DRS. JAKE & CHRISTINA MUTCHW&M grads, back in the ‘burg.
Both Virginia natives, Christina and I met at the College of William and Mary in January 2008.
There, we could frequently be found studying health science together in the Wren Building or running with the local club on the trail.
We quickly realized we enjoyed learning about health so much that we became set on pursuing medicine.
OFF TO THE MOUNTAINS Small-town charm, firsthand.
After a brief stint in Richmond, VA for some graduate training, we decided city life just wasn’t for us (no offense, Richmond; we love your kombucha). We married in 2013, and headed west for Lewisburg, WV, where we both attended the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. (What is Osteopathic Medicine?)
Lewisburg radiates small town charm. It has one coffee shop, two bakeries, and a slice of pizza we’re still crazy about. Everybody knows everybody there, and for us, it was the perfect place to learn what it means to be a doctor.
The town is small enough that it’s commonplace to see your own doctor walking down the street on the way to the market. They would wave, say hello, and ask about the family (as the doctor would generally take care of them all).
MOUNTAIN MEDICINE, REVISITEDThe path to family medicine.
In our second year, we spent a month with a medical outreach trip to the Himalayas, eager to see what tending the needs of a mountain village would entail. We didn’t bring much: just the medicine, our supplies, and a folding exam table with us on the plane.
Half a world away, it became clear to us what happens when you remove all the obstacles and distractions. Only one thing remained: the moment shared between the doctor and the patient.
From then on, we were hooked. We wanted to be the type of doctors that would sit down with a patient and do whatever we could to help. We wanted to take care of the whole village. We wanted to be Family Physicians.
With that in mind, Christina and I moved back to where we first met, put out a shingle, and set ourselves to the task of bringing back the small-town feel to doctoring.
ALL-IN ON YOUR HEALTHAs our little practice has grown year after year, we knew we wanted to maintain the highest quality care by keeping the essential ingredients the same: a physician-led, hospitality-trained team that knows how deliver a truly exceptional experience.
To that end, your Physician, Medical Assistant, and Care Navigator all work in concert to attend to your needs, providing a roadmap for your health goals and acting as a guide to get you there.
Meet Your A-Team
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Liana Vulaj
CARE NAVIGATOR
Liana is your health care copilot and problem solver extraordinaire. Not only will she personally introduce you to our style of practice, but she’ll also guide you through the entire health system, clearing obstacles and paving the way for you at every step.
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Ailene Medalla, MD
LEAD PHYSICIAN
Dr. Ailene is your personal guide on the path to wellness. Board-certified in Family Medicine, she’s committed to keeping care high-touch and small-batch. She has a passion for lifestyle medicine and connecting with the community. Best of all, she's committed to giving patients the kind of care worthy of a Michelin star.
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Lauren Walker
CLINICAL ASSISTANT
Lauren is your in-house right hand. She expertly handles blood draws, and also coordinates advanced laboratory diagnostics for our members. In addition, she assists with scheduling and bringing everything together so you and your physician can formulate a plan for next steps.
OUR PRACTICENot your typical doctor’s office.
The cold, unwelcoming doctor’s office you’re used to is gone for good.
We intentionally designed our clinic to ensure a seamless patient experience from start to finish.
HANGING A SHINGLEModern medicine, old-fashioned vibes.
We fell in love with this cottage-style suite on South Henry Street, just past College Landing Park, where Christina and I would often picnic by the water.
The outside of our clinic has the feel of an old country doctor’s office, but is located only a few miles south of Colonial Williamsburg.
Instead of a busy industrial complex or office park as a backdrop, we opted for a peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by woods.
NO MORE WAITING ROOMSGreeted right at the door.
At our practice, there’s no waiting room. That’s because patients don’t wait. For convenience, we do have a lobby area with some local artwork and refreshments for you to enjoy.
Rather than being rushed into an cold exam room and left hanging, at Defiant Direct Primary Care, you’re brought directly into one of our consulting suites, and we begin your appointment right then and there.
OUR CONSULTING SUITESChat with us in a place that feels like home.
We envisioned this space as having natural light and lots of greenery. We want you to have a warm and inviting place where you can feel comfortable talking to someone you trust about your health.
When you begin your appointment with us, we offer you a comfy chair to relax into, so we can really catch up on what's going on in your life. No more rushed visits looking at a doctor's back while they type away at a computer.
When you're here with us, our focus is on you.
