Vermont doctor turned writer Beach Conger, M.D.
Chester — Beach Conger, M.D., is a well-respected physician practicing in Windsor. Conger is also a member of the Dartmouth Medical School faculty where he is recognized for his medical wisdom and personal approach to his profession.
Now the self-described “country doctor”, is making local appearances to promote his new book, “It’s Probably Nothing: More Adventures of a Country Doctor”. This month, Conger is continuing his fictional look at Vermont backcountry doctoring. He was at Misty Valley Books in Chester last weekend to meet readers and talk about his work.
Described as a “contrarian doctor” by the Dartmouth Medicine journal, Conger’s biography noted that he was born in 1941 in New York City and grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson and Pleasantville, N.Y. Until 2002, he practiced internal medicine at Mt. Ascutney Hospital in Windsor. He also held an adjunct appointment on the Dartmouth Medical School faculty, serving as a preceptor for medical students' primary care rotations.
“I feel more like an endangered species than a role model,” Conger said in a recent interview. “Kind of like the gray wolf or the cougar. It seems my feeding grounds are gradually being replaced by multispecialty clinics and CAT scanners."
“It's Probably Nothing…” is a sequel to the popular characters created by Conger in his first country medicine book, “Bag Balm and Duct Tape”.
The new book follows Conger and his wife—who are escapees to the North Country from urban Philadelphia—in the fictional town of Dumster, Vt. The new book includes vignettes of rural life and the politics of small towns.
One of Conger’s reading fans is Vermont Congressman Peter Welch. Welch said he enjoys reading Conger’s book as a way to relax on trips between Washington, D.C. and Vermont.
“It's ‘Probably Nothing’ is actually quite wonderful,” said Welch. “With wit and humility, but above all with deep affection, Beach Conger captures perfectly what it is to be a Vermonter. This book is a must-read for doctors and patients alike."
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