Craig Dowden, MD, HMDC

For over 15 years, I’ve been honored to practice family medicine in Fairhope, Alabama—a town I’m proud to serve and call home. From the beginning, I was drawn to family medicine because of a powerful early influence: my own family’s physician. He cared for all of us, across generations, with compassion, skill and genuine connection. When I entered medical school, I never questioned what kind of doctor I wanted to be—this was always my vision of medicine.

My practice is built on that same foundation of lasting, personal relationships. By affiliating with MDVIP, I offer a model of care that prioritizes more time and attention given to patients. With a smaller patient panel, I can focus on what matters most—your unique health goals, your story and your journey. Through preventive, evidence-based care and same-day or next-day appointments, I aim to be the kind of physician you can reach when you need help, and the one you trust to guide your health decisions.

While I practice conventional, evidence-based medicine, I remain open to alternative therapies when they support your personal goals. I believe that healthcare should be both scientifically grounded and individually meaningful.

I also bring a unique depth of experience in hospice and palliative medicine. I am a board-certified hospice medical director and have provided inpatient hospice and palliative care at Thomas Hospital for almost a decade. I’m comfortable discussing healthcare goals in the most difficult circumstances, and I believe this perspective helps me support patients in navigating their health priorities at every stage of life.

Continuity is a key value in my practice. I provide inpatient care at Thomas Hospital when my patients are admitted, and my role there also allows me to maintain strong daily relationships with the specialists to whom I refer—which I believe helps ensure smoother care across settings.

As a former collegiate baseball player at Troy University and a certified Advanced Open Water Diver, I’m passionate about sports and dive medicine. I enjoy helping patients as they pursue staying active, healthy and doing what they love—more safely and confidently.

My MDVIP-affiliated practice offers services, including comprehensive, advanced health screenings and diagnostic tests, that go far beyond those found in concierge medicine practices.

Above all, I’m here to be your doctor—available when you need me, engaged and committed to helping you pursue living your healthiest life.