Today, we’d like to introduce you to Candace Walker, MD.
Hi Candace, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I’m a Board-Certified Family Physician with over a decade of experience practicing medicine in primary care. I had the best training as a medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and as a resident physician at the Southeast Family Medicine Residency Program at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, GA.
I learned from hospital physicians, rural physicians, outpatient physicians, and academic research physicians. I gained so much perspective from working under these hospitalists, OBGYNs, psychiatrists, surgeons, and outpatient medicine doctors. I also had the honor of learning from nutritionists, physical therapists, and nurses in various specialties.
Individualizing the care that I give to each individual I meet was the resounding strategy that I gleaned from working with all these wonderful professionals. It has stayed with me all these years. After jumping out into the world of practicing medicine on my own, I still prioritize personalizing my relationship with a patient. I worked for a large health system after completing my residency in Family Medicine.
I learned a lot about how to see the most patients in as little time as possible, pay attention to metrics, take care of my eyes due to looking at my computer screen all day, and stay off the “naughty list” for not closing out my charts! Needless to say, I quickly learned about the overwhelming burnout that so many doctors today still deal with. I am a huge proponent of being spiritually aligned with the work that I do–and this did not sit right with me.
I wanted to spend time discussing lifestyle behaviors, getting people off medications, and having fun working on a bio-hacking strategy! Subsequently, I took the leap into private practice after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US. Today, I have the opportunity to practice medicine outside of the constraints of health systems, allowing me to do what I love the most–prevent disease!
Flowing Life Direct Health is a little gem in downtown Marietta where individuals or employers can get annual executive physicals for themselves and their employees. An executive physical is the most efficient way to stay fit for your future by giving you the information you need to live a long, healthy life. We call ours the Power Physical and Wellness Exam. Trust that at Flowing Life, you are going to get a thorough exam, comprehensive lab follow-up, and the feedback you deserve for planning out your health goals for the year.
I incorporate my passion for a healthy lifestyle, functional medicine, and unconventional ideals into giving care. We have curated a relaxing atmosphere where you can feel comfortable and at ease during your exam. Because nutrition is also part of your health planning, we also offer IV therapy packages for those who are interested. I am in total alignment with the work that I do and having a blast practicing the art of doctoring again!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a clinic outside of the health system is rough on many levels. People have to trust that what we provide is worth the time and money. We are a small business, so we pride ourselves in the personalized care that we provide. However, helping others to understand the importance of knowing your numbers, understanding your physiology, and guided health planning can pose a challenge in a world where many people are looking for a “quick fix.” Healthy living takes effort, a strategic effort actually.
This is accomplished by first understanding where you stand biochemically and receiving the knowledge you need to implement the appropriate lifestyle modifications. Want to be more focused, have more energy, be stronger, perform better, and prevent disease? It starts with understanding where the imbalance lies and how to optimize your health. The Power Physical and Wellness exam provides the information you need to accomplish this.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Flowing Life Direct Health?
Flowing Life Direct Health is a private, preventive care clinic in Marietta, GA that provides personalized care. We perform executive physicals, called the Power Physical and Wellness Exam. The Power Physical includes thorough medical history-taking and head-to-toe exam, EKG, 3D Body Scan, comprehensive bloodwork and interpretation, and health goal planning for the year.
The purpose of completing such a thorough exam is to check for the stability of your vital signs and assess for risks and the actual presence of any illness or injury. This exam is nothing like your typical physical or wellness check at the doctor’s office. You will leave empowered with the confidence and peace of mind you need as you begin your individualized health plan for the year. Because nutrition is part of your health goal planning, we also offer IV nutrition therapy on-site in private rooms for your comfort and relaxation. Membership plans to further help you with your health goals are also offered, but not required for your Power Physical experience.
Flowing Life is proud to present a relaxing and clean environment for our clients each visit. Our exam room and equipment are cleaned between each visit, we have an air purification system in place, and we practice clean techniques for all our procedures. We have Employer Plans to help keep your employees healthy and focused for the year. We offer mobile services to companies who wish to have physicals completed on-location. We also work with individuals who are not on a corporate plan and wish to be seen in office.
Because we are not under the constraints of health insurance companies, “big pharma” or big health systems, we have the freedom to offer individualized care, which you will feel every time you walk into our office. People come to us because they want clarity, they want answers to their health questions, and they want to find out how to take action to improve their health as opposed to accepting the often inadequate information that traditional clinics offer. We aim to empower each individual to be the captain of their health.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that our city brings people from all over the country and the world. It has infused yet another magical layer to the culture of Atlanta! I love that direct primary care is making its way into our health culture as well. As a Georgia native, and raised in metro Atlanta, I’ve seen first-hand the many great changes that Atlanta has undergone.
I am a huge Braves fan and while I have great memories of watching games at Turner Field, I love hanging out in the ultra-modern and fun atmosphere of Truist Park at The Battery. I love taking my children to the Georgia Aquarium and visiting the many historical landmarks like the King Center. I’m an outdoor kind of girl, and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is one of my favorite places to enjoy God’s beauty right in the heart of the city.
Some of the world’s leading educational institutions live here. Shopping, Arts, and Entertainment are limitless here, and I try not to take for granted that having the largest airport in the country makes it easy to fly to so many destinations directly. There is so much opportunity to thrive in Atlanta it’s hard to name them all! The traffic is what I like the least about our city, and I pray that the city preserves as much of the natural greenery that Georgia is known for!
Contact Info:
- Phone: (404) 924-8490
- Website: flowinglifehealth.com
- Instagram: @flowinglifedirecthealth
- Facebook: @flowinglifedirecthealth
Image Credits
SQS Photography
