Family Medicine is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
By Ryan Baker, MD
A Florida boy born and raised, I take pride in being from, and living in Tampa Bay. I practice full-spectrum primary care with an emphasis on prevention and wellness. In fact, studies confirm that preventive medicine is, by far, the best use of your healthcare dollars. It’s far better to prevent the illness in the first place than it is to have to treat the disease. I joined Millennium Physician Group because their philosophy perfectly aligns with this belief and approach.
It’s important to develop strong patient relationships through communication and education. It’s beneficial for a patient to maintain their health with an understanding of the disease process, treatment, and prevention. This empowers patients to make fully informed decisions about how to manage and maintain a healthy lifestyle. My ultimate goal is to have my patients looking, feeling, and being well.
I hope my patients feel welcomed when they arrive and leave feeling inspired. We’re on this wellness journey together, and there’s no such thing as too late or too soon to take control of your health. We have worked to create a truly welcoming atmosphere in our office, and patients should not feel judged when entering our doors. We’re not going to finger wag and nag them about their bad habits. It’s much more impactful, and successful, to address their honest challenges head-on, with all the facts, then we can create a truly successful plan of action for better health.
That being said, I think my patients might be surprised to learn that I don’t always follow my own advice. I may have a steak or piece of chocolate cake, I am human, aren’t we all? But it’s important to not beat ourselves up over those little stumbles but to celebrate the efforts and the successes instead.
Primary care medicine is a marathon, not a sprint. When we see each other on a regular basis, we’re going to end up the best of friends. My favorite patients are the ones who haven’t received medical care or even had a primary care physician for a while. They’re like a blank canvas, and I get to work with them to get them healthy and keep them healthy.
About Dr. Ryan Baker:
Dr. Baker is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians. He is a diehard FSU Seminole fan, enjoys boating, fishing, and spending time at the beach with his wife and children. He strives to keep St. Petersburg happy and healthy!
About Millennium Physician Group:
Millennium Physician Group is the largest comprehensive, independent physician group in Florida with more than 500 healthcare providers at 130 locations in 17 Florida counties serving 450,000 patients. Learn more at www.MillenniumPhysician.com.
CONTACT:
Dr. Ryan Baker
Millennium Physician Group
2299 9th Ave N, Suite 1A,
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
727-619-2229