Discover Your Body’s Natural Blueprint
Dr. Jason de Leon and Dr. Rita Gillespie, Co-owners and Physicians, D&G Optimized Wellness
In the high-stakes environment of the emergency department, doctors are trained to save lives in the most critical situations.
For Dr. Rita Gillespie and Dr. Jason De Leon, this reality was their daily rhythm for years. Yet, throughout their careers, both physicians shared a persistent, nagging question: Why are we waiting until a crisis occurs to intervene?
This shared curiosity—and a growing frustration with a healthcare system largely designed to treat disease rather than prevent it—became the foundation for D&G Optimized Wellness. As Emergency Medicine physicians, they witnessed firsthand how conditions like metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalances and chronic fatigue often went unchecked for years before manifesting as emergencies. They realized that while their skills could save lives in the ER, their true passion lay in helping people avoid the emergency room altogether.
This transition from reactive treatments to proactive wellness is deeply personal. For Dr. De Leon, whose own journey involved losing over 70 pounds through lifestyle changes, and Dr. Gillespie, whose competitive athletic background instilled a discipline for consistency, medicine is about more than prescriptions—it is about performance and vitality.
By integrating advanced hormone optimization, metabolic health monitoring and personalized lifestyle interventions, the pair is helping Lakeland residents shift their focus from simply managing illness to actively cultivating long-term health. Through D&G, Dr. Gillespie and Dr. De Leon are not just treating patients; they are empowering Lakelanders to take control of their health stories, ensuring that the most important medical interventions happen long before a crisis ever arrives.
THE LAKELANDER
What do you love most about your profession?
DR. GILLESPIE
The relationships.
Medicine has given me the opportunity to connect with people during some of the most meaningful and vulnerable moments of their lives. Whether it’s helping a patient through an emergency, mentoring a resident or guiding someone toward better health through wellness care, those connections are incredibly rewarding.
What excites me most today is helping patients realize what is possible when they take an active role in their health. I believe people should not simply accept feeling poorly as an inevitable part of aging. Helping patients build strength, energy and vitality over time is one of the greatest privileges of my career—and a major part of what I hope to continue expanding through our practice in the years ahead.
THE LAKELANDER
Is there research or implementation of new technology you’ve been a part of in the medical field that you’re proud to share about?
DR. DE LEON
One of the things I am most proud of is my involvement in physician education and residency training. For many years, teaching residents and medical students has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Watching young physicians develop into confident, capable emergency physicians and knowing that you played a role in that journey is incredibly fulfilling.
I have also been involved in helping our healthcare system achieve and maintain comprehensive stroke care capabilities, ensuring patients receive rapid, high-level treatment when every minute matters.
Within our wellness practice, Rita and I have worked to incorporate advanced technologies such as DEXA body composition scanning to evaluate visceral fat, muscle mass, metabolic health and bone density. We believe healthcare should move beyond simply diagnosing disease and instead focus on identifying risk factors early and empowering patients with information that can change the trajectory of their health.
THE LAKELANDER
What is something you would suggest more people do to take better care of themselves?
DR. GILLESPIE
Move your body every day and stay consistent. You don’t need to be a competitive athlete to improve your health. Simple, consistent habits—regular movement, quality sleep, balanced nutrition, stress management and maintaining strong relationships—can have a profound impact on both physical and mental well-being.
From my background in athletics, I have learned that long-term success is built on consistency, not extremes. Small, sustainable changes often lead to the most meaningful and lasting results.
THE LAKELANDER
What is the biggest challenge you face in modern medicine?
DR. DE LEON
We have incredible medications, technology and specialists, yet we continue to see rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and metabolic dysfunction. Many patients spend years developing these conditions before anyone intervenes.
Prevention may not always be as dramatic as saving a life in the emergency department, but its impact can last for decades.
D&G Optimized Wellness
optimizedwellness.net
863.899.2404
“What excites me most today is helping patients realize what is possible when they take an active role in their health. I believe people should not simply accept feeling poorly as an inevitable part of aging.”
