Growing up in aclinical setting , he shadowed doctors , and decided that he wanted tobeafamily physician because he ’ d be at “ the front line of medicine ,” he says . After graduating from the Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados in2015 , he served as chief resident at Hoboken University Medical Center . Then he went into private practice for acouple years . In January 2020 , he opened Domi Healthcare with another physician and anurse practitioner ; the practice has locations in West New York and North Bergen . Dominguez is also on the staff of Holy Name Medical Center .

Dominguez says that when he was asolo practitioner , it was hard to ensure follow-up on prescriptions and procedures .“ Being part of asystem is beneficial ,” he says .“ Things get lost if you ’ re not keeping an eye on them . If Iput you on medicine or you discontinue it , the pharmacy wouldn ’ t know . People get their vaccinations , and they can ’ t remember the details . Holy Name allows us to get that data all together , toget labs and imaging done .”

As doctors inother specialties do , Dominguez has to keep up with his

continuing medical education ( family medicine was one of the first to require regular exams to maintain certifications ). “ We have to constantly be on top of how health care ischanging ,” hesays . “ Family medicine 20 years ago was totally different , just like our phones !” Dominguez , who was recognized by the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians for his research on pre-diabetes , gives as an example the way diabetes medications now normalize blood sugars , instead of just lowering them .

Telemedicine has also enhanced how family doctors do their jobs , he says . They can monitor patients remotely using blood pressure kits , stethoscopes and other devices patients can keep in their homes .

While many specialists are taking advantage ofadvances incare , the very nature of family medicine , with its continuity of care across generations , helps him keep patients well , Dominguez says .“ Sometimes the

younger generation doesn ’ t know what the older generation is suffering from , and Ican say ‘ I know what you ’ re going through , because I know your family history ,’” he says . When diabetes or high blood pressure runs in families , patients may not show symptoms yet , but if they ’ re obese and not taking care of themselves as they should , he says , he can lower risk factors for heart disease and cancers by being alert to and treating the underlying causes .

The variety that family medicine offers animates him , too . “ You don ’ t know who ’ s going to walk in the door every day . You have to know what to do in emergency situations , and handle mental health issues in the community . You have to become almost specialized in all these specialties .” Dominguez sees in-patients and out-patients and gives acute and chronic care . “ Family practice is the most interesting part of medicine ,” he says . “ There ’ s not a routine day .”

COURTESY OF JJEFF RHODE / HOLY NAME

12 2022 EDITION ( 201 ) HEALTH