Frances Velez

I am originally from Puerto Rico and am the only physician in my immediate family. Raised by a single mother who inspired me to dream big, I developed a deep interest in biology, social sciences, psychology, and health from a young age. In medical school, I enjoyed many subjects, but ultimately family medicine seemed like the best fit for me. Very early in my training though, I realized "healthcare" is mostly "sick care". Determined to broaden my expertise and explore approaches to optimizing wellness, I sought out electives in functional and alternative medicine. I graduated from medical school in 2009. My personal interests include meaningful relationships, serving my community, spending quality time with my two children and husband, yoga, weight training, and striving to be the best and most honest version of myself. I then completed an intensive internal medicine internship at New York Hospital of Queens in Flushing, NY, followed by a family medicine residency in Philadelphia where I took additional courses in nutrition and health coaching. After residency I practiced at a federally qualified health center in Austin, TX, worked as a hospitalist, and completed a yoga teacher training in Indonesia. In 2018 I moved to Summit County, Colorado, and during the COVID‑19 pandemic provided telehealth across nine states while completing a fellowship in Integrative Medicine in 2020. I now practice family and integrative medicine at Alpine Whole Health, emphasizing a patient‑centered, whole‑person DPC approach.