The Best Concierge, Direct care and Functional Doctors in Atlanta (That I’ve Actually Met With)
Let’s be real: when your body is chronically breaking down, you don’t have time to play phone tag with a health system that treats you like a chart instead of a person. That’s why I’ve been out here pounding the digital pavement, visiting concierge doctors across Atlanta like my life depends on it (because… it does).
I’m not a gatekeeping girly. I’m here to share exactly who I’ve seen, who was worth it, and who honestly isn’t even worth the copay. These are the best concierge, functional, direct care, and hybrid doctors in the Atlanta area, all vetted by me personally. No, I’m not sponsored (though if anyone wants to throw me a coin, feel free, just kidding… kind of. The only brand I’d truly want to sponsor me is Morton Salt).
So What Is Concierge Medicine?
Concierge medicine is a healthcare model where you pay a membership or annual fee for enhanced access to a physician. That usually means same-day or next-day appointments, longer visits, direct communication via phone or app, and often a more proactive, personalized approach.
Think of it as Netflix for healthcare if Netflix actually cared about your survival.
If I’m paying extra on top of my already high out-of-pocket costs, I want a team that listens, cares, and shows up. Period.
Why Only Six?
Out of the 15+ practices I researched (and several I visited), only six made the cut. If you’ve downloaded my full spreadsheet, you’ll notice this list is shorter. That’s because this isn’t just any roundup, these are the doctors who earned a mention. One bonus doc even gets their own section because they deserve their flowers.
These aren’t names I found on Google, I met them, grilled them, and took notes like my life depended on it (because, in some ways, it did).
Every doc listed here:
✅ Offers hands-on, compassionate care
✅ Was reviewed in person (by yours truly)
✅ Has a clear practice scope and intake process
✅ Showed up with staff who weren’t just nice but stellar
Let’s go:
🥇 Dr. Ebon Bourne
📍 Premier Concierge of Atlanta | Cumberland Boulevard
📞 (404) 419-9970 | 🌐 Website
🗣 Languages: English, Spanish
If I could bottle what Dr. Bourne brings to a room, I would. Calm yet commanding, soft-spoken but incredibly clear, he has that rare “old-school doc with modern brilliance” energy. Within five minutes of sitting down, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time with a physician: safe. Not rushed. Seen.
He wasn’t just checking boxes. He asked thoughtful questions, explained things clearly, and even encouraged me to explore all my options, even if that meant not choosing him. That kind of humility? Rare.
His office team and medical assistant are the dream team. The visit didn’t feel like a cold, clinical transaction; it felt like meeting your dream care team. Add in his accolades, his medication management expertise, his affiliation with the Wellstar system, and a whole-body care mindset, and you’ve got something Atlanta desperately needs more of.
Pros:
• Full medication and chronic care management
• Long visits, never rushed
• Culturally inclusive
• Transparent about practice growth
• Warm, thoughtful, and human
Cons:
• Website is a bit of a mess (they’re working on it!)
• Caller ID does not say the practice name, which confused me
📣 Final Thought: Dr. Bourne is the real deal. If you’ve been burned by cookie-cutter care, go meet him. He’s the kind of doctor who restores your faith and honestly, he deserves a waitlist. 10/10.
🥈 Dr. Stephen Lenhard
📍 Premier Concierge of Atlanta | Same practice as Dr. Bourne
📞 (404) 419-9970 | 🌐 Website
Let’s talk about the doctor who literally ran to my side when I passed out in the office.
Dr. Stephen Lenhard may share a practice with Dr. Bourne, but he’s not just “the other doctor.” In fact, he’s a force of calm, kindness, and clinical excellence all on his own. As part of the Wellstar System Premier Concierge of Atlanta, he combines the resources of a major health system with the warmth of a private practice. During my emergency, he stopped eating lunch mid-bite and came straight to help, no ego, no hesitation, just care.
When I returned for a follow-up, his personality truly came through. He’s funny, well-traveled, humble, and clearly brilliant. Moreover, there’s an ease about him that helps your nervous system breathe. And if you’re a chronically ill patient like me, that is medicine.
He often covers for Dr. Bourne. However, make no mistake: Dr. Lenhard is not the sidekick. He’s the peanut butter to Bourne’s jelly. Both amazing solo, but together? Magic.
Pros:
• Quick, calm, and capable in emergencies
• Great listener with a gentle demeanor
• Provides top notch continuity of care
• Respectful and relatable
Cons:
• Office is mid-transition. Expect some shuffling
📣 Final Thought: Dr. Lenhard is your secret weapon. If you want heart, compassion, and deep clinical skill, this is your guy. PB & J vibes, all the way.
🥉 Dr. Edward Espinosa
📍 Optum MD | Buckhead
📞 (404) 793-8605 | 🌐 Website
Dr. Espinosa blends Consierge and functional medicine with a clear, culturally competent touch (his Colombian roots helped us connect instantly). He offers IV hydration in-office and was even generous enough to recommend another doc if he wasn’t the right fit, huge trust builder.
Pros:
• IV fluids and nutrition support in-office
• Female-specific care available
• Easy booking via Calendly
Cons:
• Supplement sales felt a bit pushy
• Might feel “too functional” for some
📣 Final Thought: A great hybrid doc with an open heart and sharp mind.
⭐ Dr. Belinda Brown-Saddler
📍 Piedmont Concierge | Collier Rd
📞 (404) 605-5042 | 🌐 Website
Walking into this office felt like checking into a five-star spa, valet parking, a calm ambiance, and luxurious everything. But Dr. Saddler isn’t just about aesthetics.
