Medicine with a Personal Touch

Dr. Alicia L. Wooldridge, Founder and Owner LakelanD MD Direct Primary Care

Dr. Alicia L. Wooldridge has circled the globe on a mission to care for people. 

She has served some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities on several continents. She has been a ringside doctor at Mixed Martial Arts fights. She has walked through her childhood best friend being diagnosed with leukemia. 

With all of her experience—which includes 20+ years as an ABA therapist, neurology research and medical assistant, urgent care doctor and more—she realized that it’s easy for patients to get lost in the shuffle of corporatized modern medicine, and she wanted to develop a more personalized approach.

In 2022, Dr. Wooldridge opened LakelandMD Direct Primary Care, where a team of compassionate experts offer individualized consultations and treatment—without any insurance companies involved—for patients who pay a monthly fee. 

“Direct Primary Care allows me to focus on what matters most: time with patients, building strong relationships, family-centered care and treatment plans built around the whole person,” she says. “I wanted to bring Lakeland a model of care that is more responsive, more personal and more aligned with the needs of patients.

She has developed a space that should be intriguing for people who want access to a patient portal that is easy to understand and provides a roadmap to their health, as well as the kind of service where texting your doctor is OK.

THE LAKELANDER
If someone comes up to you at a social gathering, how do you describe what you do on a daily basis?

DR. WOOLDRIDGE
I usually say that I help people stay well, get answers and feel genuinely cared for. In my practice, I get to spend more time focusing on prevention and build the kind of relationships that allow for truly personalized care. In a world where medicine can often feel rushed and impersonal, I want to make healthcare more affordable, more accessible and more effective regardless of insurance coverage.

THE LAKELANDER
What is the biggest challenge you face in modern medicine?

DR. WOOLDRIDGE
One of the biggest challenges facing healthcare as an industry is that too many patients feel like they are being processed instead of truly cared for. The traditional system often leaves both doctors and patients frustrated by time limits, administrative burden and a one-size-fits-all structure. That’s one of the reasons Direct Primary Care matters so much to me. It creates space for better listening, stronger relationships, more proactive care and a healthcare experience that’s tailored to the person rather than dictated by the system.

THE LAKELANDER
What is something you would suggest more people do to take better care of themselves?

DR. WOOLDRIDGE
I would encourage people to be more intentional about the basics: restorative sleep, nutrition, movement, stress management and regular conversations with a physician who knows them well. Health is not just about reacting when something goes wrong. It’s about building habits, staying aware and taking small consistent steps that support long-term wellness. Little seeds grow into big trees!

I also believe that faith, family, purpose and community play a powerful role in overall health and resilience.

THE LAKELANDER
Outside of work, where might someone find you in your free time?

DR. WOOLDRIDGE
You’ll most likely find me enjoying seeing my kids grow (and running their minivan shuttle service), having a good laugh with friends, reading as much as I can, exploring Florida’s beautiful beaches, growing in my faith at church, trying to keep my plants alive or out on a date with my husband of 13 years. I also deeply value opportunities to serve, connect and help make Lakeland a stronger and healthier place whether that’s serving as the doctor on call at VBS or a 5K or being a volunteer judge at HOSA at George Jenkins High School.

Lakeland MD Direct Primary Care
lakelandmd.com
863.225.3355

“Direct Primary Care allows me to focus on what matters most: time with patients, building strong relationships, family-centered care, and treatment plans built around the whole person,”