Meet Dr. Chris DiOrio, a physician with a passion for wellness, a deep love for the outdoors, and a story shaped by life’s toughest and most triumphant moments. As the lead physician and medical director at Physician’s Plan in Huntersville, Dr. DiOrio brings not only clinical expertise but also a grounded, human approach to care—rooted in resilience, humility, and hope.
Growing up in Ohio, Dr. DiOrio always had a love for animals, originally planning to become a veterinarian. “I worked at the Columbus Zoo and a veterinary hospital,” he recalls. “That’s when I realized I probably serve animals better as a loving owner than as a vet.” That epiphany redirected his path toward medicine.
Inspired by his older brother, a psychologist, DiOrio began to see what was possible. “He showed me the way—he supplied the example that I could do it too. That I could pursue a doctorate and a professional life in healthcare.”
Dr. DiOrio earned his undergraduate degree at Ohio State University, then attended medical school at Western University of Health Sciences in Southern California, followed by residencies at both University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of South Carolina.
His path to the Lake Norman area was serendipitous. “At Pitt, it was freezing, we had to pay to park, and got meal tickets on call nights,” he laughs. “At USC, they fed us well—and that small difference made a big impression. I moved south and never looked back.” Now settled in the Charlotte area, he lives among a thriving community and closer to extended family.
While not married, Dr. DiOrio is a proud father to two daughters—Bria, a pharmacy student at the University of South Carolina, and Kendal, who studies public health at UNC-Chapel Hill. “Having kids tames your ideals and forms your realities,” he smiles. “They’ve shaped who I am.”