She’s warm, incredibly smart, and offers cutting-edge services like the Galleri cancer screening test. This amazing and competent doctor is part of the Piedmont system, with all the resources and support her reputation deserves.
Pros:
• Castle Connolly Top Doctor
• Spa-like atmosphere with valet
• Offers advanced preventative testing
Cons:
• Commute was intense
• Front desk could be more welcoming
📣 Final Thought: If you want clinical excellence wrapped in luxury, she’s it. Bring snacks for the traffic.
🩺 Dr. Shannon Mize
📍 MDVIP | Cumming
🌐 Website
Dr. Mize brings Southern charm and 45+ years of wisdom. He’s deeply respected in the Northside network and knows the system inside out. Think: wise uncle vibes who actually listens.
Pros:
• Veteran of the Northside system
• Friendly, warm communicator
• Excellent listener
Cons:
• Doesn’t accept GA Access/exchange plans
• MDVIP sends a lot of emails and calls
• Hard to reach directly
📣 Final Thought: A legacy doctor worth seeing if your insurance plays nice.
💻 Dr. Hayes
📍 Personal Concierge MD | Alpharetta
📞 (678) 395-7046 | 🌐 Website
Dr. Hayes runs a tight, tech-forward ship. The app is clean, intake is smooth, and he’s upfront about what he doesn’t do (psychiatric, opioid, and cardiac med management). I appreciated the clarity.
Pros:
• Beautiful, modern private app
• Transparent communication
• Clean and easy-to-navigate website
Cons:
• Doesn’t manage psychiatric, opioid, or cardiac meds
• Not ideal for complex care patients
📣 Final Thought: Best for stable patients who want sleek, responsive care.
Keep in Mind
It’s worth knowing that several major hospital systems in Atlanta run their own concierge programs, including Piedmont, Wellstar, Northside, and Northeast Georgia. Dr. Saddler, for example, is part of Piedmont’s concierge practice and is actively accepting new patients. Dr. Bourne and Dr. Lenhard are both affiliated with Wellstar, and while their practices are smaller and easier to access, they still benefit from big-system resources when you need them.
Northside and Northeast Georgia concierge are so backlogged that I was quoted a 2–3 year wait just to get an introductory appointment. If you’re dealing with complex health issues or you simply don’t have the luxury of waiting until next season to be seen, those options can feel completely out of reach. That’s why this guide focuses on doctors who are not only qualified but actually available to help you now.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been ghosted, gaslit, or ground down by our healthcare system, you deserve better. These doctors gave me hope. Every single doctor here is worth every penny.
Want an in-depth breakdown of functional medicine, concierge care, direct primary care, and why breaking up with the system is officially all the rage? In this post, I share my personal story of how I got here, plus a clear look at what each of these models really offers (and how they’re different).
💾 Want the full list of 25+ concierge, functional care, and direct care doctors I vetted (with notes on services, insurance, vibe, and cost)? Download the spreadsheet here.
Subscribe to get access
Read more of this content when you subscribe today.
Reminder: Your health is not a luxury. It’s a right.
Don’t be afraid to break up with broken care.
With love and solidarity,
Catt @ TheZebraNetwork.com



GIRL!!! thank you for not gatekeeping your doctor, i saw your live a few weeks back and I wanted to know who it was! thank you for sharing this! God bless you
You’re welcome love! this is the doc I posted about a few weeks back! I am doing a live today if you wanna AMA!
thank you for sharing this, do they see children? I downloaded the spreadsheet and is super helpful but it does not mention children? do you recommend anyone for a child? thank you in advance love!
Hi, yes all the doctors here see children, but I would go with the Premiere Concierge both doctors are phenomenal or Dr. Saddler she is sweet and kind.
Pingback: Finding Compassionate Care: My GI Specialist Journey - The Zebra Corner
Hi Catt! super cool list, who would you recommend for virtual apps? most of these docs are sort of far way? is the AMA on IG or TT?
super good question! All the docs here have virtual apps and since its concierge medicine you will access to your doc 24/7 via text or app.
Thank you for subscribing to me. I am so happy, today. How are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing this week? What are you doing this weekend? Talk to you later. Have a good day.
No thank you for sharing your amazing blog! I am blessed today, I’ve been sick lately so I am taking it easy for the next few days before the holiday, hoping I can be healthy while family is in town. How are you? what are you doing this weekend?
I am doing a lot better because my boyfriend wants to marry me. We have loved each other, but he kept on breaking up with me because he was afraid of commitment. We are wanting to find places to live in the town he lives in. I go to Railway Clubhouse all week long from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but Tuesday I leave at 1:20 p.m. then I go to therapy then go to Circles of Hope. Tell me more about you. I would like to learn more about you. Have a great day.
This is beautiful! congratulations on the Marriage proposal, I have been married for 2 decades now and its just the best thing in my life, I have been sick lately but I think i am finally starting to feel better, my hubby is been off in texas with my eldest children trying to help those affected by the rain, I am so thankful for his service to others! The Lord is good! I pray your day will be amazing
Thank you so much. I found out that he lied to me over four times. I broke up with him. Another woman said, “He had problems with having sex with underage girls.” The lady has the same story as me about my ex-boyfriend. He is not going to move out of his parents’ house. He lied to his mother about situations he is in. I don’t want nothing to do with a guy that told me several stories about him getting a woman pregnant then she had a miscarriage. How was your week? How are you feeling? What do you do during the weekdays? What do you do during the weekends? Have a good day. Talk to you later. Be safe. I am going to be really good at my job.