Hope, Healing, and Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Dr. Brian Doss

In this episode of Vitals & Voices, we welcome Dr. Brian Doss, one of the newest physicians to join Lexington Regional Health Center’s Family Medicine team. Raised on a farm in rural Texas and trained through one of the nation’s few combined Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine residency programs, Dr. Doss brings a unique perspective on caring for patients of all ages and stages of life.
During this conversation, Dr. Doss shares his journey into medicine, why he was drawn to rural healthcare, and how his training prepares him to provide comprehensive care ranging from preventive family medicine and obstetrics to emergency care and endoscopic procedures. He also talks about what brought him and his family to Lexington, his patient-centered approach to care, and even gives us a glimpse into life outside the clinic—including homemade cinnamon rolls, home renovation projects, and settling into Nebraska life.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Dr. Doss’s path from rural Texas to rural Nebraska
• How public health and medicine work together to improve communities
• What makes combined Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine training unique
• The broad range of services he provides, including family medicine, obstetrics, emergency care, colonoscopies, and upper endoscopies
• His philosophy of listening to patients and providing personalized care
• Why he chose Lexington Regional Health Center and the Lexington community

Why This Episode Matters:
Finding the right healthcare provider is about more than credentials—it's about finding someone who listens, understands your goals, and partners with you throughout your healthcare journey. Dr. Doss is passionate about caring for patients across generations and believes in treating the whole person, not just the condition.
Whether you're looking for a new primary care provider, interested in learning more about the physicians serving our community, or simply want to get to know one of Lexington Regional Health Center's newest providers, this episode offers a warm introduction to a physician dedicated to helping patients leave each visit with hope and confidence in their care.

Vitals & Voices is a podcast powered by Lexington Regional Health Center, offering meaningful health conversations that matter to you. Each episode features authentic stories and expert insights from the people behind the care — including healthcare professionals, wellness advocates, community leaders, and patients — all aimed at helping you live your healthiest, most informed life.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Vitals and Voices. Today we are excited to welcome one of our newest members of our Lexington Regional Health Center family, Dr. Brian Doss. Dr. Doss recently joined our family medicine team and he brings an incredibly unique background, including specialized training in both family medicine and emergency medicine. He's also passionate about caring for families across every stage of life. So, Dr. Doss, thanks for coming on our podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

So, I mean, let's just start from the beginning. Tell us about, you know, who you are, where are you from.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

I like to tell people I'm a hick from the sticks. I was grew up in, or I was born in Oklahoma, but grew up in Southeast Texas.

SPEAKER_00 0:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 0:45

Uh, on a farm in a national forest. Our nearest town was 10 minutes away, had 900 people. Uh, and it had one stoplight.

SPEAKER_00 0:54

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 0:55

And then somehow went from there to the cities for my medical training. And I'm very happy to be back in a rural area again.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

What drew you into medicine, or when did you, I mean, first be like, yeah, I mean, I could be a doctor. I'm interested in that.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

I think it started with the farm I was raised on. We had 30 horses.

SPEAKER_00 1:15

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_01 1:15

And we would often like the the vet was an hour and a half away. So we started taking care of them ourselves as much as we could, and I loved it. Um, but I never grew out of my allergy to horses or cats or dogs or what?

SPEAKER_00 1:30

Like you just sneeze, or it's just really bad?

SPEAKER_01 1:32

It's bad. Uh I just learned not to touch my eyes.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

But people are okay? People are fine.

SPEAKER_00 1:39

Okay, good.

SPEAKER_01 1:39

And I I found out I like taking care of people more. I just like helping people. And that's good. There's no one set thing. It was just like a like an inner pull, if you will.

SPEAKER_00 1:50

So you attended Texas AM University before earning your Master of Public Health and Medical Degree. You know, tell us about that public health. Why, why that in addition to medicine?

