Dr. Grant Coronica of Hackensack Meridian Health shares how brings an emphasis on listening to his Morganville family medicine practice.
Growing up in the Philippines with physician parents offered lessons for a lifetime, says Grant Coronica, M.D. They turned half their home into a medical clinic, he says, and hearing them work with patients taught him the value of listening.
Today, Dr. Coronica brings an emphasis on listening to his family medicine practice at Hackensack Meridian Medical Group in Morganville. "I try to make sure I hear the patient, not just have my own biases,” he says. “I try to keep conversations patient-centered." Those conversations may occasionally even cross languages — in addition to English, Dr. Coronica speaks Tagalog and some Spanish.
While Dr. Coronica prioritizes prevention with every patient, his advice is always personalized. He gets to know each patient to understand where they’re coming from. He wants to make fitness and nutrition recommendations that are doable.
"For fitness, I look at what they’ve done in the past,” he says. “If they played hockey in college, playing recreational hockey might be a great way to exercise.”
He emphasizes that exercise is valuable not only for keeping fit but also for reducing stress. "Pick a physical hobby that is stress-relieving: walking, pickleball, fishing, soccer, playing with your pet, child or grandchild."
His nutrition counseling follows the same individualized approach, encouraging simple swaps over restrictive dieting. If a patient likes soda, he suggests they try natural seltzer. Or fruit instead of processed sweets. “We need natural food sources,” he says. “Our bodies weren’t built to run on processed foods, and over time, they contribute to chronic diseases.”
When not caring for patients, Dr. Coronica maintains his own exercise and stress-reduction routine. “I play recreational soccer every weekend with middle-aged guys who just want to de-stress and stay safe,” he says. He tends a vegetable garden and helps care for his wife's rose garden. (She is also a physician, working as a hospitalist at Ocean University Medical Center through Envision.)
Another, perhaps less expected technique Dr. Coronica uses to reduce stress? Driving manual transmission cars. “For me, that can serve as a form of meditation,” he says, “requiring complete focus and attention.”
Traveling is also a favorite pastime for Dr. Coronica and his wife. Next up for the couple is a trip to Ireland for the wedding of his best friend from medical school. He would like to travel to Portugal and wants to return to the Philippines soon to visit his father, who continues his medical practice there.
Ultimately, though, he’s always glad to come home. “I’ve grown to love New Jersey and the folks who live here.”
“To get more physical activity in, think about hobbies you enjoyed as a child — fishing, playing with a pet, riding a bike. When you build on those pastimes, it can reduce stress and reset your brain."
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Grant Coronica, M.D.
- Make an appointment online with Dr. Coronica or an internal medicine doctor near you, or call 800-822-8905
- Learn more about primary care services at Hackensack Meridian Health.
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