William Markson, MD, was a young doctor fresh out of his cardiology fellowship in 1989, when he joined the Lehighton practice of Ronald Stein, MD, the only cardiologist in the area at the time. With a baby face and a head full of curls, he soon gained the nickname Doogie Howser, the title character in a popular TV show about a genius teenage doctor.

The youthful face and curly locks are long gone, replaced by a seasoned countenance and balding dome. But the quick smile and wit remain. Dr. Stein has since retired and Dr. Markson is now part of the St. Luke’s Cardiology Associates. He sees patients in the Brodheadsville and Lehighton offices. He operates at St. Luke’s Carbon Campus, where he also serves as Vice President of Medical Affairs, mentoring younger doctors and advanced practitioners.

As a general cardiologist, Dr. Markson diagnoses and treats problems that affect the heart and blood vessels, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks, valve problems, abnormal heart rhythms and congestive heart failure. Additionally, he surgically implants pacemakers and defibrillators in patients with a weak heart or irregular rhythm.

“I firmly believe patients in our area deserve to have the highest quality health care as close to home as possible,” he said. “As a prior board member of the Blue Mountain System, and as someone who has been practicing here since 1989, I’m glad that Blue Mountain chose to join St. Luke’s because the network is committed to that concept and have delivered on it.

“We have a beautiful new hospital with modern equipment, but even more importantly, we have recruited a lot of dedicated doctors in the subspecialties, and in primary care, that we did not have here before. Almost none of them are brown baggers. They’re people who are making their career here. I think that is a wonderful thing.”

Dr. Markson was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. His mother grew up in an immigrant family in the Bronx during the depression. Grateful for all she had, she encouraged her bright son to pursue medicine. After high school, Dr. Markson went to a combined bachelor and MD program at the University of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City and his fellowship at the North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY.

Living in New York City and newly married, he wanted to move to a place with less traffic and congestion – a smaller community where he wasn’t just a cog in the wheel, but could have a big impact. He answered an ad Dr. Stein placed in the New England Journal of Medicine. In his resume, he naively mentioned his Long Island high school, where, coincidentally, Dr. Stein’s wife had gone. Dr. Markson and her brother were school chums.

Dr. Markson never regrets his decision to work in the Carbon County region. He loves the area, particularly his interaction with his patients and the staff.

“Most people in this area have good family values, strong work ethics,” he said. “Patients are inclined to trust their doctors. When we show them that respect back, it deepens that trust.”

Dr. Markson particularly enjoys “inheriting” new patients who have relocated, or whose doctor has retired. Often, they are on many medications.

“I take it as an opportunity to review the medications and determine what is and isn’t needed,” he said. “Medications were started for the right reason but are no longer needed or are only marginally effective. Often, I can stop two or three medications and people come back and they say, I can’t believe you stopped all these things. I’m so happy with that.”

Sometimes, more treatment is needed. For patients with a weak heart or irregular heart rhythm, Dr. Markson may implant a pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Placed under the skin in the chest, pacemakers send electrical signals to start or regulate a slow heartbeat. ICDs send an energy shock that resets an abnormal heartbeat back to normal. Many devices combine a pacemaker and ICD in one unit for people who need both functions.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Markson in Lehighton, call 570-386-6900, and in Brodheadsville in 572-402-0700.