Craig Dowden, MD, HMDC
Family Medicine
Get Started Today
About 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.
Saint Petersburg, FL
Family Medicine 2006-2008
Chief Resident
Saint Petersburg, FL
2005-2006
Shreveport, LA
Doctorate of Medicine 2005
Troy, AL
Bachelor of Science, Biology 2000
Summa Cum Laude
Hospice Medical Director Board
Adjunct Faculty, Family Medicine, University of South Alabama School of Medicine 2009-present
Adjunct Faculty, Family Medicine, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine 2019-present
Medical Director, St. Joseph Hospice 2022-present
Medical Director, ProHealth Home Health 2022-present
Medical Director, Comfort Care Coastal Hospice 2015-2022
Adjunct Faculty, Family Medicine, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine 2024-present
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Baldwin County Medical Society
Benefits of joining Dr. Dowden's practice with MDVIP
The office of Craig Dowden, MD, HMDC
| Mon | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Fri | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Sat | Closed |
| Sun | Closed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Doctors who operate in the MDVIP models typically see far fewer patients than traditional primary care doctors. That gives them more time to develop deeper doctor-patient relationships that can lead to better outcomes. They can also offer conveniences that most primary care doctors can’t, including same- and next-day appointments. They’re available after hours for urgent matters. And they have time to focus on prevention. That focus begins with the MDVIP Wellness Program, which patients pay for with their annual membership fee.
Most MDVIP-affiliated primary care practices accept insurance (your physician can tell you whether they accept your specific insurance plan). Your annual fee pays for preventive care medical services that insurance usually doesn’t cover (e.g., advanced diagnostic testing and screenings). Your MDVIP-affiliated physician will continue to bill your insurance and charge copays, co-insurances and deductibles as he or she currently does for other medical services like sick visits.
MDVIP makes wellness and prevention easier by providing your physician with innovative tools and technology. MDVIP supports your physician’s practice and seeks to eliminate barriers to a positive healthcare experience. Your doctor will determine whether and how to incorporate these tools at his/her discretion.
**The message above is a personal introduction from the physician, intended to help you get to know them better. The views, opinions, and statements expressed above are solely those of the physician and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of MDVIP. This content is intended for general background purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any mentions of expertise or quality of care are personal expressions and should not be interpreted as guarantees of performance or outcomes.