Meet Dr. Michael Barmach, Medical Director at Hopscotch Primary Care Asheville-Brooklet

Our Asheville-Brooklet center is welcoming a new Medical Director! Dr. Michael Barmach brings 20 years of family medicine experience to Hopscotch Primary Care, along with a real love for getting to know his patients. He joins us as Dr. Patrick Contino prepares to retire, and he's eager to build on the care Dr. Contino has given our community.

“I want patients to be active with their healthcare.”

A love of medicine that started early

Dr. Barmach's interest in medicine started at home. His father is a doctor, and as a kid, Dr. Barmach tagged along on hospital rounds. What stuck with him most was watching his father connect with his patients.

Still, medicine wasn't the plan at first. Dr. Barmach started college expecting to be an English major, but he quickly developed an interest in the sciences, too, so he decided to double major in English and biology. Along the way, he realized that medicine, and primary care in particular, was the perfect blend of science and communication.

That same love of connection drew him to caring for older adults. “I just like building relationships with people,” he says. He also enjoys the challenge of more complex care, and he finds real meaning in helping patients stay healthy, active, and happy for as long as possible.

From Connecticut to the Blue Ridge

Dr. Barmach completed his residency in Connecticut and practiced along the Connecticut shoreline for seven years. He then moved closer to home, to the Philadelphia area (he grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey),where he practiced for the next 12 years.

Asheville has been a favorite vacation spot for his family for decades, so when they started thinking about a move, Western North Carolina was at the top of the list. Hopscotch was already on his radar, too. He first heard about us at an American Academy of Family Physicians meeting a few years ago, and the name stuck. Better yet, one of Hopscotch's medical directors completed residency alongside Dr. Barmach. One phone call to hear what they thought of Hopscotch, and Dr. Barmach was ready to apply.

Care that's a partnership

Ask Dr. Barmach about his approach to care, and one word comes up right away: collaboration. He wants patients to feel like active partners in their own health.

That means plenty of questions. Dr. Barmach regularly checks in to see if patients have questions or want anything explained further. He also likes to lay out options. “There's not always just one clear-cut answer,” he says. He'll share what he recommends, walk through the choices together, and let patients decide what feels right. At the next visit, he follows up to see what's working and what might need to change.

Getting to know the whole person

For Dr. Barmach, a great visit is about more than numbers on a chart. It's about helping patients enjoy the things that matter most to them, whether that's keeping up with the grandkids or getting back out in the garden.

He also knows that a lot gets covered in a doctor's visit, and it can be hard to remember it all. That's why he often writes things down and sends patients home with handouts, so they have an easy reminder of what they talked about.

Looking ahead at Asheville-Brooklet

Stepping into the Medical Director role is a new challenge, and one Dr. Barmach is excited to take on. After 20 years focused on patient care, he's looking forward to learning more about the business side of medicine. He's also looking forward to working alongside two great colleagues at Asheville-Brooklet. He hopes that by bringing all of their experience together, they can offer great medical care and a welcoming place patients want to come to.

To Dr. Contino's patients, he offers a warm welcome and an open door. “It's going to be big shoes to fill,” he says. “I want to thank Dr.Contino's patients for continuing to get their care at Asheville-Brooklet and for giving me the opportunity to be their new primary care physician. I believe the focal point of the doctor-patient relationship is communication. My patients can rest assured that I will take the time to listen to them, and together we will develop a plan for their health care.”

Outside the office

Dr. Barmach, his wife, and their daughter are still settling in, but they already know how they'll spend their free time: outdoors. The family loves to hike, kayak, and fish, and Dr. Barmach also enjoys playing tennis. They're excited to explore local trails, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Asheville's arts and culture scene.

They love to travel as a family, too, with trips to Europe and to destinations across the U.S. Now that they're in Western North Carolina, they're looking forward to exploring even more of the Southeast.

One fun fact: Dr. Barmach doesn't like cheese. We promise not to hold it against him!

Come say hello

Patients are invited to meet Dr. Barmach, and to say goodbye to Dr. Contino, at our Asheville-Brooklet center on Monday, November 9th or Tuesday, November 10th, from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Drop in anytime. Family and caregivers are welcome, too!

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