Health Quest Medical Care has been serving the Owensboro community for more than a decade, providing primary care for adults 18 and older with a focus on individualized treatment and compassionate service.
Led by Dr. Jennifer Martin, Health Quest offers traditional medical services such as physicals, chronic condition management, stitches, and minor procedures including ingrown toenail removal and treatment of skin lesions — all without the need for anesthesia.
“I’m the only physician here,” Martin said. “It’s just me — no nurse practitioner, no PA. That’s how it’s been for 11 years.”
Before entering primary care, Martin spent 14 years as a surgeon, but an autoimmune disease affecting her vision prompted a career change. In 2014, she took over Health Quest from founder Dr. Ruth Wheland, who established the practice in 1999. After much prayer and reflection, Martin accepted the challenge — despite initial hesitation about stepping into primary care.
“I enjoy the detective work of medicine,” Martin said. “I spend time talking with patients and really listening. A lot of what’s going on in someone’s life comes out in those conversations.”
She said her slower, more intentional approach allows her to see about 16-18 patients a day, compared to the much higher volume in other practices.
“If I ever had to see 40 or 50 people a day, I’d quit,” she said. “That’s when mistakes happen. I’d never be able to do the kind of care I believe in.”
After nearly walking away from the practice during a difficult time that included the unexpected passing of her mother, Martin instead found renewed purpose by expanding into wellness services. She launched HQ Wellness, a sister brand offering hormone replacement therapy, non-surgical facelifts, and medical-grade aesthetic treatments.
“My goal is to help people feel good on the inside and look good on the outside,” she said. “Hormone therapy has been a game-changer for so many. I see it in their labs, I hear it in their stories — they feel better, and it shows.”
HQ Wellness uses hormone pellets that are inserted under the skin, slowly dissolving over months to provide a steady release of testosterone or estrogen. The method, Martin said, helps avoid the highs and lows of traditional hormone injections and offers long-term benefits with minimal maintenance.
Health Quest and HQ Wellness now operate out of an expanded location that Martin renovated herself, featuring exam rooms, a full lab, and a spa area for aesthetic treatments.
“We gutted it, tore down walls, made it our own,” she said. “It’s two-and-a-half times bigger than our old place and gives us the space to do it right.”
While she’s experimented in the past with bringing on additional providers, Martin said she’s comfortable maintaining a small team and prefers keeping her hands in every aspect of the business — from billing to patient care.
“I thought about giving it all up,” she said. “But I just couldn’t leave my patients. I know I’m making a difference. That’s what keeps me going.”
For more information on Health Quest Medical Care or HQ Wellness, visit healthquestmedcare.com.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.
By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times