Dr. Shannon Dowler on Rural Life, Resilience & Redefining Family Medicine

Family physician, advocate, and mountain dweller Dr. Shannon Dowler joins host Dr. Peter Crane to share her journey from the Appalachian foothills to the frontlines of healthcare reform. From leading North Carolina’s Medicaid program during COVID-19 to practicing goat-yoga-level work-life balance on her farm, Dr. Dowler brings honesty, humor, and heart to what it means to make a difference in medicine today.

🌄 A story about balance, advocacy, and living “feet first.”

🎧 Listen to more episodes at DoctorsMakingADifference.com

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Intro – Dr. Peter Crane introduces Dr. Shannon Dowler and her work in family medicine.
01:00 – Roots in North Carolina – Growing up in the mountains and finding community through medicine.
03:00 – When the Floods Came – How a natural disaster inspired local relief and national support.
05:00 – Why Family Medicine? – From vet school dreams to caring for every age and stage.
07:00 – Doing It All – The beauty and chaos of full-scope rural practice.
08:30 – Finding (Imperfect) Balance – Why goat yoga and meditation became her prescription for peace.
10:00 – Feet First Farm & Forge – How her homestead became a symbol of living fully.
11:00 – The Future of Family Medicine – Why primary care is essential to a healthy nation.
14:00 – Advocacy from the Ground Up – Getting involved in the AAFP and influencing policy.
17:00 – To the Medical Student Who’s Told “Don’t Do Family Medicine” – Her powerful response.
20:00 – Medicaid, Policy & Reality – The human side of coverage gaps and healthcare reform.
27:00 – Stories That Move Legislators – How sharing patient experiences changes hearts and laws.
33:00 – Fraud, Waste & Real Reform – What “fixing the system” should truly mean.
36:00 – Leaving Medicine Better – Her hope for the next generation of family doctors.
38:00 – Stay Connected – How to follow Dr. Dowler’s work and join the movement.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Shannon Dowler, MD is a family physician, educator, and advocate who currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Formerly North Carolina’s Chief Medical Officer for Medicaid, she led major reform during the COVID-19 pandemic. At her mountain home—affectionately named Feet First Farm and Forge—she blends medicine, creativity, and mindfulness to inspire others toward balance and purpose.

Follow Dr. Dowler:

🌐 shannondowlermd.com
📸 @ShannonDowlerMD on social

Connect with the Show:

💌 Email: admin@doctorsmakingadifference.com

📺 Subscribe & hit 🔔 to never miss an episode