SPEAKER_01 2:01

At the time, and still a little bit, I feel this way. Like if you're a physician, you're caring for the person in front of you. But so much of health is beyond what can be done in the office. It's reaching people at home through in the community. And that's what I think public health brings me is a little bit of that perspective.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

Okay. I love that. So you recently completed emergency medicine and family medicine residency, which is only a few programs in the country. I mean, what made that sound appealing to you? That I mean, that just sounds like a lot.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

It was, I didn't know how much it would be going into it. But I wanted rural family medicine uh ever pretty much the whole entire time I was in medical school. And so I applied when I was trying to get into residency, I was trying to do anything that would prepare me for rural family medicine. And I stumbled upon the program uh like a month before applications were due. And thought this sounds perfect. Didn't didn't realize how much work it would be, but I thought it sounded perfect and tweaked my application a little bit, applied it, and I loved it. They loved me, and that was it.

SPEAKER_00 3:17

How do you think that prepared you? I mean, like you said, for a rural medicine or for what you're you know doing here now, Alex.

SPEAKER_01 3:24

It I think the more the urgent and emergent care side of things, it prepares you well.

unknown 3:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Um some things I hope I'll never see again, like all the gunshots I took care of, but other things it prepares you well for even the craziest scenarios.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Always ready.

SPEAKER_01 3:39

Always ready.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

So, with you being a family medicine doctor, I mean, such a unique opportunity to care for patients across so many generations and seeing everything. I mean, what drew you into that broad specialty?

SPEAKER_01 3:53

I think I just like everything. And I don't like not being able to take care of someone because they're too young, they're too old, they're the wrong gender. I just I don't want to not be able to take care of someone.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

Anyone that walked through the doors?

SPEAKER_01 4:07

I want to be able to help.

SPEAKER_00 4:08

You'll see. So, one thing with that too, family medicine. You're gonna deliver babies too, is that right?

SPEAKER_01 4:14

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 4:15

Got the obstetric side. Um, talk to us a little bit about emergency care. That's I mean, that's a unique one that I know our other MDs don't offer that, but you know, curious about your curiosity for that.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

It's it's more prepares you for when the the unexpected happens. Because at least more of like where I did my training, half of emergency the emergency care I provided was really family medicine clinic care. And they just didn't have a physician to go to in the clinic.

unknown 4:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

And then the other half was people got into a car wreck or they it was Christmas Day and they broke their arm on the new toy. And it being able to care for that. And it gives you a a different perspective. And and let then the clinic side of it lets you see what care is needed after you, like you put their arm in a cast and you keep taking care of them.

SPEAKER_00 5:07

I love that continuity of care of we're gonna take care of you no matter what.

SPEAKER_01 5:12

No matter what happens, we can take care of you.

SPEAKER_00 5:14

Talk to us a little bit about the scopes too. I know that that's I mean, another edition of something they're able to provide. Tell us, you know, what what type of scopes you'll be doing or what kind of patients you can see for that.

SPEAKER_01 5:25

I'll be doing both colonoscopies and EGDs. That's like it's called colloquially called the upper scope, like through your mouth into your stomach.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

Okay. Um why would somebody need that?

SPEAKER_01 5:35

If you're worried about cancer, if you're worried about like certain infections like H. pylori, if you're having really bad reflux, especially if it starts after around like 55. Okay. It's something to uh you'd want one of those scopes to just to make sure everything's okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:51

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

And then for the colonoscopies, if you're bleeding uh when you have a bowel movement, or if you just need to get checked for colon cancer.

SPEAKER_00 5:58

If if you're at that age, it's it's time to come see us. So most of the time you are going to be in the family medicine clinic, but in addition, like we just talked about, being able to see patients, you know, taking some shifts in the emergency department and then scopes as well to an outpatient. Yes. Is that right? Okay. I love you're I mean, you're just gonna be everywhere, which is awesome. Is there any, I know you said you'll see patients of all ages, but is there any patient populations you're especially excited to serve?

SPEAKER_01 6:27

I don't think so. I think it's just everyone.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

Just everyone. Just seeing it.

SPEAKER_01 6:31

And just just going for it.

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Seeing what comes. So I know you had many opportunities, I'm sure, across the country of, you know, when you graduated, you know, where you wanted to go, but what stood out to you about Lexington, about Lexington Regional Health Center that made you want to come here?

