If you think your life is busy, try keeping up with Dr. Jeffrey Coleman, physician, boxing enthusiast and stargazer. By day he manages hospital rounds and concierge patients, by night he contemplates the cosmos.  

 

How does he do it all? “I don’t have a lot of hobbies,” he laughs. Let’s just say medicine is a full-time job, and he’s even available after hours for his concierge patients.  

 

Dr. Coleman, an internal medicine physician, has known since high school that medicine was his calling. His mother, a nurse, sparked his early interest. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, he came to Kern Medical. That’s where he decided upon internal medicine. “When doing rotations, I enjoyed the diversity of internal medicine,” he comments. “I learned about everything that can affect adults and I really liked that.” 

 

After earning his M.D. from Ross University School of Medicine in 2017, Dr. Coleman completed his residency at Kern Medical in Bakersfield, where he decided to stay after graduation. Today, he works with Adventist Health and Dignity Health, and he’s recently added a new dimension to his career: concierge medicine. 

 

“I started my concierge practice in June 2024,” he explains. “It came from seeing a need. I’d discharge patients from the hospital, and they’d tell me they couldn’t get in to see their primary care doctor for weeks. I saw a need and wanted to change that.” 

 

His concierge practice offers direct access. Patients can call, text, or even schedule same-day visits. “It’s about availability,” he says simply. “If you’ve got a sinus infection or need a prescription refilled, you shouldn’t have to sit in urgent care for hours. Just call me and we’ll get it taken care of.” 

 

The service appeals to busy professionals and retirees alike; people tired of long waits and brief visits. Expect time, attention, and a doctor who knows you personally. He even offers house calls within a certain radius of his home, embracing a model that feels refreshingly personal in an era of automated healthcare that frequently feels “broken.” 

 

Although Dr. Coleman’s days are long—12-hour shifts, 21 days a month —he genuinely loves what he does. When he’s not rounding at the hospital, he’s tending to his concierge patients via phone or text. But despite the demanding schedule, he finds the work deeply rewarding. Connecting with patients is important to him. Managing their healthcare and seeing their improvement is worth every ounce of effort.  

 

But behind the calm confidence is a man shaped by hardship. Dr. Coleman began his career during one of modern medicine’s darkest hours. The COVID-19 pandemic. “It was tough,” he recalls. “Right out of residency, we were running out of resources, including medications and ventilators. I saw things I never thought I’d see.” During that time, he also faced a personal loss. 

 

His father passed away from COVID-19 during the pandemic. “That was hard,” he admits quietly. But it gave him a deeper appreciation for what families go through. Dr. Coleman had to have conversations that he never thought he would need to have with patients who might need intubation, but ventilators weren’t available. Fortunately, his patients recovered.  

 

His advice for residents? “Medicine will test you; mentally, emotionally, physically. You’ll be tired; you’ll doubt yourself. That’s part of the process. What matters is that you learn, you show up again and keep your curiosity and compassion intact. And always do the right thing." 

 

How does an internal medicine doctor unwind? He retreats to his home gym in his garage, where he likes to box, hitting the heavy bag. He also likes watching combat sports, boxing and UFC fights. At home in the Highgate Regents, Dr. Coleman enjoys quiet evenings, dinner with friends, and the occasional sporting event. He also likes listening to Blues and Rock to relax. 

 

He enjoys exploring the mysteries of the cosmos. He’s fascinated by the work of Carl Sagan, especially the YouTube video, The Pale Blue Dot, which reminds him of life’s fragility and wonder. “We’re all just a speck in the vastness of space,” he says. “It’s humbling. It makes you appreciate the beauty around you.” 

 

A worldwide adventurer, he’s traveled to Cuba, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Canada, Ireland, and Iceland, where he once stood under the Northern Lights on a freezing night at a farm, miles from civilization. “It was very dark and the Northern Lights would come and go. It’s very beautiful in pictures, but to see it in person is very different. It’s certainly humbling.” It helps him think of how vast everything is and how we are just a speck in the universe. “We get so caught up with work, life and school that we don’t see the beauty of things right here. You realize how incredible the world is when you stop long enough to look.” 

 

Perhaps that’s what makes Dr. Coleman such a compelling physician. He doesn’t just heal bodies; he reminds people to pause, reflect, and marvel at the miracle of being alive at all. After all, in a universe so vast, every heartbeat counts.