EP #129 Inside Dynamic Medical Centers’ Bold Expansion

What if your doctor’s office felt more like a community and less like a system? We sit down with Dr. Dannielle VonDerLinden, podiatrist and president of Dynamic Medical Centers, to explore how a trusted foot and ankle practice evolved into a comprehensive, non-operative musculoskeletal hub serving Fredericksburg and beyond. The story isn’t just a rebrand; it’s a blueprint for expanding services while keeping heart.

We talk about the decision to move from Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center to Dynamic Medical Centers and what that means for patients: integrated non-operative sports medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and interventional pain medicine under one roof. Dannielle shares the daily rhythms that protect culture—morning huddles, reading the mission, and celebrating a patient win—to ensure every visit feels personal, not corporate. If you’ve ever felt like “just a number,” this conversation shows how a clinic can scale without losing its soul.

Dannielle traces her path from Florida training to Fredericksburg practice, the leap to entrepreneurship, and the long-game value of podiatry: hands-on care, long-term relationships, and sustainable work-life balance. She opens up about losing both parents to addiction and how grief reshaped her leadership with empathy and resolve. That experience drives a simple North Star—exceed expectations when patients choose the team to be part of their care—and a practical care model that favors non-operative solutions first, with targeted interventions when they matter most.

We also step outside the clinic. Dannielle’s love for travel, skiing, and local hikes reflects a belief that motion is medicine. Her pride in the region—access to mountains, beaches, and DC culture, anchored by Fredericksburg’s small-town warmth—underscores why a neighborhood-based medical center can make a big-city impact. Whether you need sports injury care, PT or OT support, interventional pain guidance, or expert foot and ankle treatment, you’ll find coordinated expertise and a team that knows your name.

If this resonates, share it with a neighbor, subscribe for more local stories, and leave a review with one word that defines great care for you. Your feedback helps more people find patient-first healthcare close to home.

Dr. Dannielle VonDerLinden

Dynamic Medical Centers

dynamicmedcenters.com

contactus@dynamicfac.com

+1 571-418-8670

9010 Lorton Station Blvd, Suite 270, Lorton, VA, United States, 22079

Transcript

Speaker 0:01

This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.

Speaker 2 0:13

Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I have a special guest joining me today. We've got Dr. Dannielle Von Der Linden, and she is with Dynamic Medical Centers, formally Dynamic Foot and Ankle Center. She is a podiatrist and president of the company. Dr. VonDer Linden, welcome to the podcast. Thank you, Dori. Thanks for having me. Such a privilege. I'm excited to dive in and learn more about you and learn more about your business. So let's start with the business side. Share with us a little bit about dynamic medical centers.

Speaker 1 0:58

Yes, uh, great question. We're going through quite an incredible transition right now. We formerly dynamic foot and ankle centers. Uh, we have currently two locations. We've been in practice, we celebrated 10 years last year, which was certainly a milestone. And we I'm just so proud of our team, our doctors, and just grateful to our patients that we've been able to service so many of our patients and really be a brand in our prospective communities. And from that, we started seeing that there's much more that we can provide for our patients, for our communities, and building off what we've what we've already built and building off of our mission and off of our culture, we have now moved into dynamic medical centers so that we can start servicing more of our patients' needs. And what that is gonna, what that is looking like is uh non-operative sports medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and interventional pain medicine in addition to our foot and ankle care that we do.

Speaker 2 2:03

Amazing. Well, first of all, congratulations on meeting that 10-year milestone. That's a really big deal. Thank you. And congratulations on adding the additional services, hence the name change. So that's really exciting. That's a lot of changes and a lot to celebrate.

Mission, Team Energy, And Growth

Speaker 1 2:22

Absolutely. And my team, like, you know, I'm finding like my team gives me so much fuel because seeing them be so excited about the change, it's like, oh, we just we got to keep doing this, we got to keep really keeping uh the mission and the patient in mind as we move through um our days, our years, and that's really what's driving us.

Danielle’s Path Into Podiatry

Speaker 2 2:44

Amazing, amazing. So I want to learn more about you. Tell me a little bit about your background and how you got into this field. Yeah, excellent.

