Finding an Open-Minded, Curious Doctor for Your Direct Primary Care Journey
Community at RiverRock Clinic in Asheville, NC
When you decide to join or start a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice, one of the most important decisions isn’t just the price or convenience — it’s the mindset of the physician you choose. In a healthcare world dominated by rushed appointments, insurance constraints, and fragmented care, finding a doctor who is truly open-minded, curious, and committed to holistic, patient-centered care can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But it’s worth it — because the right doctor becomes not only a healthcare provider, but a partner in your well-being.
Here’s what I’ve learned in my search:
What Does It Mean to Be an Open-Minded/Courageous Doctor?
An open-minded doctor isn’t just medically competent — they are willing to:
Ask questions that others skip. They listen deeply, not just to symptoms, but to your story.
Explore root causes. Instead of defaulting only to pharmaceutical fixes, they’re willing to explore why something is happening and how lifestyle, environment, and whole-body systems interact.
Adapt their approach. They respect that what works for one person might not work for another — especially in chronic conditions, mental health, or complex cases.
Value your experience. You aren’t a number on a chart — you’re a human with knowledge about your own body.
This kind of doctor is often found in osteopathic medicine, integrative practices, and DPC models where time, autonomy, and trust aren’t rationed by insurance dictates.
Spotlight: Dr. Catherine Lok, DO — Integrative, Evidence-Based Primary Care
Dr. Catherine Lok, DO is a board-certified osteopathic physician and founder of RiverRock Clinic, a Direct Primary Care practice serving the Asheville/Weaverville area. Her approach emphasizes careful listening, clinical curiosity, and medical decision-making grounded in evidence.
Trained at A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Lok practices integrative medicine by combining conventional primary care with evidence-supported lifestyle and non-pharmacologic interventions. Care plans are based on safety, effectiveness, and individual patient needs, using medications, diagnostics, and referrals when appropriate.
The Direct Primary Care model allows for longer visits and continuity of care, supporting thoughtful evaluation and shared decision-making. Osteopathic principles guide a whole-person approach focused on long-term health rather than isolated symptoms.
About the Author
Dr. Catherine Lok, D.O. is a board-certified family medicine physician and 2025 Castle Connolly Rising Top Doctor practicing Direct Primary Care in Asheville, NC. She is the founder of Well Woven, where she provides relationship-based, whole-person primary care for all life stages.
