St. Luke’s Names Three Physicians to Monroe Leadership Positions

Bethlehem, PA (7/13/2016) – St. Luke’s University Health Network proudly announces the appointment of three outstanding physicians as the top three clinical leaders at its Monroe Campus, the Network’s seventh and newest hospital located in Bartonsville.

Dr. Peter Favini has been named President of the Medical Staff and Chief of Emergency Medicine, and will continue to serve as the Vice Chair for St. Luke’s Network Emergency Services. Additionally, Dr. Jamie Thomas has been named Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Dr. Douglas Degler has been named Chief of Medicine.

Peter Favini, MD

He began his career at the Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, N.J. before heading to Monroe County as the Medical Director for the Emergency Department at the Pocono Medical Center in 1988 until joining St. Luke’s at the Anderson Campus in 2013.

A native of Scranton in neighboring Lackawanna County, Dr. Favini served the Monroe County area for 25 years, personally taking care of approximately 150,000 patients during that time. He has lived in Monroe County since 1988.

Dr. Favini was drawn to emergency medicine because it was a new field when he was going through his training in the 1980s. He felt the necessity at that time for doctors in the Emergency Room to be properly trained and prepared to deal with critical emergencies as well as other patients presenting with acute problems.

He also said that another part of what drew him to emergency medicine is the opportunity to be where people are in need.

“Nothing is more critical than when you pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1 and need someone to show up, and then when you get to the hospital, to have people that are properly prepared to take care of you,” he said.

Dr. Favini is driven by the goal of providing phenomenal health care to people in the most need and draws immense satisfaction from seeing those patients get better.

Dr. Favini and his wife have four children, two grandchildren, and love to kayak and enjoy the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, where he also serves as the Medical Director. He also enjoys running on a daily basis.

Jamie Thomas, DO

Dr. Thomas received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and earned her medical degree from Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Diagnostic Radiology at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill, and a fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the University of Chicago.

Interventional radiology appealed to her as an interesting, technology-driven field that provides less down time and less risk for patients. Dr. Thomas said it allows her to see patients and participate in their care while doing minimally invasive procedures.

She began her practice at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in 2005, and joined St. Luke’s University Health Network in 2007.

Dr. Thomas' new role is a pivotal one in terms of the quality of care and positive culture in the practice of medicine.

“It allows me to help build and be a part of an organization that I feel is really something phenomenal,” she said. “It is important that we provide the best quality care to as many people in our community as possible, in a friendly way, so that when patients come to our hospital, they feel as though they are being treated like a member of our family.”

In her spare time, she enjoys being with her husband, three children and yellow Labrador.  She also likes to run, ski and watch her children play sports.

Douglas Degler, MD

After graduating from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Degler completed his residency at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. While serving as a doctor in the U.S. Army, he was stationed first at Fort Lewis, and then at Fort Bragg, N.C., which holds the largest population of any military base in the world.

He joined St. Luke’s after fulfilling his military obligation in 2002, serving as an internist, Regional Medical Director and staff physician. He is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine as well Internal Medicine.

“The most important things to me are providing high quality compassionate care to my patients and the patients in the community,” he said. “I want to see the Network do the same. I am honored and excited to be a part of St. Luke’s Monroe Campus as we build a team of top quality physicians and staff working together to provide the best possible care to this community.

A native of Berks County, Dr. Degler said he is motivated to form personal relationships with his patients to develop strong doctor-patient bonds.  He is looking forward to resuming inpatient care at St. Luke’s Monroe Campus, in addition to continuing outpatient care at St. Luke’s Medical Associates on East Brown Street.  This will help to assure optimal continuity of care for his patients that require hospitalization.  

In addition to being married with three children, he likes to compete in triathlons and completed an IRONMAN Triathlon in Maryland. He and his family spend time together by hiking, skiing, kayaking and bike riding. They recently returned from a trip to the Northwest where they hiked Mt. Rainier in Washington.

About St. Luke’s

St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a non-profit, regional, fully integrated, nationally recognized network providing services at six hospitals and more than 200 sites, primarily in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania and in Warren County, New Jersey.

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Media Contact:

Mariella B. Miller
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
St. Luke's University Health Network
484-526-4134
Mariella.Miller@sluhn.org

For more information about St. Luke’s services or to find a physician, call St. Luke’s InfoLink toll-free at
1-866-STLUKES (785-8537) Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or email us anytime at  Info.Link@sluhn.org.