Christopher Prior, DO
August 19, 2019
When you first talk with Christopher Prior, the new Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine Practice, it is easy to tell he is a humble and kind man. However, when you look at his background, you see he has plenty of reason to boast. But he doesn’t do that. Instead, he talks about helping others and how his parents played an integral role in the compassion he conveys to his patients every day.
“I am the youngest of five and my parents taught us to have compassion for others and try to see where others are coming from,” Prior says. “To put myself in their shoes and understand their situation.”
Originally from New York, Prior says, “It sounds cliché, but, I have always wanted to help people. I wanted to be able take care of people when medical situations would arise.”
Prior is not new to the Sheridan community working the previous six and a half years at the Sheridan VA Medical Center as a staff physician.
“Being a Veteran myself, I am very honored to have served the men and women of our armed forces while at the Sheridan VA,” Prior stated.
Prior says his desire to join the SMH medical staff was an opportunity to treat the whole person.
“I am looking forward to this new opportunity. We have so many resources to support the patients here. It will allow me, as a physician, to do my job even better,” he says. “We have collaborative medical teams with administration support, medication assistance programs, and patient financial advocates on staff; it is great to see all this patient support.”
Prior will have a primary care focus in his new role with the SMH, but he has special interest in sports medicine and a strong background in trauma/acute care. His residency was in family practice and he ran a system of urgent care clinics in Colorado. He was also one of two physicians chosen for a fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.
Prior obviously has quite the distinguished career leading up to this point. The list of honors and awards is lengthy, including Physician of the Year a few different times, a National Defense Ribbon (twice), a Humanitarian Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon (three times) and a Bronze Star in 2005; just to name a few.
Even with all the accolades, you wouldn’t know it by just talking to him. He stays focused on others. This is evident by the time he gives back. Prior is a member of the Sheridan College School of Nursing Advisory Board, Sheridan County Soccer Association Board and the State of Wyoming Youth Soccer Board. He also coaches soccer in his “spare time.”
“My family is the most important part of my life,” he says with pride. “My wife is a nurse and we love raising our three kids here. The outdoors, friendly people and small town feel make this a safe and healthy place to raise our family and we love that.”