stressed preventive medicine, eating properly and keeping fit.

Dr. Still pioneered the concept of "wellness" more than 130 years ago. In today's terms, D.O.s evaluate each patient's personal health risks-such as smoking, high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol levels, stress and other lifestyle factors. In coordination with prescribing appropriate medical treatment, osteopathic physicians act as teachers to help patients take more responsibility for their well-being and to change un-healthy patterns.

Affiliations

Circle of Life Family Medicine is affiliated with the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA:
For information on the hospital itself, services, and other ancillary providers please visit:
sshosp.org

Circle of Life Family Medicine is affiliated with the South Shore Physician Health Organization in Weymouth, MA: