Grandfathers are good for a lot of things, but it is well known that chief among them is teaching their grandsons how to fish. That was certainly the case for Dr. Deric McIntosh, who began his fly fishing odyssey at the ripe old age of six under the careful tutelage of his grandpa. One cast, and he was hooked.

“One of the things I like best about fishing is that it gets me outside,” says McIntosh. “And I don’t have to travel very far to be out in nature. In fact, I really like the Poudre River just west of town. Parts of it are largely untouched, and you can usually find an isolated spot with less pressure without having to drive up the canyon.”

Like many an angler in Colorado, some of his favorite fishing trips involve a hard-hitting brown trout—preferably where a stream flows generously into a lake. But he’s the first to admit that his favorite fish to catch is whatever’s biting. “I’ve hooked into a bluegill or two that were pretty feisty!” he comments.

McIntosh’s appreciation for Northern Colorado’s active lifestyle goes well beyond wetting a line, however. Get him talking about outdoor activities and you’re likely to find them all on his list of favorite things to do. “I really love living here,” says McIntosh. “I am totally into outside activities like hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing…you name it. It’s the kind of place where you’ll never get bored.”

Of course, McIntosh’s reputation as an outdoor enthusiast is only eclipsed by his track record of caring for patients as a family practice physician for Associates in Family Medicine. Now in his fifth year with AFM, “Dr. Mac” (as he is often referred to) focuses on family care, prenatal and obstetrics care, pediatrics, and osteopathic manipulation. He works out of the Foxtrail office in Loveland.

“I’m really focused on preventative health,” he says. “I like to help keep people healthy versus needing to treat health problems later on. And I especially enjoy taking care of entire families. It’s very rewarding to care for multiple generations—grandmothers, mothers, and children all in the same family.”

Originally from Fort Collins, McIntosh earned his undergraduate degree at CU Boulder, a fact that is frequently discussed amongst his family during sports seasons. “I’m actually the first person in my family not to go to Colorado State,” says McIntosh. “We still do a fair amount of trash-talking due to the fact that I went to CU. It makes for some spirited discussions, that’s for sure!”

After Boulder, McIntosh obtained his medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. “It was a tremendous place to go to medical school. I got a lot of studying done there…which I attribute largely to the less-than-spectacular weather,” he muses. “All we did was study. Oh, and fish. Good fishing up that way. Lots of big lakes.”

Dr. McIntosh is married to fellow AFM physician, Dr. Amber Steves, and the two recently welcomed their first child. And while the couple knows their new addition will bring lots of changes, they are excited to be parents. “It’s pretty amazing to think about having our own family in the place where I grew up,” reflects McIntosh. “We can hardly wait to take family walks together with Fisher, hang out around town, and just be outdoors. Oh, by the way, Fisher is the dog—not the child!”