Working with a local doctor in medical school put Dr. David Gilchrist on the path to becoming a family practice physician. “I was paired up with a long-time family physician at the site where I was training,” he explains. “The way he practiced instantly clicked and made sense to me…the way he took into consideration the entire family when examining a patient’s health. I soon realized that was the way I wanted to practice.”

At Reliant, Dr. Gilchrist helps patients with a wide range of issues and also enjoys doing procedures in the office such as skin biopsies and joint injections. He is also experienced in women’s health and can perform IUD insertions, endometrial biopsies and other gynecological care.

According to Dr. Gilchrist, one of the biggest problems he sees patients struggle with is obesity, which can lead to many other health problems down the road. “Many patients are not eating right and caring for themselves like they need to. Often, there are multiple reasons for this. For instance, patients don’t always have access to fresh, nutritious food or safe places where kids can play to get exercise. It can be hard for physicians to address all of these problems because they are really issues related to our societal decisions and social determinants of health. However, we have to try to educate patients as best we can and help them to make positive changes for their health.”

Dr. Gilchrist likes to use a patient-centered approach to caring. “I look for ways to help patients make better lifestyle choices to improve their health. Instead of prescribing drugs, I prefer to get patients to understand how their health and lifestyle are connected.  I want to show them how they can avoid medications and allow the body to heal itself. If patients make improvements in their lifestyle they can really make an impact on their health in areas such as high cholesterol levels and the onset of type 2 diabetes.”

Dr. Gilchrist truly enjoys practicing in Worcester and being part of the greater community. “I enjoy getting to know patients and providing the kind of care that meets their needs,” he explains. “I like seeing my patients around town and working in the community that I live. It makes me feel that we are part of the community together.”

When he is not busy helping patients Dr. Gilchrist likes to spend time as possible with his family, including his four children. When he’s not busy tending to his vegetable garden he keeps in shape by competing in triathlons. Dr. Gilchrist also enjoys traveling with recent trips to Germany and Italy.