Meet Dr. Alana Franklin, a Chestnut Hill mom of four and a family physician at PersonalMDs, a concierge medical practice focused on personalized, relationship based care. After practicing traditional family medicine for 13 years, Dr. Franklin transitioned to PersonalMDs in 2025 to spend more time with patients and be able to provide the thoughtful, individualized care she is passionate about. Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Franklin now lives in Chestnut Hill with her husband and four children. Deeply connected to the local community, she especially enjoys caring for multigenerational families and helping women navigate all stages of life. When she’s not caring for patients, you can find her spending time with her family, cheering on Boston sports teams, or enjoying backyard pool days and Sunday BBQs with friends and loved ones. Let’s get to know Dr. Franklin!
Tell us about your family! How many children do you have, where are you from, and where do you live now?
I live in Chestnut Hill, Brookline with my husband, Adam, and our four children, Jake (13), Liv (10), and our 7-year-old twin girls, Gemma and Alexandra. I grew up on Long Island, New York, and my path eventually brought me to the University of Wisconsin for college, SUNY Stony Brook for medical school, and UCLA for residency training.
What’s your favorite aspect about being part of this community?
My children attend Nobles and Greenough and The Park School and we are members of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, so this community is deeply personal to me both as a physician and as a mom. One of the most meaningful parts of my work is caring for multigenerational families and being able to support them through different stages of life. I feel very grateful when patients trust me not only with their health, but also with the important moments and challenges along the way.
I’m especially passionate about women’s health, lifestyle medicine, and helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause with support and understanding. My goal is to help women feel their best and to serve as a thoughtful partner in their healthcare journey.
What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
We love spending time together as a family, whether it’s cheering on the Boston sports teams, attending summer concerts at Fenway Park, or taking weekend trips to the Berkshires. Some of our favorite moments are the simplest ones. Pool days in the backyard, sushi dinners together, and Sunday night BBQs with family and friends.
Tell us more about your background as a doctor and what inspired you to move to PersonalMDs, a concierge medical practice?
I practiced traditional family medicine for 13 years in a very fast-paced environment, caring for a large patient panel. Transitioning to PersonalMDs in May 2025 gave me the opportunity to practice medicine in a more intentional and personalized way.
What I value most is the ability to spend meaningful time with patients, really listen, and focus on the details that can often get overlooked in traditional settings. I love being able to build close relationships with a smaller panel of patients and support them wherever they are, both geographically and medically. It has been an incredibly fulfilling transition, and I feel very fortunate to continue practicing medicine in a way that feels both thoughtful and deeply rewarding.
What do you love most about what you do?
The relationships are the most rewarding part. I feel honored to walk alongside patients through both medical and personal milestones, especially during vulnerable or uncertain times.
There is also something incredibly meaningful about helping patients find answers after they’ve spent a long time feeling unheard, dismissed, or rushed. Being able to listen carefully, connect the dots, and support someone through a complicated health issue is a privilege I never take for granted.
It’s so hard to balance work and mom life. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I think many moms constantly question whether they’re doing enough or wonder what life would look like if they had made different choices. My children have always known me as a working mom, and while I’ve certainly missed some things along the way, I’ve also learned the importance of prioritizing the moments that matter most and leaning on an incredible support system.
My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, and I hope my children grow up seeing the value of hard work, purpose, and balance. I also try to practice the same healthy habits I encourage in my patients. Prioritizing sleep, staying active, eating a Mediterranean-style diet, and nurturing close friendships and meaningful relationships. I think those things help create a healthier and more grounded balance between work, family, and joy.
I also believe it’s essential for women to prioritize both their mental health and hormonal wellbeing, especially during transitions like perimenopause and menopause. Women are often so focused on caring for others (aging parents and young children) that they minimize or push aside their own symptoms and struggles. Physical, emotional, and hormonal health are deeply connected, and when women feel well and supported, it positively impacts every aspect of their lives. I want women to feel heard and validated when they bring up these concerns to their primary care doctor and to know there are thoughtful, effective ways to help them feel like themselves again.
What is the best advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
The best advice I’ve received is that the things we spend so much time worrying about usually never happen. Life often surprises us in ways we could never predict, so there’s value in letting go of what we can’t control and appreciating the present moment as much as possible. Life moves quickly, and the ordinary days are often the most meaningful.
What is the best advice you’d like to give a mom?
Tell the people you love that you love them. Make time for the family members and friends who energize you and make you feel supported and grounded. Those moments together are fleeting, and they matter more than we realize.
I would also encourage every woman to find a doctor they truly trust and connect with. Someone they feel comfortable being fully open and honest with. Having that kind of relationship and support can make an enormous difference in both your physical health and your peace of mind.
Thank you Alana for letting us get to know you! Interested in learning more about concierge medicine and personalized care at PersonalMDs? Visit www.personalmds.com to learn more and explore their concierge medicine approach, or call (617) 307-3200.
