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            Hello prospective residents!  My name is Joe Hines.  I grew up in the “Snack Food Capital of the World,” Hanover, PA (home of five snack food companies, including Utz potato chips and Snyder’s pretzels).  We were a family of four with my two parents, my sister, and myself.  According to my parents, when I was younger, I only wanted to be one of two things:  a Transformer or a doctor. 

            I graduated from South Western High School where I was the prototypical “Band Nerd.”  I played the flute, French horn, mellophone, baritone, euphonium, and saxophone in addition to being the Drum Major.  

            After that, I attended Elizabethtown College for four years, where I majored in Biology/Premedicine and minored in General Psychology.  As the saying goes, college was indeed the best four years of my life.  I met my wife, Jasmine, there when I was her lab assistant in Physiology.  Our first time hanging out was spent cleaning rat cages; consequently, she said “maybe” when I asked her for an official date.  Luckily for me, my persistence paid off, and we were married July 17, 2010.   

            After Etown, I went to Penn State College of Medicine, located in the “Sweetest Place on Earth,” Hershey, PA.  There, I met some amazing friends and served as Social Chair for my class for all four years.  I graduated with my M.D. in May 2011.

            Outside of medicine, I enjoy a lot of things.  I love a cappella music and am a pretty good vocal percussionist/beat boxer.  I also love playing and watching sports, especially football and basketball. 

            I can honestly say that I wanted to do Family Medicine from the very beginning.  The variety you get each and every day and the endless opportunities the specialty provides are perfect for me.  Plus, the continuity of care is a huge plus.

            I chose AFP for a variety of reasons.  My wife and I are both from small towns, so the “city” of Altoona was perfect for us.  During my interview and second look, I felt at home with the residents and staff, and the curriculum was by far one of the best I looked at.  I was thrilled when I opened my envelope on Match Day and saw AFP!