Team Spotlight:
Jonathan VanHeertum, DO
Emergency Care Partners (ECP) and Integrated Emergency Medicine Partners (IEMP) are proud to recognize Jonathan VanHeertum, DO, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and healthcare leader with more than a decade of experience providing emergency care in both academic and community hospital settings. In addition to his work as a practicing emergency physician, Dr. VanHeertum has held numerous leadership positions within hospital administration and medical staff governance, helping to strengthen quality, safety, and collaboration across the hospitals and communities he serves.
Clinical Leadership Experience in Emergency Medicine
Dr. VanHeertum earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri after completing post-baccalaureate pre-medicine studies at Rutgers University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business management from Moravian College. He completed emergency medicine residency training at Saint Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey, and Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine and maintains certifications in BLS, ACLS, and PALS.
Since 2015, VanHeertum has served as an attending emergency physician at Physicians Regional Healthcare System in Naples, Florida. Over the course of his tenure, he has taken on increasing leadership responsibilities, serving as Associate Director of the Emergency Department before being appointed Emergency Department Director in 2026.
In addition to his departmental leadership role, Dr. VanHeertum serves on several key hospital committees, including the Medical Executive Committee, Credentials Committee, Peer Review Committee, and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. These responsibilities reflect his commitment to maintaining high clinical standards, supporting patient safety initiatives, and fostering collaboration among physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and hospital leadership.
Interview with Jonathan VanHeertum
Q: When did you decide to become a clinician?
I decided to become a physician when I was in college. I wanted a career where I could solve difficult problems, make meaningful decisions under pressure, and have a direct impact on people’s lives. From there on, emergency medicine appealed to me because no two days are ever the same, and it combines critical thinking, procedures, teamwork, and the opportunity to help patients during some of the most important moments of their lives.
Q: What is your favorite part about working with IEMP and ECP?
The people. I enjoy working with physicians and advanced practice providers who genuinely care about patient care and about making the department better. I also appreciate having opportunities to improve operations, mentor colleagues, and help shape the future of emergency medicine within our group.
Q: What do you find most exciting about your job?
I love solving complex problems. Whether it’s diagnosing a critically ill patient, leading a team during a resuscitation, improving department workflow, or developing new educational programs for our residents, I enjoy taking complicated challenges and finding practical solutions that improve patient care.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
Fitness is a big part of my life. I enjoy strength training, running, swimming, scuba diving, martial arts, and marksmanship. I also appreciate mechanical craftsmanship, which is one reason I’ve developed an interest in quality tool watches. Most importantly, spending time with my wife and daughters helps me reset after demanding shifts.
Q: What is one thing you wish more people understood about emergency medicine?
Emergency medicine isn’t just about treating emergencies—it’s about making high-stakes decisions with limited information and limited time. Every patient deserves a thoughtful evaluation, even when the final diagnosis turns out to be something relatively minor. Many of the tests we order are intended to rule out life-threatening conditions, not simply to confirm what we already suspect.
Q: What has been the most meaningful moment in your medical career so far?
Becoming Medical Director has been one of the most meaningful milestones of my career. While caring for individual patients will always be rewarding, having the opportunity to improve systems, mentor physicians and residents, and influence how emergency care is delivered allows me to make a broader impact that extends far beyond a single shift.
Q: What advice would you give to a new clinician entering the field?
Never stop learning, stay humble, and remember that medicine is a team sport. Build strong relationships with your nurses, technicians, consultants, and fellow physicians, they’ll make you better. Focus on developing sound clinical judgment rather than simply memorizing facts and always remember that every patient is someone’s family member. Finally, protect your own health and your time outside the hospital. A physician who takes care of themselves is better equipped to take care of everyone else.
About Integrated Emergency Medicine Partners (IEMP):
Integrated Emergency Medicine Partners (IEMP) is a physician-led emergency medicine group dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve. Based in Naples, Florida, our team of experienced emergency physicians and advanced practice providers provides expert care when patients need it most. We understand that medical emergencies can be overwhelming, which is why we are committed to delivering timely, patient-centered treatment while supporting patients and their families through every step of the emergency care experience. Through clinical excellence, teamwork, and a steadfast commitment to service, IEMP works to ensure the highest standard of emergency care across our partner hospitals and communities.
About Emergency Care Partners (ECP):
Headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, ECP is the largest single specialty provider of emergency medicine in the United States. With client partners in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Vermont, ECP currently treats more than 1,700,000 patient visits annually at 66 sites of service. ECP supports a clinical workforce of 1000+ physicians and mid-level providers. The company employs a differentiated model relative to other platforms in the industry, highlighted by the ability to maintain ownership through its physician partnership model with regional/local groups to maintain their brand and clinical autonomy while benefitting from ECP’s resources.