Q&A with Dr. Hurley

Q. Why did you decide to become a physician?
A. My mom was diabetic, and as a kid, I helped her manage her diabetes. In those days, we checked blood sugar levels by dropping a tablet in a urine sample and seeing how it reacted to a reagent. I helped her with that, and I learned how to administer her insulin injections. My mom had a conference with my sixth-grade teacher, who said I should become a doctor. In high school, I was in the pre-med club.

I studied biological sciences in college and was interested in pursuing a career in medicine, but I doubted myself. I worked in the college admissions office as a student, and one of the counselors suggested I consider a career in pharmacy. I knew by being a pharmacist, I would be close to the medical field, so I pursued that. I received specialized training during a clinical pharmacy residency training program (emphasis on geriatrics) at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Sepulveda, California.

I worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. I was a neonatal intensive care pharmacist, a pharmacy supervisor, and an adjunct professor of clinical pharmacy. But I still had feelings that I hadn’t made the right choice, that I really belonged working directly with patients as a physician. By this point, I was married and had started a family. My wife encouraged me to pursue medicine, so I took post-baccalaureate courses at night while working as a pharmacist during the day. I was accepted to Howard University College of Medicine, so at the age of 39, married with two young children, I moved across the country and finally pursued my calling. I was finally fulfilled.

Q. What do you love about being a physician, and why did you focus on internal medicine?

A. I love the personal interaction. I get a good feeling when working with patients, when they tell me how much they appreciate me or they express their gratitude for helping them or their family.

I chose to focus on internal medicine because I always thought part of medicine was being a detective, trying to figure out what was going on with a patient given their symptoms. When I was younger, I read Sherlock Holmes. He tried to figure things out based on observations and findings, and I like doing that in medicine.

I had a patient with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. His lab results troubled me. I sent him for a CT scan, and he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We caught it, got him started on treatment, and were able to extend his life. He’s still alive today.

Q. What do you enjoy about the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group?

A. Our patients have quick and easy access to the most technologically advanced and cutting-edge care. Nothing gets in the way of providing my patients with the best care, which includes my ability to connect them with outstanding Permanente specialists.

Q. What do you do to stay well? And how do you encourage your patients to stay well?

A. I enjoy painting, drawing, and photography. I mostly focus on still life work and portraits. I like the quiet, the peace, the stillness that I feel when I am creating art. My artwork helps me stay centered and focused. I like going to art museums whenever I travel.

I stay physically active by playing tennis, hiking, and swimming. I encourage my patients to do the same: Eat a healthy diet and engage in physical activity. This can help prevent a lot of diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.

Q. What inspires you?

A. My mother was dedicated to her family and very hardworking. She was a teacher. It was hard for her to find work at the local school district, partly because of her color. She found a teaching jobs 35 miles away. She rarely took time off, even though she was diabetic. She was so committed to her work, and she inspires me to be committed to my patients.

Q. What excites you about Well Friendship Heights?

A. Patients should feel that Well Friendship Heights is a safe, comfortable place to get care, and they should feel at home here.

I’m excited because I’ve lived in the Friendship Heights area for more than 20 years, about a 15-minute walk away from Well Friendship Heights. I’ve been active in this community, involved in Boy Scouts of America and volunteering at my children’s schools. This is my neighborhood, and I enjoy having my neighbors be my patients.

Learn more about Dr. Hurley here.

See what his patients say

Dr. Hurley has always helped me and is always there for me when I need him. —RI

I get very good care from Dr. Hurley. He is easy to communicate with. —RG

Dr. Hurley is the reason I have Kaiser Permanente insurance even though my job offers other insurance providers. He has been our family doctor for many years and he is the best. So happy to have him as our doctor. —MT

Dr. Hurley is an outstanding doctor!! He is a very knowledgeable, kind, and caring doctor. He has a very calm demeanor and is very easy to talk to. Dr. Hurley includes me in decisions regarding my care and focuses on health prevention. I’m always confident that the care I am receiving is top-notch (the best). His diagnosis is always on point. Dr. Hurley responds to my email messages in a timely manner. I am so blessed to have him as my doctor. I select Kaiser Permanente each year because of Dr. Hurley! —LH

Just the best ever!!!! Knowledgeable, caring, and comprehensive. Best ever. —LE

Dr. Hurley encourages me to ask questions and voice any concerns I may have about instructions, medical tests, medications, or treatments. If I don’t understand his answers, we continue to talk until I do. Love his style! —AD

Dr. Hurley has been responsive to my concerns and issues in a timely and professional manner for many years. He has exhibited a genuine and timely concern for my health issues from my first visit to my current visit, which have covered a number of years. Very professional. Would not change!!! —CS