SALEM, Ohio — Dr. Mike Sevilla has a lot of hometown pride.

“I wanted to give back to the community that has given me so much," he said.

What You Need To Know

  • Dr. Mike Sevilla has been a primary care physician at the Family Practice Center of Salem for 20 years

  • According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ohio is projected to be short 1,200 primary care physicians by 2025

  • Northeast Ohio Medical University estimates there are 11.7 physicians per a population of 10,000 in the Buckeye state compared to 38.9 physicians for that same population in a metropolitan area

  • Sevilla said mentorship and exposure to rural settings are key to changing those statistics

Sevilla has been a primary care physician at the Family Practice Center of Salem for 20 years.

“This was what my dream was when I applied to medical school," said Dr. Sevilla. “From birth to end of life, that’s what primary care, that’s what family medicine is all about.”

Working in rural Ohio specifically is important to him.

“My biggest concern is that maybe a lot of communities moving forward are not going to have a physician in their local community and they’re going to have to drive hundreds of miles to get medical care," he said.

That concern stems from a primary care physician shortage that’s expected to hit rural areas the hardest.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Ohio is projected to be short 1,200 primary care physicians by 2025.

Northeast Ohio Medical University estimates there are 11.7 physicians per a population of 10,000 in the Buckeye state compared to 38.9 physicians for that same population in a metropolitan area.

Mentorship and exposure to rural settings are key to changing those statistics, said Sevilla.

“I think a lot of it is just the unknown. Like what is it like to practice in a rural setting? A lot of schools have not given that type of experience," he said. "So, it’s hard to attract people to go to those type of settings if they’re not really confident in practicing there.”

Dr. Sevilla is a NEOMED grad and he said he enjoys working with current students part of the university’s Rural Medical Education Pathway program which aims to increase student interest in rural medicine.

“When I get exposed to medical students here at the office, you know, I say 'Hey where are you from? Oh, that’s a small town in central Ohio or northwestern Ohio. Have you ever thought about, you know, going back to that community and giving back to that community?'”

He said autonomy over what patient care services are offered is one of the benefits of practicing in an independent office. The Family Practice Center of Salem can provide minor surgeries, routine testing and immunizations in the office.

Building trust with patients who double as neighbors is one of Sevilla’s favorite parts of the job.

Karen Gregorino has been coming to the Family Practice Center of Salem for nearly two decades.

“More one-on-one instead of just a number," she explained as her reason to keep coming back.

But that desire for one-on-one care isn’t enough to stop the shortage. It’s expected to worsen.

Sevilla said that’s in part due to more physicians retiring, medical school debt, and what he calls a lack of government and insurance investment in primary care.

“Primary care in America, we see one of every three or one of every four visits in the United States," said Sevilla. "You know, but our revenue or what we’re paid is so much less.”

Regardless of the challenges, Dr. Sevilla said he loves what he does and is optimistic for the future of healthcare.