Going All In As An Entrepreneur

Speaker 1 2:55

Uh so I grew up in Florida. I did uh my uh undergrad and my master's at the University of Florida, and then I moved on to South Florida and I did my podiatry training. I knew I always wanted to be in some type of healthcare, perhaps some maybe medicine. And I was thinking of the different specialties, and I realized that podiatry allowed me to have the type of relationships that were that could be long-term, which some of that trauma-based or surgical, very heavily surgical-based specialty doesn't always add, doesn't always warrant or allow for a very long-term relationship. In addition to it gave a certain level of flexibility to um, you know, it wasn't super crazy after hours work. So it gave me the life, work-life balance that appealed to me. And uh so I then worked, started my first position in Fredericksburg, actually from Florida. Um, I worked at a clinic there for about five years. And then I just was, I always say, this is the day I became unemployable. It was the day that I just didn't want to work for anybody else and really just went off on my own. And it's not that common as much these days where doctors go out and set up shop on their own. There's certain barriers to entry, I would say to that. But I just, I just I couldn't go any other way. Like it was just, it was already certain inside of me that I went all in on myself and started the practice up in Laurent, Virginia, and then moved down back to where I knew so great coming back down to Fredericksburg because so many of the patients that I had treated previously were right there, ready to see us again. And even though I had some patients follow me in Lorton, um, it was still a bit of a distance. So it was really great to come back to Fredericksburg and see some of my old friends, my old patients that still see us today since I first started.

Debunking Corporate-Style Healthcare

Speaker 2 4:51

I love that you just said that you went all in on yourself. I think that's such a great message for everyone listening to go, you know, bet on yourself, go in all in on yourself. I love that. Absolutely. So, what is something that maybe you hear often, some myths or misconceptions about the industry? About the industry of either the industry or about your business in particular.

Speaker 1 5:22

Myths uh misconceptions. Um well, I think that's something that we have been really adamant. I I certainly was adamant about it once we hung our shingle, was that I think in the healthcare space, people can often feel like they're just a number. And you know, I don't think any doctor or healthcare provider gets into the specialty saying, Oh, I want my intention is for my patient to feel like they're just a number. Nobody would want that. But yet, as um, you know, corporations or companies get bigger, um, there's um a lot of layers in between that patient care and sometimes it can feel a little corporate for the patient experience, and it doesn't feel um more personal. So when we started, I was I always have this vision that when people, and I would tell them I tell this to my team, I want that when people walk out of our office, they are like almost slabbergasted. Like, what was that experience that I just had? Like, I want people to think that we've set the standard for their care, their care system. And it's something I stand by today, and it's something that we we like to believe we're delivering on. And we have we have some of the most beautiful reviews like every day coming in from our patients that they feel like they're a part of the family, they, you know, our team knows their name when they come back, and that's really what I'm committed to. And I know it's hard for providers to keep delivering on that, especially when they've got like insurance challenges, all these things, but it's really a misconception that I and my team are dedicated to overcoming in the healthcare space.

Personal Adversity And Resilience

Speaker 2 7:08

I love that. I love that you mentioned that. It's so important to think about your patient experience. And it says a lot that you're able to continue doing that through 10 years and through growth and expansion. So uh big kudos to you for that. Thank you. So let's switch gears a little bit. Can you describe a challenge or maybe a hardship that you've gone through, either personally or in business, that you can say now that you're on the other side of it, you're stronger, better for it?

Speaker 1 7:44

Yeah, I mean, certainly. I mean, that's the deal with life, right? That's the assignment, is we're gonna have some challenges. And in fact, if I met a person who says they have no challenges, I almost would feel sorry for them because that's where real character is built, at least what I have found. Um, you know, it's like tinkering quickly, like, oh, do I how how personal do I share? And um yeah, I want to share personally because it's been such a defining time in my life that probably has lent itself to a great degree of who I am and what I resent re represent in my life. And I would say seeing my parents, both my mom and my dad, I'm an only child, but seeing my parents struggle uh emotionally, um they struggled with addiction. And unfortunately, it's very sad to see someone you love go through go through that experience. In fact, due to their addiction, they they they passed earlier in life. And I remember when I was younger, many times, like you know, being angry and kind of cursing, you know, my circumstance, why do I have this? And maybe in some ways it sort of lent itself to me being like, I'm gonna, you know, be different and I'm not gonna be that. And there's a value in that, but then eventually that wears away in life, and realizing like one of the greatest things that I'm I'm I've revolutionized in my life from that experience is realizing that I had the perfect parents that I needed in order to become the woman that I'm proud to be, because I I have compassion for my parents who struggled, and I know that they were fighters, and I know that you know, if it wasn't for my parents, like I would not be here. Like, thank you, mom and dad. And it's also given me the ability to stand on their shoulders and be an example to them as well, even in their passing. And it's wild because I feel like I have a deeper relationship with my mom and my dad in my heart than I ever did when they were in the physical form. So I just have a lot of like if anything went any other way, like I may not be here. And I'm I'm really proud to be where I am and I'm proud to be where I'm going. And I think like witnessing that their struggle, it's made me um really be intentional about how I move in my life, about how like what the mission is I carry in my life. So I have a lot, I have the deepest gratitude and empathy for these two individuals that were on a path.

Measuring A Life By Relationships

Speaker 2 10:27

Thank you for sharing that. I imagine there's a lot of people that um maybe needed to hear that message because you have taken something really beautiful out of the situation. Thank you.

