Our Team in West Chester at AFC Urgent Care

AFC Urgent Care & Walk-In Clinic in West Chester, PA, has an Excellent Staff of Board-Certified Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, X-Ray Technicians, and Medical Assistants.

Our highly trained staff have family medicine, emergency medicine, and acute care backgrounds, and are ready to address your medical needs. We are a professional, compassionate, and caring team. Our urgent care center in West Chester contains a full lab and advanced medical technology to ensure you receive the fastest and most accurate treatment possible. Our goal is to bring you the best possible medical care and get you back on your feet quickly. We are here when you need us!

OUR PROVIDERS

Leonard Sax, MD, PhD, FAAFP

Dr. Sax graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at the age of 19. He then earned both a PhD in psychology, and an MD, at the University of Pennsylvania. After completing a three-year residency in family medicine at Lancaster General Hospital, Dr. Sax launched his own medical practice in Montgomery County Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, where he practiced for 18 years. He has worked at our center since its launch in October 2015. He is also a DOT-certified medical examiner. Dr. Sax is the author of four books for parents, most recently The Collapse of Parenting, which was a New York Times bestseller. He lives with his wife and daughter near Chester Springs.

Tom Giovinazzo, PA-C

Mr. Giovinazzo was the very first Physician Assistant in the history of Arcadia University. He has practiced for more than 22 years, starting his medical career in open heart surgery and intensive care. After 8 years, he then spent 3 years in Family Practice but returned to a hospital-based Urology position for 1 year. From there, Tom moved on to Orthopedic Spinal Surgery and after 3 years, became interested in the relatively new Urgent Care field, where he has continued to work in ER/Urgent Care settings. Tom has developed an integrative view of medicine which resonates well with most patients. He individualizes treatment plans for each patient designed to best help them optimize their well-being using compassion and empathy. Tom was a PGA Golf Professional, stone mason, and Merck Auditor prior to his calling in medicine. He feels he relates well to patients from all walks of life.

Jason Dillinger, PA-C

Mr. Dillinger is a Chester County native. He graduated from Penn State University in 2001 with a dual degree in Real Estate and International Business. After working in Real Estate and mortgages for seven years, he switched careers from business to medicine -first as an EMT and then eventually as a Physician Assistant, graduating with a Master’s in Physician Assistant studies from Barry University in 2013. Additionally, Mr. Dillinger is a DOT-certified medical examiner. Jason has been practicing medicine in an Urgent Care setting since 2014 and considers it a real privilege to be back home with the opportunity to give back to the community he grew up in.

Jessica Pidgeon, PA-C

Ms. Pidgeon is a Board-Certified Physician Assistant. She graduated from Seton Hall University with her Master’s of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2019. She also attended Seton Hall for her undergraduate degree, where she received her B.S. in Biology and a minor in Catholic Studies. Since graduating, Ms. Pidgeon’s experience has primarily been in urgent care settings, which she thoroughly enjoys. In addition to urgent care, she has experience working in child and adolescent psychiatry and medical weight management. She has her certificate of added qualification (CAQ) in psychiatry. In 2019, she was inducted into the Pi Alpha National Honor Society for Physician Assistants. Jessica is also a DOT-certified medical examiner. Ms. Pidgeon plays and coaches children’s volleyball locally in her spare time.

Stephen Spencer, MD

Dr. Spencer is a Pennsylvania native who grew up in the Wilkes-Barre area and graduated from King’s College with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He attendedJefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. After obtaining his medical degree, he began his training in Emergency Medicine at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. Dr. Spencer has been an emergency physician, practicing in the South Jersey and Philadelphia area since 1999. He was also part owner of an emergency medicine staffing company, Tri-County Emergency Physicians from 2007 until 2020, staffing several departments in the Philadelphia area.He continues to practice emergency medicine at Pottstown Hospital, and has recently joined our team as a part-time physician. We are fortunate to have Dr. Spencer with his extensive background in emergency medicine as the newest member of our team! He currently resides in northern Chester County with his wife and two teen girls. His hobbies include playing guitar/piano (non-professionally) and he loves spending time outdoors mountain biking or hiking.

Julie Rich, MSN, CRNP

Ms. Rich is thrilled to be a member of the AFC team. She was born and raised locally and is a graduate of the Villanova University College of Nursing. She then went on to obtain a Master’s in Science from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in emergency medicine for the past 21 years but will often say she has been working in this field since she was 3 years old. In the early 1970’s, her father helped design the NYC EMS system, and he would take her on calls. Julie is passionate about patient advocacy and care coordination. She is also an educator and is on the faculty at two area universities. She lives here locally in Chester County with her husband and two children.

Timothy Pancio PA-C

Timothy grew up in upstate New York and went to SUNY Albany for his undergraduate degree, where he majored in biology. Mr. Pancio continued his education in Fort Myers, FL, where he obtained his master’s degree in a physician assistant program. He lived and worked in Florida for 6 years before moving to Pennsylvania to start a family. He has three little kids and loves traveling with them. Mr. Pancio has worked in acute care medicine between urgent care and emergency medicine since 2012 and looks forward to taking care of you and your family in Chester County for years to come! Mr. Pancio currently spends his time working in Chester County Hospital ER and our urgent care center.

Amela Shankar, PA-C

Ms. Shankar received her Master’s in Health Science Degree from Drexel University in 2008 and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Kentucky. She has worked in orthopedics, neurosurgery, and general surgery as a physician assistant prior to joining AFC in West Chester. She is passionate about volunteering to help those without easy access to medical care. She volunteers at Community Volunteers in Medicine in West Chester and in 2019, contributed to a medical mission in Honduras. Ms.Shankar is also a DOT-certified medical examiner. In addition, she loves playing tennis, traveling, and working in her garden.