Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr Kelsey Walker
Hi Dr Kelsey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Garland, TX native who stayed put in the DFW area for college. I obtained my Bachelor’s Degrees from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX before heading off to medical school and my Family Medicine residency at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX.
Once I wrapped up my training, I made my way back to the DFW metroplex. Started off in outpatient Family Medicine before deciding to carve out my own path with The Gold Standard Health, PLLC.
I am Board Certified in Family Medicine, but what really gets me going is digging deeper to find out the root cause of the issues. I apply Lifestyle Medicine to prioritize preventive and holistic wellness. I particularly love guiding patients towards their optimal overall health by creating personalized wellness plans.
Outside of the office, I wear a few more hats – devoted Christian, loving wife, and proud mother.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was not smooth. The road had bumps, potholes, and even closures along the way.
I grew up with a single mother who had physical and mental health challenges. Despite her working multiple jobs we still had financial strain and even dealt with homelessness.
In college I worked multiple jobs to survive and studied hard to maintain my scholarships. School advisors were telling me to give up my dreams of being a doctor when I was struggling academically my first year, but I continued to improve and proved them wrong. Not just academically improved, I served on leadership boards and even joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I met my wonderful husband in college and we got married after graduation. Those years taught me how to have tenacity and to never stay down when life trips you up.
I used those skills from undergrad when I went to medical school with a 5 week old newborn. I knew it would be hard managing both new motherhood and medical school, but the tenacity I had learned catapulted me forward. I learned adaptability- how to be flexible yet steadfast in medical school. Not being able to study at 5pm because I needed to get the baby from daycare meant studying at 5am when everyone else was asleep. Up at 2am to breastfeed meant looking at flash cards since I was awake anyway. A village also stepped up and made it so we could work, study, and still take care of our beautiful baby girl. When I was down, that village helped picked me up.
My second child was born during the hardest year of medical school which is the 3rd year a.k.a. clinical year. This is the year you are introduced to clinic days, hospital rounds, 12+ hour shifts, 24 hour calls, and more. I was waddling the halls of the hospitals and clinics, learning as much as a I could (sometimes having to rest to catch my breath). Shout out to the ICU nurse who literally caught me and prevented me from hitting the ground as I passed out one day during rounds. I had people who doubted my ability to be a mom to a toddler and have a newborn, yet I excelled through the program.
My last child was born in the last year of residency. I just knew I had a hang of everything. Pregnancy, check. Toddler life, check. Newborn life, check. What else could there be? Well, surgery during pregnancy and then going into preterm labor was not foreseen. I ended up needing to take some time off and do bedrest, but still finished my program and passed my boards exams.
Ultimately, I learned to trust God and His plan for my life. To listen to His voice and walk in His will no matter how rough the road becomes. God also made sure I had the support of my community (family, friends, and sorority sisters)
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Gold Standard Health?
Driven by a passion for helping others, I entered medicine, only to confront a stark reality: a healthcare system plagued by long waits, rushed visits, impersonal care, and bureaucratic obstacles. Frustrated by the inability to provide optimal care, I embarked on a mission to prioritize patient-centered care, leading to the creation of the Gold Standard Health- the first black owned direct primary care in Desoto, TX.
At Gold Standard Health, we embrace the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model, fostering direct relationships between patients and physicians. With patients paying a monthly subscription fee directly to their provider, bypassing insurance complexities, we offer comprehensive primary care services. This fee encompasses a comprehensive suite of primary care services, spanning routine check-ups, preventive care, chronic disease management, and minor procedures. Our patients revel in the luxury of extended appointment times, unrushed consultations, and enhanced accessibility to their physician. Through DPC, we provide personalized, accessible, and affordable care, focusing on quality.
I, in particular, specialize in preventative medicine, focusing on root causes to symptoms and guide patients towards sustainable wellness, empowering them to live their healthiest, happiest lives.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always looking for others who are wanting to shake up the healthcare status quo. Step out of the box and redefine the standard of care. Specialists (cardiology, nephrology, orthopedics, etc), nurses, chiropractors, physical therapist, registered dietitians, mental health specialist, and more. Reach out and let’s talk about how we make waves together!
My patient panel is open! So if you, your family, or others around you are looking for a new PCP, please check me out. I would love to serve you and your family!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tgshealth.com/
- Instagram: @thegoldstandardhealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegoldstandardhealth/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoldStandardHealth
Image Credits
brecreativemedia
