By George Berkheimer
for the Bedford Gazette
Sarah Hocker specializes in dermatology. She practices at UPMC Bedford Dermatology and is also affiliated with UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford. She earned her medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Q: What is your background, and what is your role with UPMC Bedford?
Hocker: I am the medical director for the Wound Care Center at UPMC Bedford and fellowship trained in skin cancer diagnosis and management, and a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Bedford for three years now. I practice general dermatology and provide hospital and nursing home consultations.
Q: What can people expect of your practice?
Hocker: What sets us apart is that we have provided services beyond the office setting with consultations and wound care services. For us, dermatology isn’t limited to the office setting. I find providing these services is a plus to the hospital and nursing home community.
Q: Did you experience a boomerang effect?
Hocker: I moved to Miami, Florida, for my internship, residency, and fellowship training and lived there for about seven years. I loved the area and thought I could see myself living there after completing my training. Closer to my sixth or seventh year, I realized how saturated the area was with dermatologists, and I didn’t feel I would be serving an area that needed my services as much as a place like Bedford. I missed the connection to a smaller community, where you can see your time and efforts making a larger difference.
Q: What led you back to Bedford County?
Hocker: Interviewing for a job took me along the entire east coast, from Florida to Maine. I had a focus in academic dermatology, but the opportunity with UPMC Bedford was truly unique. It provided the opportunity to build an entirely new practice with the guidance of a larger medical system. It had the backing of an incredibly supportive community, which made the challenge of starting a new practice seamless. The other job offers didn’t measure up for those reasons.
Q: Are there any conditions or connections that have been helpful for your success in Bedford County?
Hocker: Being successful here is mostly due to the fact that I am the only one practicing in Bedford. We certainly have a strong demand; one I find difficult to keep up with at times. Our office is continuing to grow because of the strong demand. We recently added a fantastic physician assistant, who also is from Bedford. The connections we have are immense. We are connected so closely in every facet of our office, from the staff to physicians of other specialties, our patients, and the community.
Q: What makes Bedford County a rewarding place to live, work, and play?
Hocker: Practicing here is rewarding because of how appreciative patients are that they don’t have to travel far to receive care. I am determined to change the misconception that expert care is something you have to travel for. Some of the brightest and most achieved physicians I know are here locally in Bedford County. It really is an honor to work among them.
Bedford County is special to me because of my family’s long history here. I grew up in the house that my grandparents built. I get to hear funny stories about my father and uncles when they were growing up. My grandfather, Eugene (or Brute as he is more commonly known) passed away when I was young. I only have one or two memories of him, but I have gotten to know him better through my patients. He would have been around 93 now, so my patients in that age group tell me about my grandfather – how kind he was and how talented he was as an athlete. I don’t think I would have gotten that deep a connection to him had I decided to work elsewhere. I am appreciative of the patients who have given me the ability to connect to him.
Q: How do you spend your free time?
Hocker: Free time is typically spent taking care of our small farm. I hope to one day grow our farm, but we’re limited by the time we have available. We have 19 chickens now and a small garden.
It is sometimes odd for me to think of Bedford as a rural town, because of the wonderful activities that we have here. We have great food here, art, culture, history, outdoor recreation, and more. It takes a lot for me to want to travel because of what we have here. I think we have to get creative at times for new entertainment, but it is there if you look.