Provider Location: Farmingdale

Pamela Macirowski, FNP

Family Nurse Practitioner Values Patient Relationships

“You get to know your patients and grow with them. That’s how you provide personalized care.”

Inspired by the compassionate care her grandfather received from a hospice team, Pam Macirowski found her calling in medicine. She honed her skills as an EMT and phlebotomist before landing a position as a medical assistant in a bustling primary care office. It was there that she crossed paths with several nurse practitioners, igniting her determination to further her education and ultimately become one herself.

She joined Vanguard Medical Group because it aligned with her own beliefs of patient-focused primary care. “It felt like that close knit family practice where providers are able to form longstanding relationships with patients,” she said. “I like those connections. You get to see the happy moments in their lives as well as the sad moments. You get to be there to support them through all of it.”

Patients like that Pam takes the time to listen to them and their concerns. She partners with them on their health, and they make decisions together. “I love being able to make a positive difference in their lives. It’s incredibly rewarding.”

When she’s not working, Pam loves to travel. The beach is her favorite place in the world. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and kids.

Debra Palmer, PA-C

Physician Assistant enjoys making connections with patients

“The more you know about your patients, the better you can guide them toward good health.”

Debra Palmer first discovered her passion for medicine in the U.S. Air Force. Her role, as a medical technician, was the inspiration for her future career. She put herself through school, earning an undergraduate degree in physics, then worked as a teacher while raising a family. When her youngest graduated high school, she enrolled in the Yale School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Online Program. “It was time to pursue my dream,” she said.

She chose primary care because of the opportunity to build a rapport and relationship with her patients. “I love the idea that the Farmingdale office has been here for a very long time,” she said. “It has that family and community feel that was important to me. I wanted to work in a warm, welcoming place.”

Patients appreciate that she takes the time to get to know them and listen to their concerns. “I want my patients to feel comfortable, so that they can tell me anything,” she said. “Building relationships is part of building that trust.” She also is known for her thorough explanations. “I am proud of my teaching background, and I think it helps me understand people and how they learn. I think that makes me a better provider.”

She’s also noticed that her varied background helps her connect with so many people. “I’m a military veteran, a teacher, a cancer survivor, and a mom,” she said. “I have aging parents. I understand what my patients might be experiencing, and that along with my medical training, helps me to guide them.”

When she’s not working, Debra enjoys DIY construction and woodworking. She and her husband have renovated several houses including their current home.

Sheila Mellody, MD

Family Physician Values Patient Relationships

“By counseling patients on good nutrition, healthy choices, and preventative care, we can help them live their best lives.”

Inspired by her patients and driven by her passion for helping others, Dr. Sheila Mellody brings a caring and compassionate approach to primary care at Vanguard Medical Group’s Farmingdale office. It’s a dream role for this family physician who values the relationships that she has made over the years.

“I chose family medicine for the one-on-one continuity of care,” she said. “Getting to know my patients, seeing their kids grow, and helping them on a journey toward good health is truly gratifying.”

Dr. Mellody began her career in Denver, Colorado, in a women’s health practice, and brings that experience and special interest to Vanguard. She also spent time working in primary care in Virginia Beach. She returned to her home state of New Jersey to be close to family.

Patients say they like Dr. Mellody’s ability to explain things clearly. “I’m very thorough and very organized,” she said. “I make sure that my patients fully understand any diagnoses or treatments so that we are able to work together toward optimum health.” She also emphasizes the importance of preventative care and healthy lifestyle choices. “Regular screenings, good nutrition, and healthy choices really do make a difference,” she said. “I often tell my patients that good nutrition is the backbone of any treatment.”

When she’s not working, Dr. Mellody enjoys running, camping, cooking, and spending time with her husband and children.

Joseph W. Schauer, III, MD

Family Physician Offers Personalized Healthcare

“Quality, cost-effective health care is a right, not a privilege.”

Whether he’s reassuring an anxious patient, offering clinical expertise on the latest treatment, or checking on a homebound senior, Dr. Joseph Schauer brings a warmth and compassion to primary care that come from over 35 years of learning and of advocating for his patients. He continues a legacy begun by his father and uncle, who paved the way for patient-centered care at the very same Farmingdale practice, once known as Schauer Family Medical Group.

Dr. Schauer’s own journey in medicine began in high school. He knew he wanted to help others, and he took a summer job as a hospital orderly, solidifying his career path. When it came time to choose a focus in medical school, he selected family medicine. “I liked the idea of taking care of generations of families,” he said, “and of treating the whole person—body, mind and soul. You can do that in primary care, whereas you cannot in subspecialties.”

He returned home to Monmouth County to practice family medicine with his father, Joseph Schauer Jr., MD and his uncle, Edward A. Schauer, MD. They have since retired, and Dr. Schauer remains at the helm, joining with like-minded independent physicians at Vanguard Medical Group.

“What distinguishes our practice is the personal touch, the willingness to sit down and explain things to our patients,” he said. “Our patients love that they can get that individualized attention along with high-tech diagnosis and treatment.”

Over the years, Dr. Schauer has received countless accolades from his patients. “The outcome is not always good, because people sometimes have diseases that unfortunately progress, but there is always an element of gratitude,” he noted. “We will receive notes from families saying thank you for taking care of Dad or Grandpa. Those are incredibly meaningful to us.”

Dr. Schauer’s influence reaches far beyond the Farmingdale location. He is a past president of the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians. He chaired the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Primary Care Initiative, working with a major New Jersey healthcare insurer to develop and implement primary care initiatives built around the PCMH concept in New Jersey.

When he’s not working, Dr. Schauer enjoys traveling with his wife, gardening, golfing and pursuing that ever-elusive hole-in-one.