Getting to Know You: Vincent Van Berkum, MD
November 7, 2025
By: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare
Categories: Healthy Living
A Panama City Beach native, Vincent Van Berkum, MD, joined the team at TMH Physician Partners – Primary Care in Panama City Beach in 2025 as a family medicine physician, providing comprehensive care to all ages.
Dr. Van Berkum earned his medical degree from the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, recently ranked number one in Florida by U.S. News & World Report. During his training at the USF Health – Morton Plant Mease Family Medicine Residency Program in Clearwater, he developed a passion for family medicine and comprehensive patient care.
We sat down with Dr. Van Berkum to learn more about why he pursued a career in medicine, his journey back to Panama City Beach and his approach to patient care in our Q&A below.
1. Can you share a little about your background and what inspired you to pursue a medical career?
Dr. Van Berkum: From a young age, I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me take care of my Panama City Beach community. Being a physician allows me to do just that!
2. What challenges did you face early in your medical career, and how did you overcome them?
Dr. Van Berkum: A medical education is a rigorous and challenging process in itself, but I was able to succeed with support from my family and friends.
3. When did you decide to focus on primary care?
Dr. Van Berkum: I decided to focus on primary care in my third year of medical school. I wanted the ability to care for patients throughout their entire life.
4. How has your medical philosophy or approach to patient care evolved over the years?
Dr. Van Berkum: Early in my career and training it was easy to get caught up in data, which are important for patient care, but now I try and put more emphasis on each individual patient. This allows me to not only treating their “numbers” but also the patient sitting in front of me.
5. Is being a primary care provider different than you imagined it would be?
Dr. Van Berkum: No, being a primary care physician is exactly how I imagined it would be. It is full of ups and downs just like any other profession, but its greatest gift is being able to have a lifelong relationship with patients.
6. Were you ever worried it wasn't the best path for you during medical school and residency?
Dr. Van Berkum: No, I was always confident in my path and with the help of great mentors throughout my training, my confidence grew with my skillset.
7. What is the most exciting medical advancement you've seen recently, and how has it changed your clinical practice?
Dr. Van Berkum: The most exciting recent advancement to me is all the emphases we are placing on individual medicine and tailoring medication regimens based on genetics.
8. What role will artificial intelligence and machine learning play in your specialty in the next decade? Are there any artificial intelligence (AI) tools you currently use in your practice?
Dr. Van Berkum: I am currently using AI software to occasionally help with charting. This helps me be more efficient, allowing more time with each patient. I hope it will advance enough to where I would feel comfortable using it all the time but there are still limitations.
9. What advice would you give young physicians or medical students starting in your specialty?
Dr. Van Berkum: The same advice that was given to me: "Love your patients.” If you treat patients like your family, you will always do what is best for them.
10. What's your favorite thing about working at TMH Physician Partners – Primary Care in Panama City Beach so far?
Dr. Van Berkum: The best thing so far has been our practice’s staff. We have a great team here with good chemistry. This is the foundation for any team that constantly strives to be better and provide the best care possible.
11. What is your favorite restaurant in Panama City Beach?
Dr. Van Berkum: Lately it’s been McGuire’s, but that is always subject to change.
12. What is your favorite thing about PCB?
Dr. Van Berkum: The people, the beach and of course, my family.
13. Do you have any hobbies? If so, what are they?
Dr. Van Berkum: I am a musician. I play guitar in several bands throughout the state, but locally, I have been focused on my jazz band.
Dr. Van Berkum is now accepting new patients for comprehensive primary care at our new location off Highway 79. Schedule an appointment with him online or call 850-234-3087 to speak with the office.
