10 Questions With Virtual Family Medicine Physician Marcy Haas, MD

If you’re someone who doesn’t have a lot of time for in-person doctor’s appointments, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)’s Virtual Family Medicine program could be the right fit for you. Through the program, you have the option of connecting with LVPG Family Medicine’s Marcy Haas, MD, virtually or in person (with most care being delivered via virtual visits).

“A lot of people find it hard to take off work and travel to go to the doctor,” Dr. Haas says. “Being able to receive care in a mostly virtual environment is very helpful in these cases, and LVHN’s program has minimal requirements for participation. You just have to be able to log on to an electronic device, have a MyLVHN account and be in Pennsylvania when you access virtual care.”

As a family medicine physician, Dr. Haas can support all of your primary care needs. She’ll strive to partner with you in your care and build a long-term relationship with you built on trust and respect.

“I will treat you the way I would want my family members and loved ones treated,” Dr. Haas says. “I encourage you to be an active partner in your care, and I provide thorough information so you can make informed decisions.”

Learn more about Dr. Haas below:

I chose a career in medicine because I wanted to help people. My first degree was in psychology, and when I first graduated from college, I worked in human services and with a child protective services agency. During that time, I worked with a lot of people who were underserved and not receiving the care they needed. That inspired me to go into the medical field to help make sure underserved people have access to the care they deserve. I was a National Health Service Corps Scholar, and for the first five years of my career, I worked solely with underserved populations.

The best part of my job is helping people. I love seeing the lifestyle changes my patients and I put into place making a difference.

I constantly try to find a balance. I am an early morning person, so I tend to do self-care (like exercise) before I start my day. My husband also exercises, and staying active and fit is very important to us. We work out together at home six days a week.

My husband and I have a joint calendar that we use to schedule time with our adult children, grandson and extended family. We also attend church regularly and use a Bible-study app.

I enjoy cooking, doing step aerobics, taking walks with my dogs, gardening and completing projects around the house. I spend a lot of time in the summer working in the yard with my husband.

I also love to travel with my husband and explore new places.

Yes! Our furry children are Rex, a Jack Russell terrier who is 7.5 years old, and Betty, a Jack Russell terrier and beagle mix who is 6.5 years old. I’ve had Rex since he was 8 weeks old and Betty since she was 6 months old. They both adopted my husband, Phil, when we got married!

I lived in West Germany during my senior year of high school as an exchange student. While I was there, the Berlin Wall came down, and I spent time in East Germany. It was amazing to see how open and genuine the people in East Germany were. I had the opportunity to spend a day in an English class at a school, and we were asked to talk to the students in English as practice. The teacher spoke perfect English, even though her experience with the language was completely from books and tapes!

My proudest accomplishment is having lost 190 pounds. It has taken me 12 years to reach this goal, and I just lost the last 50 pounds recently.

I practice what I preach to my patients. I follow a low-carb diet, exercise six days a week and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It has been a journey and is still a daily practice of continuing my active lifestyle and healthy eating to maintain my healthy weight.

I love all Hallmark movies! My favorite thing about them is that the majority of the characters are kind and face the same struggles real people do. I also love that they have happy endings – they make my heart happy!

I love coffee! I start every morning by taking 30 minutes to enjoy my morning cup with my husband.

I initially wanted to be a teacher when I was in grade school.

Once I was older, I wanted to become a doctor. At one point, I even wanted to join the Peace Corps. My medical education took me in a different direction, but I still spent the first five years of my career working with underserved communities.