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Christopher Isenhour, MD, is dedicated to bringing remarkable healthcare to a rural community in need.

Meet remarkable team member, Christopher Isenhour, MD 

Christopher Isenhour, MD, is an expert problem solver.  

It’s a skill built over a lifetime of experiences. When he was 19, for instance, Dr. Isenhour was diagnosed with blood clots during a time when medicine did not have a full understanding or treatment for the condition. He took part in experimental treatments, and his doctors were a large part of identifying why people experience blood clots. 

Then, when he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Isenhour sharpened his problem-solving skills further, entering the family business of construction. 

“It’s a solution-oriented business,” Dr. Isenhour said. “Every day was about finding solutions, timelines, planning and handling the needs of a variety of people. There is no doubt my years in construction made me a better doctor today.” 

After six years in construction, Dr. Isenhour decided to put his undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry to greater use and attend medical school. Throughout his studies, he saw a need for healthcare in rural areas. In 2004, he opened a practice in a community in desperate need of improved access to healthcare –– Shallotte, North Carolina.  

“When I saw the need in Shallotte, I knew I wanted to set up a practice there. I believed we could build something meaningful,” Dr. Isenhour said. “I thought it was quaint, and it reminded me of Concord, North Carolina, where I grew up. I knew it would be a great place to plant roots, raise a family and give back to the community.” 

Improving Access to Care 

When Dr. Isenhour opened his practice in Shallotte, the area was approximately 40 doctors short of what it needed to serve the population. It was hard to find a doctor. It was even harder to get a timely appointment. 

“It was important to have our facility provide convenient care because it just seems right that people should be able to see a doctor the day they have a problem,” Dr. Isenhour said. 

A year after opening the practice in Shallotte, Novant Health approached Dr. Isenhour about bringing his facility under the umbrella of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center.  

“I was excited because it was an opportunity to build the business,” he said. “When we began the partnership with Novant Health, I was able to recruit physicians who were excited about our vision of building a clinic where we can do both family medicine and urgent care. We had a dream of what the clinic would look like in 10 years. It was a long game.” 

Angela R. Thompson, MD, joined the practice in those early days and has helped build it to what it is today.  

“She came on board because she was excited about that process, and she’s still with us to this day,” Dr. Isenhour said. 
 
Making a Remarkable Impact 
 
Now, Novant Health Oceanside Family Medicine and Convenient Care – Brunswick sees patients of all ages for a variety of needs –– from well visits to more complicated health challenges. In the process, Dr. Isenhour and his team of physicians and staff have developed an excellent rapport with the community. 

“They come to us because we take a real interest in their health,” he said. “They are trusting me with the most secret part of their lives –– the things they wouldn’t announce to a neighbor or friend. I take that seriously and work to prove that I am trustworthy and I have their best health outcome at heart.” 

Dr. Isenhour’s team has one goal: to humanize healthcare. They work toward that goal by leading with empathy and compassion for every patient who comes through the door. 

“We believe it’s really important to do our absolute best to meet the needs of our community. So if a refill request comes in at 4:30 p.m., we work to fill that request before we leave for the day. And if someone needs an appointment, we work to get them seen as soon as possible,” Dr. Isenhour said. “We don’t want patients to wait weeks to get what they need. That’s how my partners and I built this clinic, and we recruit doctors who are on the same page. At the end of the day, our goal is to have patients, providers and staff leave feeling satisfied.”