Jerome L. Abrams, M.D.

Dr. Abrams was born and raised in Philadelphia and has been living in Dover since 1982. He received a B.A. in philosophy from Franklin and Marshall College in 1973 and graduated from Temple University School of Medicine in 1977. He served a 3 year residency in family practice at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore. Prior to entering private practice, he was an emergency physician in Philadelphia and Dover.
 
He has been on the staff of Bayhealth Medical Center (Kent General Hospital) since 1982 and has served on numerous committees and boards. He served as president of the medical staff from 1993-1994 and has been president of Kent Health Alliance, a physician-hospital organization since its inception in 1997.
 
He became board certified in Family Medicine in 1980 and recertified in 1987, 1993, 1999 and 2005. Professionally, he cares for many extended families and provides care for both acute and chronic illnesses. His special interests include minor office surgery and office counseling to help people cope with life transitions.

Michael J. Bradley, D.O.

Michael J. Bradley, D.O. He grew up in Larchmont NY, just outside New York City, and graduated from Kenyon College. Prior to medical school, he resided with family near Taylor's Bridge Delaware, while working at the Wilmington Hospital ER. He is a 1978 graduate of Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. He served in the US Army Medical Corps completing his residency in Family Practice at Fort Belvoir Virginia in 1981, and then as a Flight Surgeon at Fort Benning, Georgia, prior to setting up practice in Dover. He had many hours of helicopter flight time as a military Flight Surgeon. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Major. He was certified by the American Board of Family Practice in 1981 and has re-certified every six years.

He is a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration. He served as President of the Medical Society of Delaware in 1995, and retired as a Delegate to the AMA after 15 years. He remains active in the Medical Society as Chairman of Med-Net, a physician led organization.

His daughter graduated from Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State and is a practicing Veterinarian in Charleston, West Virginia. His son is a graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and an actor in the Philadelphia area and beyond.  His wife is active in the community and enjoys dancing. Together the Bradley's continue to enjoy restoring the Governor George Truitt House circa 1720, and traveling.

Sharad Patel, M.D.

Dr. Patel was born and raised in Kingston, New York. He graduated with honors from State University of New York at Stony Brook with a B.S. in Biochemistry in 1995. He then went on to attend Ross University School of Medicine. After graduating in May 1999, he completed his family practice residency training at JFK Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. Dr. Patel was named Chief Resident during his training and was given the “Resident Teacher of the Year” award at graduation. He became Board Certified in Family Medicine in 2002.
 
Since graduating, Dr. Patel worked as a clinical faculty member at JFK Family Practice Center, where he had a busy practice ranging from newborns to elderly patients. He has enjoyed working in this outpatient setting, which has allowed him to manage common ambulatory problems as well as take care of his patients when hospitalized. He has maintained an active role in teaching resident physicians about the skills needed to take care of a wide variety of patient care issues, including common office procedures. Dr. Patel also has experience in taking care of the elderly population through his rounds at three busy nursing homes near his office.Dr. Patel’s professional interests include hypertension, diabetes, women’s health, sports medicine and pediatric care. He also performs many minor office procedures such as skin biopsy, mole and cyst removal, joint injections and IUD insertions. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Joseph F. Rubacky, III, D.O., FAAFP

Dr. Rubacky was born and raised in northern New Jersey. He graduated from Drew University with a B.A. in chemistry in 1978. He attended medical school at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey -- School of Osteopathic Medicine and graduated with honors in 1982. Dr. Rubacky completed his internship at Metropolitan Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and a Family Practice residency at West Jersey Hospital (University of Pennsylvania affiliate program). He served as chief resident and graduated in 1985. He became certified in Family Medicine in 1985, and re-certified in 1991, 1997 and 2003. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
 
Prior to joining Dover Family Physicians he served in the United States Air Force as a major. From 1985 to 1989 he was stationed at Homestead Air Force base in Florida where he served as both chairman of the family practice department and emergency medicine. He was recognized for his achievements by the Surgeon General of the Tactical Air Command and received both the Air Force Commendation Medal and the TAC Surgeon General's Medal.
 