SPEAKER_01 6:46

It was the people. The people were extremely friendly. And my wife fell in love with everyone. Um I talked to probably six or seven different, like either practices or hospital groups, and it they didn't stand out.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

I mean, that just gives me goosebumps. We're we're just so excited that you're here. Is there something about Lexington that just, I mean, made it a good fit for your family? Or now that you know you're living here, what's what's driving well?

SPEAKER_01 7:18

I can't think of anything that's not driving well. It's the problem. That there's there's no one thing, it's just everything. Um if you ask by three-year-old, he says it's because there's more sticks in the backyard. Seems like everyone's loving it.

SPEAKER_00 7:31

Good. I well, we're for sure loving it here too. So Dr. Doss, we've kind of done the medical side of things. So now if you're up for it, are you up for some fun questions as well too? Okay. So when you are not seeing patients, what are some of the favorite hobbies or interests that you have?

SPEAKER_01 7:46

I like building things, like refurbishing like our previous house that we did. We like replaced the floors, did some redid some plumbing and electrical work, repainted, redid the fence and landscaping, just fixing things up.

SPEAKER_00 8:00

Well, I mean, what can't you do? Can you fish? No. Okay. Okay. We found something, you guys. That's okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

I dro I drown worms. My wife loves fishing, though.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

Okay. See, we we got it in the household.

SPEAKER_01 8:12

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 8:12

So is there anything you're currently building right now? I know you're just getting settled in, but any projects you're starting?

SPEAKER_01 8:17

I'm destroying boxes.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

I mean, that's important too. So book reading, is that something I do love to read books. Is there any books, you know, that you've are page turners for you these days, or any topics or genres you're interested in right now?

SPEAKER_01 8:32

Um I tend to go more for either the fantasy or a Christian genre.

SPEAKER_00 8:37

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:37

So I'm currently reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

SPEAKER_00 8:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:42

Um my wife got it for me for Christmas and I'm still working on it. It's just it's a long, long book.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

Okay. You're not a slow reader, it's just a long, long book.

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:51

Big.

SPEAKER_01 8:52

It's big. It's 1,300 pages.

SPEAKER_00 8:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 8:55

That it's small print. No. It makes it worse.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Okay. So you have a completely free Saturday. How are you spending it? You're not on call, you're you're just you're able to be home or wherever you be.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

I'd probably start by I this may sound really weird, but wake up early, because I like to make cinnamon rolls. And it takes three hours, but they're worth it, it's worth it.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

Homemade, like from scratch.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

From scratch. Bread machine.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Um, and then I'll probably I'd read a book and then maybe go do something with the family in the afternoon. Um like go to a park, and maybe like get ice cream and go to a park and just hang out and just have no plans.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

I think that we're gonna have to try these cinnamon rolls though.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

You'll be I think you'll be impressed.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Okay, I bet we will be uh anxiously awaiting that. So talk to us about sports. I know that you are a Texas AM graduate. I I just have to ask on here, is there any way we convince you to become a Husker fan?

SPEAKER_01 9:55

Probably.

SPEAKER_00 9:56

Okay. How long is it gonna take? Ask a new year?

SPEAKER_01 9:59

I don't know. My biggest problem is gonna be more apathy towards sports.

SPEAKER_00 10:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:04

I went to AM and never went to a sports game.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Um, same when I went to UT and LSU. It's just I just don't care that much.

SPEAKER_00 10:13

Okay. Any what like sports or activities would you say you did, you know, growing up, school, things like that?

SPEAKER_01 10:20

I was I was homeschooled on a farm.

SPEAKER_00 10:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

So it was all one-on-one against my brother.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 10:25

So we would play two-man football, two-man baseball, um, soccer, we'd play dodgeball with the soccer and basketballs.

SPEAKER_00 10:33

Uh that prepared you for life, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 10:35

It did. And you learn not to get hit by those things because they hurt. So they just like a little bit of everything. We'd figure out two-man volleyball, even like we tried tennis ball, but or tennis with a tennis ball and like a lasso. You just couldn't tell if it went over or under the rope and so it didn't last very long.

