Ricardo de León, MD, is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician with extensive experience in hospital medicine, skilled nursing and rehabilitation care, wound care, telehealth, and physician leadership. His career has included clinical, operational, and medical director roles focused on improving the delivery of care across acute, post acute, and long term care settings.

Dr. de León currently practices as a hospitalist with UNC Appalachian and has served as Medical Director for multiple skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in North Carolina. His post acute experience also includes serving as Medical Director of Brian Center Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing and providing primary care services to residents in senior living communities. These roles have given him extensive experience managing medically complex patients, coordinating transitions of care, and working closely with nursing teams and other healthcare professionals to improve clinical outcomes.

Earlier in his career, Dr. de León served as Director of Hospitalist Medicine at Iredell Memorial Hospital, where he also held leadership positions including Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Chairman of the Credentials Committee, Chairman of the Quality Committee, and member of the hospital’s Executive Committee. He additionally served for several years as Medical Director of a Healogics Wound Care Center, developing expertise in the evaluation and management of complex and chronic wounds.

Dr. de León has also been deeply involved in healthcare technology and telemedicine. He served as Chief Innovation Officer and National Acute Care Director for TeleHealth Solution, helping support the development and delivery of virtual clinical services across diverse healthcare environments. His interest in healthcare innovation extends to intellectual property development, including work on a patented method designed to help predict patient movement and reduce the risk of injury.

Dr. de León completed his Internal Medicine residency at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio, where he also served as Chief Resident. Earlier, he participated in clinical research at Johns Hopkins Hospital and has authored and contributed to peer-reviewed research involving vascular and thoracic outlet disorders. He is fluent in both English and Spanish and maintains active medical licensure across multiple states.

Through his work with Post Acute Clinical Services, Dr. de León is committed to providing physician-led, evidence-based care that promotes clinical stability, supports effective transitions of care, and improves quality of life for residents. He supports coordinated in facility care delivered 7 days a week by the provider network.