In 1989 Dr. Rubacky joined Dover Family Physicians in the practice of family medicine. He has remained active in both inpatient and outpatient medical care. He practices with his partners at Bayhealth Medical Center -- Kent General Hospital in Dover DE. Dr. Rubacky has been recognized by Delaware Today as one of the "Top Doctors in Delaware" in a survey published in October 2010, and four other prior surveys.
 

Dr. Rubacky continues to have a special interest in the treatment of diabetes both in adult and juvenile, preventative cardiology, smoking cessation, and the treatment of HIV disease. In addition he enjoys caring for infants and children with disabilities and special needs. He continues to maintain both in active outpatient and inpatient practice in these areas and many others with his partners.
 
Dr. Rubacky has been active in many roles at Bayhealth Medical Center. In addition to serving on many committees, he was chairman of the family practice department at Kent General from 1992 to 1995. He served as vice president of the medical staff from 1997 to 1998 and then president of the medical staff from 1998 to 2000. Dr. Rubacky was elected a member of the Board of Trustees of Bayhealth Medical Center in 1998 and has continued to serve on the board along with the executive committee. He remains actively involved through the board of trustees with helping to develop and expand services at Bayhealth Medical Center, including the 120 million dollar funding of the most recent expansion.

He has been active in organized medicine, and is currently on the Board of Directors of The Medical Society of Delaware holding company, and DELPAC. He has served as treasurer, vice-president, and president of the Kent County Medical Society. He has also served as Secretary of the Medical Society of Delaware and was a member of the board of trustees of the Medical Society of Delaware from 1993 to 1997. Dr. Rubacky retains active membership in the Kent County Medical Society, the Medical Society of Delaware, the Delaware Academy of Family Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Osteopathic Association. He routinely attends continuing medical education courses put on by these organizations and many others.

Shalini Shah, M.D.M.P.H.

Dr.Shah earned a Bachelor of Sciense Degree from Pennslvania State University in 1998 with a major in Nutrition and a Minor in Kinesiology. She obtained a Masters Degree in Public Health, with Concentration in Health Policy Management and Nutrition from the University of California in Berkeley CA in May 2000. She went on to graduate from Drexel University College of Medicine in May 2005. Dr.Shah completed a 3 year residency in Family Medicine at York Hospital in Pennsylvania in 2008.

Frederick C. Brace III, PA-C

PA Brace grew up on Long Island, New York and graduated from Sachem High School. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Surgical Technician in Oscoda, Michigan. Fred entered the USAF Physician Assistant Program in Wichita Falls, TX in 1979 and graduated with a B.S. from the University of Oklahoma in 1981. Fred practiced as a Primary Care Physician Assistant with the Air Force in Atwater, CA; Dayton, OH; Comiso, Sicily and Dover Air Force Base.
 
Fred joined Dover Family Physicians upon retirement from the US Air Force in 1994. He is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, effective 1981 and must re-certify every six years. PA Brace is a Distinguished Fellow the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and  a Fellow of the  Veterans Caucus of the AAPA, Past-President of the Delaware Academy of Physician Assistants, and Past PA member of the Physician Assistant Regulatory Council for the State of Delaware. 

Stephanie Behrens, PA-C

Stephanie was raised in Carney’s Point, NJ. After attaining both her High School Diploma and Associates degree within weeks of one another, she was promptly accepted to Monmouth University where she finished her undergraduate career with a BS in Molecular Cell Physiology. She than graduated from Seton Hall University with a Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.  Excelling in the program, her thesis compared the prevalence of depression in residential and commuter undergraduate students. Solidifying her concern for not only her patient’s physical but mental welfare placed her high in the opinions of both her teachers and supervisors.
Now she takes her considerable talents and dedication to her patients to a new field, but one not unfamiliar to her. The opportunity to return to an outpatient setting is one that suits her very well and will undoubtedly prove a positive fit for both her and the community.