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Ian S. Tucker, MD

2001 Graduate
Chief Resident

Biography

Ian was born and raised in Southern Connecticut, mostly in the small town of Wilton. While living in this 200-year old village, he discovered a love for history, piano, science, and the outdoors. Ian also pursued a short career in summer theatre, as the Tucker performance gene had been passed down through the family. So strong was this gene, that his mother intentionally chose a middle name that could pull double-duty as a stage name -- "Sterling".

In the Fall of 1990, Ian pulled up stakes and traveled first to Boston for a semester at Boston University. When it became clear that city-life was not for him, Ian accepted a "January Freshman" position at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. While in Cornell, Ian studied physiology, Latin, Near-Eastern studies and fencing. Although an astonishingly poor athlete as a child, Ian took to fencing with passion, and even demonstrated a degree of talent with the blade. For three years he fenced with varsity fencing team, eventually rising to the level of a traveler with the team. In 1993, Ian earned a varsity letter is sabre fencing; an accomplishment that he prizes above nearly all else.

After completing his Bachelor of Arts in 1994, Ian moved to Baltimore for medical school at the University of Maryland. There he continued his professional studies while starting a fencing club and experimenting with singing in a choir. Although the fencing club never really caught on, his efforts with the choir continued, earning him a position as Baritone with a large suburban temple choir. With his Doctorate nearly in hand, Ian reaffirmed his desire to leave the city, and actively sought a residency position in the Pennsylvania hills.

Ian joined AFP in July 1998 and  worked hard to make his friends and family proud. He took sabre studies as an Instructor at the Summit health club, and started a small choir at his temple. In addition, Ian liked to compete in softball games with the Altoona league. Unfortunately, it is clear that his skill with a blade did not translate well into catching or fielding (as his friend Brett eagerly pointed out at every opportunity)! When not in the hospital, gym or temple, Ian could usually be found playing piano, moonlighting in the Nason Hospital Emergency Room, or indulging in science fiction.

Latest update:  I am going to be returning to my home state of Connecticut, where I will join Dr. Mark Decker in Family Practice. This opportunity in Ellington will be about an hour away from my family in Wilton; this will be the closest I have been to home in over a decade. While I am sad to leave all of my friends here in Altoona, I am not going to be leaving here empty-handed. Joining me on the move to Connecticut will be my fiancée, Jina, and her two children, Brett and Destini.

I would like to thank my family and friends for all of their support these last few years. In addition, I would like to thank the AFP family for a wonderful experience, and wish you much happiness.

Facts

Undergraduate    Cornell University; B.A. 1994
Medical School     Univ. of Maryland; M.D. 1998

Areas of interest

Emergency Medicine
Gastroenterology

After hours interests