Celebrating Pine Islanders: Dr. Daniel Hanley
Doctor Daniel Hanley, MD, said he would describe himself as a logical and practical person, one who believes in freedom and in living the best life possible within the constraints we all have to deal with.
“As far as maintaining a good balance, I try to look at all perspectives and come up with my own assessments,” Hanley said.
He also admits his wife, Nadia, helps him to keep his life in line and balanced by being his best teammate.
When he came to Pine Island to open his Ancuram Family Clinic in 2019, he had decided to give up his work at Med Express, which had stated in New Jersey. He explained that many people who had come to see him for emergency care had asked him to become their primary physician, causing him to see the need to practice family medicine somewhat essential in his career. When he talked to his boss about transferring to Florida, to be near family, he found out the only openings available for transfer in Florida were in Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres. After accepting a position with Urgent Care in Cape Coral, he said he ran into the familiar issue of folks continuing to request him as their primary physician.
“People kept asking me to be their doctor and I couldn’t, because in Urgent Care the work is more episodic. You don’t really know what’s going on after the fact,” Hanley said.
Although Hanley said he continued working for Urgent Care to pay the bills, just before the COVID pandemic, the Hanleys discovered Pine Island was a place they loved and this was where they would open their clinic. He said although independent primary care is often difficult and challenging, he finds the work very rewarding and loves Pine Island.
“I didn’t want to go back to Urgent Care. I love it out here,” Hanley said.
Love for the area came with an original love for the water, boating, fishing and nature, Hanley shared. He admits that this would be his destination if he was on vacation. His greatest contribution to Pine Island, he said, is tranquility and balance.
“I bring that balance perspective and people really respond to that. Anything I do is in service of the greater good,” Hanley said.
In relating to folks who have never been to Pine Island, Hanley said, he would tell them it’s Old Florida at its core. His greatest wish for the island, he said, for love of the environment, would be that there is no further development.
“It’s one of the things I worry about with the impact of hurricanes. People can’t afford to stay here, and I worry that the hotel chains will start coming in. As a conservationist, I would wish that everything in nature stays that way as much as possible,” Hanley said.
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