Dr. Alicia Bianco-Floom’s Calling to Internal Medicine Has a Beat You Can Dance To

By Andrew Wilson

As a dance enthusiast and competitive dancer, Alicia Bianco-Floom, M.D., knows the difference between an arabesque and a jete. As an internal medicine physician, she knows the importance of regular exercise and movement for the health of her patients, even if they may have difficulty distinguishing a foxtrot from a rumba.

“Get outside and go for a walk. Fresh air alone helps anyone,” advises Dr. Bianco-Floom, adding, “People can get into ruts with exercise, so change it up a bit from time to time. Change up the route you usually walk or go for a bike ride. There are a lot of bike trails in western Pennsylvania.”

And does she recommend dance for her patients?

“Dance is way more fun,” says the competitive dancer who has enjoyed classes in ballet, jazz, and tap dance and recently became a new mom. “Now that my son is born, I am super excited to get back to dance classes.”

While it is important to learn the proper steps for any dance, Dr. Bianco-Floom didn’t follow the usual choreography in her path to becoming an internal medicine physician.

“I knew I wanted a career in healthcare, but I didn’t know where I fit in,” she says. “My father is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and my oldest brother is a cardiologist, but I took a non-traditional route.”

She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and worked as a dental hygienist for 15 years, but she learned that she wanted more from her career.

“I think I needed all that experience as a dental hygienist to get to the point I’m at now,” she says. “Medicine is a calling, and I felt called to go to medical school.”

Dr. Bianco-Floom said she especially enjoys caring for her patients.

“I have a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day that I didn’t experience in my previous profession,” she says. “What I like about internal medicine is that I get to treat all the systems in the body at once and figure out how one system can affect all the others.”

In addition to her father and oldest brother, Dr. Bianco-Floom names the late Dr. Joseph Fine as a role model and mentor for her. Dr. Fine was a pediatric anesthesiologist for many years, but that’s only part of his story.

“He was a family friend and a Holocaust survivor,” Dr. Bianco-Floom says. “His life story was inspiring. I appreciated hearing his advice and opinions as I was contemplating applying to medical school. He passed away before I graduated, but I remember how excited he was for me when I was accepted into medical school.”

Dr. Bianco-Floom believes she carries all of the advice she has received as well as her rich life experience into her practice today - which benefits her patients.

“During a first visit, I like to take the time to get to know someone, not just healthwise, but other things outside of their general health,” she says. “I ask a lot of questions during that first visit. I like to hear for myself about a patient’s life, and not just what’s in their history that was taken by a nurse or an aide.”

She may ask if they have any pets or taken any trips recently. She says all of that information might matter, especially if they are showing signs of something out of the ordinary. For example, if they have traveled somewhere that is experiencing an outbreak of some disease or affliction, it may be important information that reveals why a patient is feeling poorly right now.

“That’s why I take a little more time to get to them during that first visit,” she says. “It can make a big difference.”

As for life advice she can impart to her patients or anyone else interested in a career in healthcare?

“If you are thinking of making a career change, maybe something out of your norms, I say go for it! There are a lot of opportunities in health care,” Dr. Bianco-Floom says. “Don’t hesitate and then have regrets later.”

It’s wisdom gained from personal experience.

Alicia Bianco-Floom, M.D., specializes in internal medicine. She earned her medical degree from the Windsor University School of Medicine and completed her residency in internal medicine from Western Reserve Hospital. Dr. Bianco-Floom practices with St. Clair Medical Group Internal Medicine and see patients at the following locations:

Pittsburgh
5301 Grove Road, Suite 631
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
(412) 942-9105

Bethel Park
2000 Oxford Drive, Suite 420
Bethel Park, PA 15102
(412) 942-8500