Philosophy & Approach
The principles behind how we care: whole-person, preventive, personalized, and relationship-based medicine.
14 articles
What is Direct Primary Care and how is it different from conventional healthcare?DPC means your care is relationship-based, not rushed. You get real access, time, and attention — not billing codes and waitlists.
What makes Fishtown Medicine different from other primary care practices?We focus on convenience, empowerment, and prevention — with modern tools and a deeply personal doctor-patient relationship.
Is your care holistic? Do you use integrative or functional medicine?Dr. Ash is an MD who blends internal medicine with root-cause thinking and integrative tools — always grounded in what works.
What is your approach to preventive care?We use labs, genetics, and lifestyle data to prevent decline early — and build energy, clarity, and resilience for decades to come.
What do other patients say about Fishtown Medicine?Patients say they finally feel heard, cared for, and supported — with fast, personalized care that fits their life.
Who is Dr. Ash and what inspired Fishtown Medicine?Dr. Ash created Fishtown Medicine to offer deeply personal, proactive care rooted in trust, prevention, and real relationships.
How Fishtown Medicine works — and why it feels so differentFrom same-day messaging to strategic prevention, here’s how we help you feel better, stay ahead of illness, and stay out of the system.
What are “The Four Horsemen” — and why do we focus on them?We focus on the top 4 drivers of decline: heart disease, cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disease — early, clearly, and personally.
Why we ask so many questions — and how your input shapes your careThe more you share, the more we can tailor care to your body, history, and goals — it’s what makes your plan truly personal.
What does “trauma-informed” and “judgment-free” care mean?We meet you where you are — with care that’s respectful, safe, and never shaming. Here’s what that means in practice.
How we create a personalized care plan that actually worksWe don’t copy-paste your labs into a template. We build your plan from the ground up — using data, context, and strategy.
How genetic sex is determined — and why it’s more complex than XX or XYGenetics play a role in sex — but they’re not the whole story. Here’s how chromosomes shape (and don’t always define) our biology.
Nervous system regulation: How your body heals from stress and traumaTrauma lives in the body. These tools help regulate your nervous system — so you can feel safe, present, and steady again.
Should I use hand sanitizer — or just wash my hands?Soap and water protect more than you think. Here’s why we recommend limiting hand sanitizer — and what to use instead.