Dr. Melissa Martin
a better way to get healthcare
As I have grown during my career, one of the things that has always disappointed me about the current healthcare system is that so much of the care we provide as physicians is dictated by insurance companies and is focused on “sick care”, not health care. Insurance companies control how much time we have with patients, how many patients we see, what tests and medications we are limited to, and so many other decisions that should only be made by you and your doctor. Not only has this model for healthcare proven to be inefficient and costly, it leads people to be disillusioned with the healthcare system overall, and doesn’t really lead to better health outcomes for patients.
Your health is important to me. Your time is important to me. That is why I decided to open Axis Direct Care, Laredo’s first Direct Primary Care Clinic. Combining Lifestyle Medicine and the Direct Primary Care model, I can focus on your individualized health and wellness by spending the time with you that you deserve, providing concierge medicine in Laredo. I want to be able to meet patients where they are in their health and wellness journey and truly build a patient-physician relationship, one that revolves around you.
my story
I was born and raised here in Laredo, TX. I attended J.B. Alexander High School Magnet for Health & Sciences, followed by TAMIU for my undergraduate degree. I attended medical school at Texas A&M College of Medicine and then completed my Family Medicine residency at Christus Santa Rosa in San Antonio, where I was Chief Resident. I passed my board certification in Family Medicine in 2016 and continue to hold that certification in active status to ensure I am providing the most up to date care for my patients.
I began my Family Medicine career by staying on as faculty at the Christus Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency. I love teaching and I really enjoy the broad spectrum that Family Medicine has to offer. After 2 years, I learned that Laredo was starting its own Family Medicine residency program and I felt a calling to come back to my hometown to help train physicians in our own community. I served as Associate Program Director and then Program Director for 5 years at the Laredo Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program, growing the program, supervising residents, and helping care for patients at Gateway Community Health Center. In 2023, I made the decision to step away from my academic role and focus more on patient care in a private practice setting. Throughout that year, I tried to find better ways to care for and connect with my patients that didn’t just involve ordering labs, changing medications, repeating this cycle, and finding a hard time squeezing in patients when they were sick or needed to be seen. In December 2023, I received my board certification in Lifestyle Medicine (what’s that?) and in early 2024 I took the step towards opening Axis Direct Care!
I continue to serve as a faculty member for the Laredo Family Medicine Residency. I am an active member of the American and Texas Academy of Family Physicians and I serve as a board member for the Laredo Cancer Society.
I look forward to working DIRECTLY with you to meet your individual health and wellness goals!
