Dr. Nicole L. Balchune

Eric Smith is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Dr. Smith is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hepatitis. His top areas of expertise are Hepatitis, Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, Ureteroscopy, and Endoscopy.

Philosophy of care | I view my role as a physician as that of a coach. I educate and advise my patients to empower them to become active in managing their own healthcare. I work as a member of a team of physicians, nurses, behavioral health specialists, case managers and many others to better meet our patients' medical, behavioral and social needs. | Why I entered medicine | I have devoted my career to providing the highest quality primary and specialized care to patients with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and/or hepatitis B regardless of their ability to pay. Caring for people living with HIV/AIDS and/or viral hepatitis has allowed me to develop relationships with patients who have wonderful stories and to advocate for them on a daily basis. This field allows me to blend my passions for patient care, clinical research and medical education. | Community involvement | I serve as faculty and a professional development coach for our medical students in the LVHN-USF SELECT MD program. I hope to be able to help guide our next generation of physician leaders to look beyond the requirements of their traditional medical training and develop the skills that will allow them to succeed in a rapidly changing field. I also oversee the Hepatitis Care Center's hepatitis C testing program. We offer free, rapid hepatitis C tests (results in 20 minutes) with a finger-stick sample to anyone in the community who has had a risk for hepatitis C infection at any point in their life. | Personal interests | I enjoy spending time with my wife and children. I have been a passionate Philadelphia Eagles fan for as long as I can remember. I’m lucky to be able to bleed green a few days a year during home games at Lincoln Financial Field. Dr. Yozviak is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hepatitis. His top areas of expertise are Hepatitis C, Hepatitis, Myelitis, and HIV/AIDS.

Philosophy of care | I want to help people live their best life. | Why I entered medicine | My family comes from a combination of cultures. I was raised near the Venezuelan-Columbian border, and the exposure to this environment, with limited medical services, inspired me to work in improving access to health care to the area's inhabitants. Due to the political environment in Venezuela, I later chose to move to a country that cherishes freedom. | Personal interests | I enjoy my family, reading history, languages, swimming, scuba diving and playing tennis. Dr. Penaloza is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hepatitis. His top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Obesity, Hepatitis C, and Cirrhosis.