In 2015, after years of practicing medicine in hospitals and emergency rooms, Richard P. Chern, MD, opened a new medical practice in Miramar Beach that would allow him to focus on the preventive side of health care, helping prevent disease while improving people’s quality of life.

One of Chern’s specialties is correcting the hormone imbalances associated with perimenopause, menopause and andropause, which can cause symptoms like weight gain, memory loss, aging skin and decreased libido. Chern uses BioTE hormone pellet therapy, designed to steadily replace and rebalance the hormones that the body has stopped producing; he tailors his therapies according to a patient’s symptoms, from depression, fatigue and insomnia to hair loss and hot flashes. He also offers extensive nutrition and weight-management counseling, taking an hour or two with each patient to resolve his or her individual concerns. Chern’s preventive approach includes blood testing to determine the sometimes hidden causes of chronic symptoms. 

In addition, Chern offers a concierge-style practice, allowing for more one-on-one time and individualized care for his patients. His services include family medicine and aesthetics (including Botox and Juvederm), BioTE hormone replacement therapy and Suboxone.

Chern has been in practice for 17 years. He previously worked for the Sacred Heart Emergency Department in Port St. Joe and Sacred Heart Hospital in Apalachicola and was previously affiliated with Huntsville Hospital and Mizell Memorial Hospital. He attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, received his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Family Practice. 

Chern’s office is located at 12889 Emerald Coast Pkwy. W., Ste. 107 B, Miramar Beach. For details or to make an appointment, call 850-837-1271. His hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.