As with the categories of Food and Farming, here you’ll find Dr. Frances Koe’s personal words and experiences as she navigates life as a family practice physician operating a successful solo practice and Direct Primary Care clinic in rural Northeast Alabama. Dr. Koe also is a farmer and gardener and balances it all while living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. She frequently shares her struggles as well as her triumphs from both a medical perspective, and as a woman living on acreage with an autoimmune disorder. Check back frequently for updates, and if you see something that interests you, please share or contact us!
Tim Martin studied Fine Arts at the University of North Alabama in Florence, and his focus was on sculpture. He grew up in a family business of furniture makers and has been around wood and machinery since he was preschool age. He loved the wood shop, being around...
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Cox, ND, L.Ac., has practiced integrative medicine in both Alabama and Mississippi for the past 20 years. Some of Dr. Cox’s colleagues and beloveds call her “Sarita,” a name given to her by her first meditation teacher, and she believes names...
Breanne Hughes originally hails from Albuquerque, NM, but after years of travel, both internationally and across the US, she’s lived just outside Fort Payne, AL for almost 10 years. Breanne received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, Portuguese and...
Summer Gilreath is the clinic Lab Manager, and has been with Wills Valley Family Medicine since 2011. Summer grew up in the Sand Mountain area of Northeast Alabama. She first came to the clinic as a student and did her internship with Dr. Koe.
Claudia Moreno is the Office Manager for Wills Valley Family Medicine. She has been an important part of Dr. Koe’s clinic staff since 2008! Claudia lives in Collinsville, AL with her two beautiful children, and has lived here since arriving in the US when she was...
Written by: Dr. Frannie Koe, MD Edited by: Breanne Hughes I was unable to blog because of the chaos of being a medical practitioner at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a crazy year! In the last year and a half, I have seen so many new things, and have...
The Groundhog is a paper written in Mentone and they asked me to write an article for the paper! I was honored so I am including a link below. I wrote this about a week and a half ago so just to update: vitamin D can improve the immune function to help combat...
Hydration is so important to your overall well-being! Water is the best beverage, but it can be plain and unappealing, especially if you are trying to transition away from overly sweetened beverages and sodas. Also, some people just have trouble drinking enough...
Written by: Dr. Frannie Koe, MD Edited by: Breanne Hughes Some of you may already know that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, which is an autoimmune disorder. Besides being a doctor, I am also a person and a patient. I share some of my personal struggles and...
Written by: Dr. Frannie Koe, MD Just because you follow a Keto diet doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy treats. Especially during the holidays and family celebrations, it is nice to have dessert options that are lower in sugar and carbs. I love coconut cream pie,...