Michael Watto, DO

Dr. Michael Watto, D.O., MPH, joined HealthFirst in February 2023 and serves as its Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Watto provides primary and osteopathic care to patients in both the Laconia and Franklin HealthFirst locations.

Dr. Watto has an extensive medical and military background. Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, he completed his residency training at Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia. Dr. Watto completed his medical education at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, where he received his DO degree in Osteopathic Medicine. He has also earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University.

Dr. Watto spent more than 20 years in the US Army serving in a variety of roles as a physician leader. Highlights include his service as a flight surgeon, a deployment to Iraq, and providing medical care and ringside coverage to the All-Army Boxing team.

Michael and his family have lived in central NH for nearly a decade, where he has worked at Speare Primary Care in Plymouth, NH, since 2015, specializing in family medicine. He has held the position of Medical Staff President at Speare Memorial Hospital as well as Director of Health Services at Plymouth State University. Dr. Watto was recently honored as a “Top Doctor 2022” by New Hampshire Magazine. Other notable achievements include his selection as Franklin Pierce University Clinical Preceptor of the Year, earning the US Army Combat Medical Badge, and being named a Distinguished Military Graduate.

An osteopathic medicine (DO) doctor differs from a medical doctor in that they use the same conventional medical techniques as MDs, but with a few other methods. They bring a unique, patient-centered approach to every specialty across the full spectrum of medicine. They are trained to listen and partner with their patients to help them get healthy and stay well.