About Bechara Medicine
Our Story
Founded in 2004, Bechara Medicine began as a full-spectrum family medicine clinic serving patients from newborns to geriatrics. In its early years, Dr. Bechara personally managed inpatient care—including ICU coverage—demonstrating his commitment to comprehensive medicine.
Today, while inpatient care is coordinated through hospitalist teams within the UMass system, the practice remains deeply involved in ensuring seamless communication and high-quality care across settings.
From the beginning, education has been central to our mission. As a long-standing teaching site for UMass and Tufts medical students, we are proud to contribute to the next generation of physicians.
Christopher Bechara, MD, FAAFP
Born in the Philadelphia area, he attended the University of Illinois and then continued to the University of Chicago for his Masters of Science degree in organic chemistry. While in graduate school he was awarded the Physical Sciences Teaching Prize for excellence in teaching of undergraduates. Dr. Bechara graduated from Rush Medical College in Chicago and then attended Tufts Family Medicine Residency. He has been published in Pharmaco Therapy. He’s been a clinical instructor for the UMass Medical School third year clerkship program since 2001.
After working at Lunenburg Family Physicians he started a private practice in Lancaster and has provided high quality care at this site since 2004. He enjoys playing piano and guitar and is a big sports fan. He closely follows many Philadelphia teams including the Eagles, Sixers, and Phillies.
Our Team
Julie Pelletier, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Julie Pelletier is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner dedicated to providing comprehensive, patient-centered primary care for individuals and families across the lifespan. Her approach is grounded in prevention, early intervention, and building strong, long-term relationships with her patients.
Julie brings more than 20 years of nursing experience to her role, with a clinical background that includes cardiovascular care, orthopedic trauma, and medical-surgical nursing at leading teaching hospitals and Level I trauma centers in Texas and Boston. She also spent more than a decade working in the cardiac catheterization lab, where she developed deep expertise in cardiovascular care and gained firsthand insight into the importance of strong primary care in preventing complications and hospitalizations.
Known for her practical, down-to-earth style, Julie combines evidence-based medicine with a strong emphasis on listening, patient education, and collaborative decision-making. She works closely with her patients to develop personalized care plans that support long-term health, wellness, and quality of life.
Margrit Bechara
Office Manager
Originally from the Chicago area, Margrit has been office manager at the Lancaster office since its inception in 2004 doing whatever tasks are necessary to fill the needs of the practice. She has a background in healthcare starting her career working in a Center for Clinical Studies and then changed gears and worked for years as an Occupational Therapist in several different practice settings and then managed a local Early Intervention Program. Eventually she started taking more time to be at home raising their 4 children.
Kendra Williams
GNA, CNA
Kendra is a dedicated healthcare professional with 13 years of experience in the healthcare field. She has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Geriatric Nursing Assistant for 10 years and has spent the past 4 years specializing in Chronic Care Management and Remote Patient Monitoring. Kendra is passionate about building meaningful relationships with patients, improving health outcomes, and providing compassionate, personalized care. She absolutely loves helping patients navigate their healthcare journey and achieve their wellness goals.
Betty Perla
Office Assistant
Betty Perla has been an integral part of Dr. Bechara’s medical practice since its beginnings in Lancaster. Her career has been rooted in this community since 1988. Over the years, she dedicated countless hours at her desk, always committed to helping patients in any way she could. Betty is a friend to many, an amazing coworker, and an all-around wonderful person. The practice is fortunate to still have her join us a couple of mornings each week, assisting with various practice tasks.
