Nextera Healthcare – West Gainesville

Dr. Tyndall-Smith moved to Gainesville in 2013 from York, Pennsylvania. She started her career in medicine in 2005, at York Hospital, one of the oldest community family medicine residency programs in the country, after graduating from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. She also worked for a federally qualified health clinic in York, Pennsylvania. As a result of Dr. Tyndall-Smith’s commitment to medical volunteer work for several programs in the City of York, she was awarded the Community Ambassador APEX Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers. She relocated to Gainesville to be closer to family and joined the University of Florida as a clinical assistant professor in the Community Health and Family Medicine Department where she taught medical students, saw patients at one of the outpatient clinics and was a part of the College of Medicine Interview Committee.

Dr. Tyndall-Smith’s desire to practice medicine started in early childhood, being profoundly influenced by her family doctor who modeled success in long-lasting and trusting physician-patient relationships. She has always been interested in empowering patients to take control of their own health, and understands the importance of teaching the patient to understand their medical condition to make the most informed medical decisions, something that takes time. During her years of practice in the traditional model of medicine, it became increasingly more about quantity and not quality of patient care so she decided to transition her practice. As a result, Dr. Tyndall-Smith left and co-founded Gainesville DPC Physicians in order to spend quality time with her patients and their families. “It will be a practice that will meet the medical needs of the patient in a way that is satisfying and fulfilling for both of us, without the restrictions of the large institutions and insurance mandates. It will allow me to get to know my patients and to develop strong and lasting relationships, which is the foundation of exceptional health care.”

Dr. Tyndall-Smith enjoys her Caribbean culture through travel, food and music. She enjoys sharing her joy of music by participating in the praise and worship team at The Family Church. She enjoys playing the piano and riding her bike, and shares her life and dreams with her husband and two sons.

R. Michele Emery, MD, graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1988 with her Doctor of Medicine degree and a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She completed her residency in Family Practice at Florida Hospital in Orlando in 1991. Dr. Emery has a certification in Lifestyle Medicine as well as her certification in Functional Medicine which emphasizes a holistic, integrative approach to healing. One of 28 physicians in Florida with this certification, Dr. Emery has expertise in identifying the root causes of diseases and encouraging patients to make the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes to help their bodies heal from within.

Dr. Emery brings experience teaching Family Medicine resident physicians-in-training, as well as having practiced in the Emergency Room and Urgent Care settings for several years. At the Student Health Care Center at the University of Florida, she cared for students for over 10 years. Most recently she has been caring for patients from the "cradle to the grave" in Ocala at a Functional Medicine practice.

Dr. Emery has always been passionate about approaching patients’ medical problems holistically, understanding that true health is a sum of healthy habits involving the body, mind, and spirit. Going through her own health crisis with breast cancer, Dr. Emery has an appreciation of the strategies needed to overcome difficult health challenges. She credits her faith in God as the most important healing force in her life.

Dr. Emery is excited about her change to the Direct Primary Care model of medicine because she will finally be able to spend the time with her patients that they need. She is committed to providing excellent medical care with compassion using a holistic approach.

She has resided in Gainesville for over 20 years after serving for 4 years as a missionary physician in Guatemala with her husband. She has 2 sons who are in college and 1 in the Navy. She enjoys her weekly home church, working in her yard, walking, and going to gym classes for strength and flexibility. She speaks Spanish.

Dr. Cotter completed medical school and residency, OB track, at the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1997. She practiced full-scope Family Medicine in a high priority physician shortage area in East Tennessee, including operative obstetrics. After completing the National Health Service Corps Scholarship, she practiced in a variety of settings, including hospitalist medicine, emergency medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and outpatient medicine. As Faculty at the University of Florida, Dr. Cotter enjoyed teaching clinical medicine to medical students as well as working on the Admissions Committee at the College of Medicine.

Dr. Cotter left academic/employed healthcare in order to co-found Gainesville Direct Primary Care Physicians for one reason; health improves best when a patient has a relationship connection to his or her physician. Though physicians of the past knew this, research is now showing that it is in fact true. Dr. Cotter has done two important things in creating this practice. She designed the practice to support relationship - hour-long visits, expansive medical services included, and multiple ways to communicate with her. She has also eliminated factors impeding the doctor-patient relationship: the computer, administrative burden, interference from insurance/government, unmanageable patient loads, and affordability of care.

Dr. Cotter's favorite thing about Gainesville DPC Physicians?

“I can combine my scientific medical knowledge with my knowledge of how loved we are by God to optimize health in all patients."