Dr. David E. Newton is the new, full-time physician at Riverside Urgent Care at Hayes.

Newton began working at the local office in early August. Several other physicians help there on an occasional schedule, plus there are seven support staff.

Newton offers a full range of health services, providing patients the convenience of just walking in to be seen for a variety of ailments. Some laboratory procedures are performed onsite.

"I’ve wanted to be a doctor since junior high," Newton said, adding he has long been interested in science.

Most recently, he worked at Patient First, another urgent care facility in the region, as a staff doctor for 3½ years.

Previously, he worked for the nonprofit group Global Education for seven years, teaching medicine in Indonesia. Before that, he worked in a group medical practice in Southwest Virginia for 12 years.

Newton earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at Hampden-Sydney College, a master’s degree in b...