Speaker 1 10:42

I know that uh it is hard to share sometimes. So thank you for that. Yeah, it's it's really it's been such, you know, it's hindsight is always 2020, of course. I probably didn't know this at 18 years old, certainly. But looking back and like, wow, like you think if any piece was any other different, it was any other way, like I may not be the person I am today. And you know, to be able to look in the mirror and say, like, I'm proud of who I am, and proud of like, you know, I always wonder, like, how do you grade the other quality of life? Like what makes your what makes one life's one's life good or great. And I always think it's really about like for me, it always comes to the relationships that I have. That's how I measure success. And had I not had the certain life experiences, I wouldn't be, you know, have built a relationship with myself and have built the beautiful relationships with my family and my friends, my peers, and my team. Um, and subsequently, of course, a patient. So it's just yeah, I think that's one great measure to measure the richness of your life, the quality of your relationships.

Hobbies, Travel, And Local Life

Speaker 2 11:55

Absolutely. Absolutely. And I love that you carry that through now to your team and your patients. So that's uh they're getting they're getting a wonderful part of you because of it. Thank you. So, on a lighter note, when I know that you are very busy as uh president of the company, so when you're not busy in business, what are you doing for fun?

Speaker 1 12:24

Gosh, I have such a fun life too. Um I do a myriad of things, certainly. Certainly, I love to travel, and I have a peer group that I travel with. Like we were just skiing a few weeks ago. I go on a ski trip once a year with them. I go, uh we do an adventure trip once a year, and we just decided we're going to Thailand. So travel is certainly and seeing the world, experiencing other cultures is something important to me. But you don't, I don't travel every weekend. So what am I doing? And the other my other free time. Uh, I would say spending quality time with my friends and my family is a priority for sure. Um, I love to be in the outdoors, I love hiking, I love just being in nature anytime I can. I love you know the mountains. Actually, I grew up in Florida, so I was always like a beach girl. And actually, I was born in New Jersey, but grew up in Florida and we were at the Jersey Shore, so I was always by the water. And then moving up here almost 16 years ago, I'm like, there's not like the most direct access to water, and it's just different. Everything like in Florida, everything's so flat. And here it's like you've got some, you know, some altered terrain, and there's some really great hikes around town, and I just and the mountains aren't far away, so I've really had a new love for that as well. So yeah, I keep it, there's lots of variety in my life, thankfully. I love that.

Speaker 2 13:46

Yeah, I always say this is such a wonderful place to live because we do have access to the beaches, but then we've got the mountains, and then we've got the culture of DC, and you know, the city of Fredericksburg is such a little hallmark town. We just kind of have the best of everything here.

Speaker 1 14:03

Yeah, Fredericksburg has great personality. I'm always like feel warmed when I just really get to experience the salt of you know the salt of the earth people in Fredericksburg. I just it's like no other, honestly.

Daily Mission And Patient Experience

Speaker 2 14:17

Yeah, yeah, I agree. I love it. So, what is something that you wish the listeners knew about dynamic medical centers?

Speaker 1 14:29

Well, I think that if you come to see us, you will instantly know who we are and what we represent. I I would say, you know, we read our mission and our vision and our values every single morning of our morning huddle. Every team member, all the team gets together and we read that every morning because that is our North Star every single day. Being in our mission statement, one of the lines is exceeding expectations when patients choose us to be a part of their healthcare team. Uh, and that's always, always the North Star of delivering at the next levels to our patients. So I want people to know that we are committed to that mission every day, every patient interaction. And my hope is that the patient has that experience when they come into our practice. So I think that's what I want them to know: that it is our mission, it is our commitment to deliver on exceeding your expectations when you choose us. So that's the message I would want people to know. Amazing.

Speaker 2 15:33

What great leadership to have your uh huddle and be reminded every single day of why you're there. And uh that's just um everything that you do, you know, goes back to those statements. And so I love that you do that. That's really cool.

Speaker 1 15:53

Yeah, and one other thing we add in is that every morning we say a patient from the day before that we delivered extra on our mission to. So it's always it's in our mindset all the time. How can we deliver? That is so cool.

How To Connect And Closing

Speaker 2 16:07

Yeah, I love that. So if the listeners want to connect with you or learn more about dynamic medical centers, how can they find you?

Speaker 1 16:18

Uh, they can certainly uh reach and go to our the best thing, probably go to our website, dynamic medical center, sorry, dynamicmedcenters.com or dynamicfac.com. We're in a bit of a transition as we're going through this a really exciting time in our practice as we're opening up for new specialties. So dynamicfac.com or dynamicmedcenters.com. Amazing.

Speaker 2 16:42

Dr. VonDer Linden, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing dynamic medical centers with us.

Speaker 1 16:50

Dori, the pleasure has been mine. Thank you.

Speaker 16:54

Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.