BY MATT LINDSEYNorth Country This Week

CANTON — A new physician-owned medical practice is coming to Canton with a mission to make healthcare more personal, more accessible and centered around the patient.

Dr. Thushan Pathmalingam and Dr. Thivisa Rajagopal have officially broken ground on North Core Medical, a new clinic under construction on State Highway 310. The practice is expected to open in early 2027 and will introduce a Direct Primary Care (DPC) model to the North Country, an approach that is becoming increasingly popular across the United States.

The decision to build North Core Medical is a long-term investment in the health of the North Country and the community the physicians have called home for the past seven years. Rather than renovating an existing building, Drs. Pathmalingam and Rajagopal chose to invest more than $2 million to create a modern, purpose-built medical clinic designed to serve the region for decades.

“We believe the North Country deserves access to exceptional primary care close to home,” said Dr. Pathmalingam. “This clinic is our commitment to the community that has welcomed and supported our family over the past seven years. We are building more than a medical office; we are building a place where patients feel known, respected, and cared for.”

Unlike traditional primary care practices that bill insurance for each office visit, Direct Primary Care is based on a monthly membership. Dr. Pathmalingam said the model allows physicians to spend more time with patients, offer same-day or next-day appointments whenever possible, and provide direct communication by phone, text or secure messaging without many of the administrative barriers associated with insurance-based care.

Dr. Pathmalingam said the practice plans to initially enroll about 250 patients per physician and will limit each physician’s patient panel to no more than 500 patients. The intentional cap is designed to preserve timely access, longer visits, responsive communication and strong physician-patient relationships.

The 8,400-square-foot clinic will include 10 examination rooms, modern technology, spacious waiting areas, ample parking, and dedicated spaces for patient education and wellness programs.

North Core Medical will provide comprehensive primary care for patients of all ages, including preventive care, chronic disease management, same-day acute visits, weight management, and men's and women's health services. The physicians also plan to expand wellness offerings over time through educational programs and lifestyle-focused services designed to help patients improve their long-term health.

The clinic also plans to offer same-day acute care and telehealth visits to patients who are not Direct Primary Care members, subject to appointment availability.

North Core Medical will initially operate with a receptionist and a nurse in addition to both physicians, who plan to practice full time at North Core Medical. Dr. Pathmalingam said staffing may expand as patient demand grows.

Dr. Rajagopal said the practice was created in response to the growing challenges facing both patients and physicians in today's healthcare system.

“Many patients tell us they feel rushed during appointments or struggle to access their doctor when questions arise,” she said. “We wanted to build a practice where physicians have the time to truly listen, develop meaningful relationships with patients, and focus on keeping people healthy rather than simply treating illness.”

Both physicians have served the North Country community for seven years and remain committed to caring for local families.

Dr. Thushan Pathmalingam is a board-certified family physician and Medical Director of the Medication-Assisted Treatment Program at the St. Lawrence County Jail. Dr. Thivisa Rajagopal is a board-certified family physician who is also board-certified in obesity medicine, with special interests in preventive care, healthy aging, women's health and weight management.

The physicians emphasized that Direct Primary Care is not health insurance. Patients are encouraged to maintain insurance coverage for hospitalizations, specialist care, surgeries, imaging and emergency services. Instead, the membership is designed to complement insurance by providing convenient access to comprehensive primary care.

The practice's website, expected to launch later this month, will include membership pricing, benefits and enrollment information. Dr. Pathmalingam said the clinic also plans to help members identify lower-cost options for laboratory testing and imaging services, with the goal of reducing out-of-pocket costs compared with many insurance deductibles.

North Core Medical also plans to dispense commonly prescribed generic medications to Direct Primary Care members at discounted prices. This will allow eligible patients to receive certain medications before leaving the office. Patients will also be able to schedule appointments online through the practice’s website.

The physicians also expressed their gratitude to the many individuals and local businesses who helped make the project possible. They thanked Joel Howie of Canton Apple for working with them to acquire the 2.5-acre property that became the future home of North Core Medical, Corey Mousaw and Brooks Washburn of LaBella Associates for designing the clinic, Brian Hurlbut of Hurlbut Contracting for bringing their vision to life through construction, attorney Matthew McArdle of Malone for his legal guidance and support, and Drew DeBlasiis of M&T Bank for helping secure financing for the project.

“Building North Core Medical has truly been a team effort,” said Dr. Pathmalingam. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has believed in our vision and helped make this project a reality. We look forward to welcoming patients and serving the North Country community for many years to come.”

Construction is underway, and the physicians expect to begin seeing patients in early 2027.

For more information about North Core Medical, visit www.northcoremedical.com or email  info@northcoremedical.com .

The website is www.northcoremedical.com .

Help St. Lawrence County Stay Connected!

We’re glad you read this article reported by the staff of NorthCountryNow.com.

If you haven’t done so already, please consider subscribing to ensure you have full access to all the news and info about St. Lawrence County.

Your subscriptions make it possible for us to provide trustworthy local news, promote our many community events, and encourage community dialogue.

Please click here to subscribe today!