Dr. Monika McLain
My Story
I am thrilled to introduce you to my new Lifelong Primary Care practice, designed to promote optimal health and longevity throughout your lifetime. It has been my privilege to practice internal medicine in Lake County for more than 30 years. Many of my patients have been with me since the beginning of that journey. The thing that brings me the most joy and satisfaction is seeing and supporting them and their health goals through all stages of their lives. Many patients bring their parents and grown children to see me, and earning and maintaining their trust is the most important aspect of my professional life.
This practice is the culmination of ideas and experiences gathered throughout my lifetime, from my early roots in a village in India, moving to the U.S. as a child and following my dreams of going into medicine. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the University of Michigan Medical School and then residency programs sponsored by the University of Illinois and University of Chicago. That foundation was important, but even more impactful has been what I’ve learned in the 30 years after my formal training was complete. So much of primary care is keeping up with new learning and approaches, while also listening to your patients and understanding their goals and struggles. Those experiences have made me open to different approaches from the emerging fields of integrative medicine, holistic care, and longevity discoveries.
As I’ve navigated the past 30+ years of providing patient care, I’ve taken the time to reflect on what works and what could be improved. The number one thing on that list is being able to spend more time with my patients. I have always valued spending time with each patient, because to provide the best care you need to understand as much as you can about your patient. Primary care is more than applying the knowledge from our medical education, it’s about sitting down and learning as much as you can about your patients. How did they get to where they are in their health journey? What are their biggest challenges? Are they getting the support they need in their day-to-day lives? Are their mental and physical health needs being addressed? This practice is designed to go beyond the constraints of traditional medical offices and enable a true unlimited dialogue between doctor and patient.
I’m well aware of how difficult it has become to get an appointment with your doctor. I want Lifelong Primary Care to be built around making your care accessible, practical and impactful in ways that will help you throughout your life. The practice will be accepting a limited number of patients. When you are sick, you will have access to your doctor. When you need a physical, we will provide it as part of your care plan, without months of waiting. When you have a question or need some advice, we will be available by phone or electronic messaging. Appointments will be available in most cases within a week, often the same day or following day. Basic tests will be run in our office with a minimum of waiting. I look forward to sharing information with my patients and updating them on the latest developments so they can partner with me to optimize their health and longevity.
I am excited to join with you as we navigate your health care journey together.