Ninth Street Internal Medicine Closed: A Guide for Patients

If you were a patient at Ninth Street Internal Medicine, you likely already know that the practice legally closed its doors on March 3, 2026. The closure of Ninth Street Internal Medicine marks a real transition for its patients. Change in healthcare can be stressful, especially when it involves the Philadelphia providers you trust with your well-being. This guide is here to help you understand where your physician went, what to do with your records, and what your options for future care look like.

Where did the Ninth Street Internal Medicine providers go?

According to the practice's announcement, the following providers joined the Penn Medicine network. They relocated to the Penn Primary Care Walnut Street Practice, which is only one block from the original Ninth Street office. Relocating providers:

• Abraham Dubb, MD (Dr. Ash knows Dr. Dubb from his Oak Street Health days.)
• David Seth Share, MD, FACP
• Sarah Alles, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC
• Pek Leong, CRNP

If you want to follow these providers to the Penn system, the new location offers continuity. For specific questions about your records or the transition, the practice has asked patients to call (215) 440-8681. If you prefer to use this transition as a chance to build a more proactive health strategy, you can also set up a complimentary call with us. We can help you transfer your records and move into a personalized Medicine 3.0 framework.

Why does primary care turnover happen so often?

We hear this from patients all the time. One of the most frustrating parts of modern primary care is turnover. You finally build a relationship with a doctor or nurse practitioner, and then the practice gets bought out, the doctor leaves, or the office closes. This kind of churn is not just an inconvenience. It fragments your care. You end up retelling your story to new faces who do not know your history, your values, or your goals. When independent practices are absorbed by large hospital systems, the dynamic often shifts. Visit times get shorter, paperwork piles up, and the personal connection, the "art" of medicine, can get squeezed out by the business of medicine.

What is a stable alternative to a hospital primary care office?

If you are looking for a primary care home that prioritizes stability, access, and a real long-term relationship, this might be a good moment to consider a different model. At Fishtown Medicine, we run independently, outside the bigger hospital systems. We are a private, direct-to-patient practice. That structure lets us offer the following.

1. Real continuity, no turnover: Dr. Ash owns the practice and is your dedicated physician. He is not going anywhere. You will not see a different temporary provider every visit.
2. Home and office visits: When an in-person exam is needed, we can come to your home or office. That saves you the commute, the parking, and the waiting room.
3. Unlimited direct access: You get Dr. Ash's personal cell number. Text or call any time. Most concerns are resolved in minutes, no appointment needed.
4. Deep-dive medicine: Our visits are 60 to 90 minutes, not 15. That gives us time to manage advanced cholesterol care, hormone replacement, and complex chronic conditions in detail.
5. Proactive care by design: We use detailed diagnostics to build a long-term plan that looks decades into the future, instead of only reacting when something breaks.

The closure of a long-standing practice is the end of an era. It is also a chance to ask what you actually want from your healthcare. Whether you follow your provider to Penn or build a new private relationship, the most important thing is that you feel heard and well cared for.

Scientific References

1. Bodenheimer T, Sinsky C. From Triple to Quadruple Aim: Care of the Patient Requires Care of the Provider. Annals of Family Medicine. 2014. On the systemic pressures that drive primary care burnout and turnover.
2. Casalino LP, et al. Independent Practice Associations and Physician-Hospital Organizations Can Improve Care Management for Chronically Ill Patients. Health Affairs. 2010. On consolidation in primary care.
3. Eskew PM, Klink K. Direct Primary Care: Practice Distribution and Cost Across the Nation. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 2015. Evidence on the direct primary care model.

Medical Disclaimer: This resource provides clinical context for educational purposes. In the world of precision medicine, there is no "one size fits all." The right plan must be matched to your unique lab work, physiology, and goals. Consult Dr. Ash to determine if this approach is right for you, especially if you have chronic health conditions or are taking prescription medications.