Clinician Membership
How to Join?
We are fostering a vibrant and inclusive community of passionate clinicians who share a common interest in protecting the doctor-patient relationship through independent practice in the Lehigh Valley.
To be eligible for ValleyIHP membership, clinicians must:
- Reside and practice in the Lehigh Valley or adjacent counties.
- Have no history of rejected applications in the past 6 months.
Membership is divided into the following tiers with corresponding requirements:
Regular Membership
- Graduated from an approved School of Medicine or School of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Own a medical practice or work for a physician-owned medical practice.
- Not be fully employed by a hospital or healthcare system, or any medical practice partially owned by a hospital or health system.
Affiliate Membership
Affiliate Members – including APC’s, MD’s/DO’s employed in practices/systems in which they don’t have ownership, healthcare providers in disciplines other than medicine (eg dentistry, chiropractic, etc), and medical students and physicians-in-training – play a vital role in our community.
Although Affiliate Members do not possess voting rights, we welcome them with open arms, fostering an environment of inclusivity and collaboration. As an Affiliate Member, you will have the opportunity to engage with experienced professionals, gain valuable insights into independent/autonomous practice, and support our mission of excellence in healthcare.
ValleyIHP Membership Benefits
ValleyIHP is committed to supporting independent healthcare providers in the Lehigh Valley through advocacy, visibility, and collaboration—while always prioritizing patient choice and access. As a member, you gain access to the following benefits:
Recognition as an Independent Provider
ValleyIHP offers the only regional platform specifically dedicated to helping patients identify and connect with independent physicians, dentists, chiropractors, and other healthcare providers. While patients may continue to use existing health system directories, ValleyIHP simply provides an additional option—enhancing visibility for independent practices.
Public Directory Listing on Our Website
Members are included in the ValleyIHP online directory, designed to help patients find independent providers based on their healthcare needs.
(Please note: For group practices, each provider must be an individual ValleyIHP member to be listed.)
Inclusion in Printed Brochures
Members are also listed in our printed Independent Provider Directory, which can be distributed in clinics and offices to inform patients about local, independent care options.
(As above, individual membership is required for each provider in a group practice.)
Website Link Promotion
We include your practice’s website in both our online and printed directories to help increase visibility and drive traffic directly to your practice.
(Group practices must ensure that all providers are ValleyIHP members for the practice website link to be included under ANY one provider’s listing.)
Connections to Local Workforce Training Programs
ValleyIHP maintains strong relationships with regional healthcare education and training programs that focus on developing support staff—such as medical assistants, administrative personnel, and allied health professionals. These partnerships can serve as a valuable pipeline for recruiting future team members. As a ValleyIHP member, your practice may also have the opportunity to support the next generation of healthcare workers by hosting students for hands-on training or externship experiences.
Opportunity to Promote Transparency and Elevate Care
By joining ValleyIHP, you become part of a movement focused on enhancing healthcare quality and transparency in the Lehigh Valley. Your membership helps patients make informed choices while reinforcing the role of independent practices in delivering high-value care.
Professional Community and Peer Support
ValleyIHP fosters a supportive network of independent healthcare professionals who share a commitment to patient advocacy and professional autonomy. Through community, we grow stronger—collaborating, sharing ideas, and supporting one another in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
How to Join ValleyIHP — It’s Simple!
We offer three membership options depending on your role in healthcare:
Regular Membership
(Physicians)
Reflect a calendar year
For independently practicing physicians who want full participation in ValleyIHP.
Annually
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Eligibility Requirements:
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Must be a physician (MD or DO) licensed to practice medicine and/or surgery in Pennsylvania, as defined by the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
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Must either own a medical practice yourself or work for a physician-owned medical group
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May NOT be fully employed by a hospital, health system, or any practice partially owned by a hospital, health system, or private equity group
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Must actively practice in the Lehigh Valley or surrounding communities
Membership Benefits Include:
– Full voting rights
– Eligibility to serve on the ValleyIHP Board
– Please see full list for more details on ValleyIHP Membership Benefits
Affiliate Membership
(Non-Physician Providers)
Reflect a calendar year
For independently practicing non-physician healthcare professionals who
serve the Lehigh Valley community.
Annually
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Eligibility Requirements:
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Must provide healthcare services in the Lehigh Valley or surrounding areas
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Must either own a practice or work for an independently owned healthcare practice
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May not be fully employed by a hospital, health system, or any practice partially owned by a hospital, health system, or private equity group
Membership Benefits Include but not limited to:
– Inclusion in ValleyIHP initiatives and directories
– Opportunities to connect with a growing network of independent providers
– Please see full list for more details on ValleyIHP Membership Benefits
Note: Affiliate Members do NOT have voting rights or board eligibility
Physician-in-Training Membership
(Medical Students and Residents)
Reflect a calendar year
For medical students and residents committed to pursuing careers in independent healthcare.
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ValleyIHP aims to support and cultivate the next generation of independent healthcare providers in the Lehigh Valley by having the Physician-in-Training Membership
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Eligibility Requirements:
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Educational Status:
Must be currently enrolled in a medical school or residency program within the Lehigh Valley or surrounding communities. -
Career Aspiration:
Demonstrated interest in pursuing independent practice upon completion of training.
Membership Benefits Include:
– Access to mentorship opportunities with established independent practitioners.
– Inclusion in ValleyIHP educational events and networking opportunities.
Note: Physician-in-Training Members do NOT have voting rights or board eligibility.
Website Practice Directory Listing
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Position your practice for maximum visibility with a full profile on the Valley IHP website
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Periodic 'Featured Practice' posts will highlight high-performing practices within each specialty
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Directory updated quarterly