Losing a doctor who has seen you through a decade of flu shots, weird rashes, and high blood pressure scares feels a lot like losing a family member. For many people in Santa Rosa County, that’s exactly the reality they are processing right now. If you’ve been searching for dr kellen gulf breeze recently, you might have noticed some changes at the office or heard the news that has been circulating through the local community.
Honestly, it’s a tough pill to swallow. David Provoost Kellen, MD, wasn't just another name on a white coat; he was a fixture in the Gulf Breeze medical scene for over twenty years. He passed away in December 2024 at the age of 64, leaving behind a massive gap in primary care services and a lot of heartbroken patients.
Who Was Dr. Kellen?
Dr. Kellen was the kind of guy who had deep roots in the Panhandle. Although he was born in Alabama, he moved to Pensacola as a teenager. He didn't actually start out in medicine—he spent twelve years working for Exxon in New Orleans first. But eventually, he found his way to Tulane University and later the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.
By the time he set up shop at 2896 Gulf Breeze Parkway, he was a seasoned pro. He wasn't just a doctor; he was the Chief of Staff at Gulf Breeze Hospital at one point and served on the Baptist Health Care Board of Directors. Basically, if something was happening in local healthcare, he was likely in the middle of it.
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The Straight-Shooter Reputation
You know how some doctors give you that corporate, "everything is fine" smile while barely looking up from their tablet? That wasn't really his style. Patients who saw him at Baptist Medical Group Primary Care – Live Oak often mention his "tell it like it is" attitude.
He was professional, sure, but he had this dry humor that made the scary stuff feel a bit more manageable. One long-term patient mentioned they’d been seeing him since the days of paper charts—back when medical records were actual physical folders and not just flickering screens. That kind of longevity is rare these days.
What’s Happening With the Practice Now?
If you were a regular at the Live Oak office, you’re probably wondering where to go next. The clinic at 2896 Gulf Breeze Parkway is part of the Baptist Medical Group, which means they have a system in place for transitions, but it’s never quite the same.
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- Baptist Medical Group – Live Oak: The office is still a major hub for family medicine.
- The Team: You’ll still see familiar faces like William Zimmern, MD, and the various nurse practitioners and physician assistants who worked alongside him.
- Records: Since it's a large network, your medical history isn't just going to vanish, which is a relief for anyone managing chronic conditions.
It's weirdly quiet in that corner of the Parkway now. You've got the standard Gulf Breeze traffic humming outside, but inside, there's a definite sense of an era ending.
Navigating Primary Care in Gulf Breeze
Finding a new primary care physician (PCP) in the 32563 area code can be a bit of a headache. Most offices are packed, and several local favorites aren't even taking new patients right now.
If you are currently looking for a replacement for dr kellen gulf breeze, you have a few options within the same neighborhood. Ascension Sacred Heart has a primary care center nearby on the Parkway, and there’s always the Baptist Tiger Point location just down the road.
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Keep in mind that Florida’s medical landscape is always shifting. Doctors retire, move, or—as in this case—pass away unexpectedly. It’s a good reminder to keep a physical or digital copy of your most important labs and "med lists" just in case your preferred office undergoes a sudden change.
Actionable Steps for Former Patients
If you were under Dr. Kellen’s care, here is what you need to do to keep your health on track:
- Contact Baptist Medical Group: Call the Live Oak office directly to see which provider is covering his former patient load. Don't wait until you run out of refills to make this call.
- Request Your Summary: Ask for a "Patient Care Summary" through the portal. It’s much easier to hand this to a new doctor than to wait for a full record transfer which can take weeks.
- Check Your Specialist Referrals: If he wrote you a referral for a cardiologist or dermatologist recently, verify that it’s still valid. Sometimes these need a "live" signature from an active physician to be processed by insurance.
- Look Locally: If you want to stay in Gulf Breeze, check out the providers at the Tiger Point medical hubs. Both Baptist and Ascension have large footprints there with multiple family medicine docs.
It’s a big loss for the community. Dr. Kellen was one of those rare doctors who actually knew his patients' names without looking at the chart first. For now, the best way to honor that kind of care is to stay on top of your own health and find a new provider who respects that same "straight-talk" tradition.