SPEAKER_00 10:55

I love it. A good, I mean, and being growing up on a farm, a lot of, I mean, sure, life skills right away for all of that. Um, now that you are in Nebraska, what is one tradition, destination event, or just what's an experience that you're excited for that maybe Nebraska has to offer that you didn't have where you live before?

SPEAKER_01 11:14

Rachel swears on the Omaha Zoo.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

Have you been yet?

SPEAKER_01 11:18

Have not.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

You're gonna be in for a treat. It's a good one. Dedicate a whole day, you're gonna need that full Saturday.

SPEAKER_01 11:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

But it's gonna be fun. A certain kind of animal you guys or your kids are looking forward to seeing?

SPEAKER_01 11:30

My kids into we just we saw Kung Fu Panda not too long ago. So he loves, quote, dragon warriors.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

Okay. Um perfect.

SPEAKER_01 11:39

And then he likes jaguars. I don't know why. He just loves the he loves the animal.

SPEAKER_00 11:45

I love it. What about you and Rachel?

SPEAKER_01 11:48

I think I don't know that there's anything in particular we love. Just everything, just getting to walk around and see the different animals.

SPEAKER_00 11:58

I am a personal fan of the aquarium. The penguin part is probably I could just watch them do that all day. And when you can get it, when you can see them like be fed to us, just pretty fun.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

That's that is fun.

SPEAKER_00 12:09

Stay tuned for that one. So you were in Lexington. Is there any favorite local restaurants already, activities, anything that you've done that you're excited about?

SPEAKER_01 12:20

Uh when we were moving here, like we moved in two different phases. The first phase uh we ended up eating at, I think it was Kirk's Nebraska land. Uh we loved it. It's a good place. So we're excited, excited to try it again. But we're just also excited to just go restaurant by restaurant and try each one of them and I love it. Just see what we find.

SPEAKER_00 12:39

There's, I mean, there's just such a good variety of food. I think that's one thing that Lexington we we thrive on for that. So, Dr. Doss, if somebody is looking for a new primary care provider, what would you like them to know maybe about your approach to patient care? Um, how can you talk to them about that?

SPEAKER_01 12:56

My I tend to spend a little bit more time in the room than the average person because I just like to listen and just I'll ask what's going on and then just not talk for a few minutes and just listen and then I'll try to provide personalized care that fits with what you need and what works for you. And not just go by what the textbook says we should do, but what works for you.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

For a patient that you see, what is maybe one hope when they leave the exam room after being with you that you know you want them to know or you want them to feel leaving that room?

SPEAKER_01 13:32

Not to sound cliche, but I hope that they leave with hope. Because I feel like half the time, at least when I did when I was younger, went to the doctor, I left discouraged. And I don't want my patients to leave feeling that way.

SPEAKER_00 13:46

I love that. I think that's a a great approach. Is there any maybe final message here as we wrap up that you'd like to share with the Lexington community as you begin this new chapter here at Lexington Regional?

SPEAKER_01 14:00

I don't think so. We're ex speaking for my wife and myself, we're excited to become invested in the community and join it. And then we'll give everyone a taste of the sarcasm as it comes down the road.

SPEAKER_00 14:14

Okay, good. I mean, we're looking forward to that. Well, Dr. Doss and to your wife Rachel, we are so happy to have you guys and your family here. Um, for our listeners here, if you are looking for primary care provider, or you know, if you're sick, you come into our walk-in clinic, maybe our ED scopes, things like that, please know that Dr. Doss is here. He is seeing patients already building up his patient panel, and we are just thrilled to have him and his family here. So if you are interested in scheduling appointment with Dr. DOS, you can visit our website or call our Family Medicine Specialist Clinic to learn more. Thank you so much for listening to Vitals and Voices. If you would please like, share, and subscribe. We want to spread the word as much about Dr. Joy's Dr. Doss joining our clinic as we can. And until next time, stay well.