Care and Connection: Dr. Michael Blake

After spending more thana decade as a hospitalist — including six years as director at Ocean University Medical Center — Michael L. Blake, M.D., made a career transition. He traded the fast-paced hospital environment for the quieter rhythm of community-based internal medicine at Hackensack Meridian Medical Group in Brick. 

It was a move that surprised some of his colleagues. But it wasn't about slowing down, he says. It was about deepening connections.

"In the hospital, people are usually far sicker, and you deal with things much faster," he points out. "In the office, you have time for meaningful interactions with patients who you see long-term.”

Dr. Blake’s motivation for becoming a doctor was personal — a brother who is also a physician. And across his many years of practicing medicine, his approach to patient care has been personal, too. 

He aims to bring both candor and compassion to every patient conversation. "I’m honest with my patients,” he says, “but I also provide reassurance that we’ll work through health challenges together."

He knows that some patients are extremely anxious about their appointments, and he likes to lighten the mood with humor. “If you haven’t been taking your medication, I’m not going to yell at you — you can do whatever you want,” he says. “But I will wag my finger.”

For each visit, Dr. Blake looks for opportunities to personalize his patient’s care. "Everyone has different life experiences, different ways of coping with stress,” he says. “Everyone is unique.”

When he talks with patients about balance, he reminds them that that means not only maintaining good physical health but also mental health, including making time for activities that bring joy. He finds his own balance spending time with his wife (a dentist) and their three children: 11-year-old twins (a boy and a girl) and a 6-year-old daughter. He enjoys being the “fun daddy” who encourages getting outside and physical play.

Family activities include taking fishing trips with his son, supporting his older daughter’s passion for aerobic dance, and riding bikes with his younger daughter who just graduated from training wheels. They make time for outdoor adventures year-round at places like Hershey Park and Wildwood.

Dr. Blake says he’d like to travel to the Canadian Rockies to take in the scenery and the Northern Lights. But New Jersey is where his heart is — the “soulmate” he found in his wife, and the kids they’re raising together. Those relationships, he says, are the best gifts he ever got.

“I remind parents and other caregivers that if you don't take care of yourself, you're not going to be able to take care of anyone else. Don’t neglect yourself. Take the steps you need for your own well-being.”

Next Steps & Resources

• Meet our source: Michael Blake, M.D.
• Make an appointment online with Dr. Blake or an internal medicine doctor near you, or call 800-822-8905
• Learn more about primary care services>at Hackensack Meridian Health