Physician Enjoys Offering Care to Fellow Vets

Twice a month, Douglas Freeman, M.D., slips on one of his patriotic ties and makes the drive to Paradise Valley Estates, a retirement community in Fairfield that is home to some very special patients—many veterans and spouses of veterans.

Paradise Valley Estates was founded in 1997 by military officers and provides its 500-plus residents an independent lifestyle coupled with assisted living and skilled nursing care.

In 2017, NorthBay Healthcare opened an office in the Laurel Creek Health Center inside the master planned community, offering primary medical care twice a week. Dr. Freeman covers mornings every other Monday and Teresa Whitley, M.D., an internal medicine specialist, offers care in the afternoons, every other Thursday.

“It’s been a great outreach for NorthBay Healthcare,” said Wayne Gietz, vice president of Ambulatory Services. “We are delivering care to a whole new set
of patients, where they want it, close to home, and during convenient hours, on a regular basis.”

The partnership with Paradise Valley has also allowed NorthBay Healthcare to showcase some of its physicians by offering free lectures to residents. Topics have included joint replacement, gastroenterology, back pain and pain management.

As a veteran himself, Dr. Freeman says he enjoys the opportunity to interact with those who have served. “We share similar backgrounds and we share similar stories,” he said. “I was deployed to Korea for one year and I may have actually cared for them while they were actively serving.”

Dr. Freeman was in the Air Force Reserves from 1991 to 1995 and was on active duty from 1995 to 2002. He served his residency and as a clinician at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois where he took care of both troops and their families.

He was stationed at Osan Air Force Base in South Korea between 1999 and 2000, where he served as medical director and clinician. “My job was to ensure that the pilots and their support teams (some 300 patients) were healthy enough to fly,” he recalled.

Dr. Freeman said he always knew he wanted to be a general practitioner. After being accepted into medical school he applied for an Air Force scholarship and was honored to be accepted. He joined NorthBay Healthcare in 2004 and maintains his practice at the NorthBay Center for Primary Care in Fairfield, when he’s not at Paradise Valley Estates. He especially appreciates opportunities for geriatric medicine. “I have a deep and profound respect for the elderly,” he said. “I feel it’s my calling.”

---

Three NorthBay Center for Primary Care facilities offer appointments Monday through Friday with more than 20 physicians, nurse practitioners and. Call (707) 646-5500.

In Fairfield, 2458 Hilborn Road: Offers two internal medicine physicians, two family practice physicians, two pediatricians, a psychologist, a licensed clinical social worker and a nurse practitioner. It also has Care ’til 8, an after-hours service for patients with non-life-threatening medical conditions.

In Vacaville, 421 Nut Tree Road: Hosts 10 physicians, including two pediatricians, four family practice specialists and four internal medicine specialists. It also offers Care ’til 8.

In Green Valley, 4520 Business Center Drive: Features one internal medicine provider, two family medicine doctors, a pediatrician, a psychologist, a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant.