We couldn’t be happier that Dr. DiPaolo is joining Novara as a primary care provider.

While she’s new to many of you, we’ve known her for years through her sports medicine role at Lancaster General Health. In fact, she’s been our specialist referral for anyone needing that kind of care, and we’ve always gotten glowing feedback.

Dr. DiPaolo will be joining us on Wednesdays and Thursdays while continuing her work at LGH on the other weekdays—a dream role that combines her love of sports medicine with her longstanding appreciation for holistic family medicine.

We hope you’ll take a few minutes to get to know her through this video chat with Dr. Hager—covering her healthy philosophy, love of Lancaster, personal tidbits, and more—and read on to learn more about her background.

Dr. DiPaolo grew up outside Philly in King of Prussia, where she began a 17-year gymnastics career that lasted through college. When she was 12, she had to undergo surgery for a gym-related elbow injury, an experience that sparked her interest in pursuing medicine, particularly orthopedics.

After undergrad at University of Pennsylvania, Laura earned her medical degree at Thomas Jefferson University. While it was the top reputation of Lancaster General’s residency program that drew her to Lancaster, it was the warm, genuine community that led her to stay. She met her husband here, and they welcomed a daughter in late 2024.

Her list of credentials is long, and her concern for people is deep. As a physician, Laura is passionate about pairing evidence-based recommendations with personalized care. She sees herself as a health advocate—a “medical quarterback” even. She’s a true partner who can help you plan proactively, make careful decisions, and respond aptly to whatever comes up.

(The sports metaphor is especially fitting: After residency, Laura completed a sports medicine fellowship in non-operative orthopedics, where she got to work with teams at Villanova, St. Joe’s, Jefferson, and—drum roll—the Phillies.)

Starting in July, you’ll be able to make regular appointments with Dr. DiPaolo on Wednesdays and Thursdays. We know you’ll love meeting her and working together to move your health forward.

What This Means for You

(Hint: Dr. Hager Isn’t Going Anywhere)

We know change can bring questions, so we want to be clear: Dr. Hager isn’t going anywhere. In fact, adding another physician has been part of the vision for Novara from the very beginning. We’ve just been waiting for the right fit—and the right time.

Dr. DiPaolo is that perfect fit.

We’ll continue to work as a team to make sure you get timely, personalized care. While Dr. Hager will continue caring for his panel of patients, there may be times when you’ll see Dr. DiPaolo if she has more immediate availability. Rest assured, Dr. Hager has no plans to transfer his existing patients—your relationship with him remains his highest priority and the reason he loves practicing medicine.

That said, as a dedicated family medicine physician, Dr. DiPaolo is also excited to build her own panel of patients. It’s deeply important to her and a vital part of Novara’s long-term success. So if you have friends or family members (under 60) who have been waiting to join, now is the perfect time to invite them—before her panel fills up and Novara closes to new members again.