Though he came from a family that included several doctors and dentists, Northport native Spenser Bivona, MD, wasn’t always certain he wanted to follow in their medical footsteps. But his work during a planned gap year after college helped him see the impact he might have on the community as a medical professional. “I drove a mobile sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing unit in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and it was such a wonderful opportunity to learn about public health and help educate the community,” says Dr. Bivona. “That education outreach effort taught me some real life lessons about how good health information can affect outcomes, and helped me see the difference that access to basic care can make.”

That experience not only highlighted the importance of community health for Dr. Bivona, it also became an important part of his application to the first incoming class at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. “My public health experience helped my application stand out, and inspired a greater interest in the social determinants of health, which really aligned with the school’s primary care focus,” says Dr. Bivona. “It was also a bit scary taking a chance on a completely new medical school. But since it had NYU’s name attached to it, I was confident that they were planning to build a top-notch institution.”

Now, as a graduate of NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Dr. Bivona has been hired as a clinical instructor for the Department of Medicine at the school, and as a staff physician at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. Starting in September, he will have the chance to not only provide much-needed primary care for the Long Island community, but also help train the future primary care professionals following in his footsteps at the medical school.

“It’s a big honor to be the first person to graduate the school and become part of the faculty. I’m excited to teach medical students and residents while I keep learning,” says Dr. Bivona. “Teaching keeps you sharp and ensures that you stay up to date on medical advancements. So, it makes you a better doctor as well. I’m also grateful to continue to be around the people who have been here for many years and keep learning from them. They have always encouraged and supported my growth, which is partly why this institution has been such a good fit for me.”

During his residency at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, Dr. Bivona has expanded his knowledge of the men’s health issues that he first encountered while working in the mobile STD testing unit and continued his interest in HIV testing and prevention. “I hope that I can help expand our offerings as a school, and teach the students about areas I’ve learned about during my time here,” says Dr. Bivona. “Subjects like HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) [a medication that can prevent HIV infection in people at risk of contracting it], and other men’s health issues are important to me. The ultimate goal is to have a residency program that offers world-class, robust training.”

Most of all, Dr. Bivona is passionate about primary care—and in particular providing longitudinal care. “As a physician, I like the idea of being able to help people in the community. It’s a cliché, but being someone that patients can rely on is what draws us into this field,” says Dr. Bivona. “The primary care route in particular allows a physician to get to know patients as people, rather than just seeing them once for 30 minutes. I value getting to know people and the relationships you can make over the years. The best care for patients comes from people who know them.”