About
Dr. Caitlin M. Downing, MD is a family medicine physician and co-founder of New River Family Wellness in Jefferson, North Carolina. The daughter of a small-town family physician in Southbury, Connecticut, she earned her bachelor's degree from Colorado College, graduating magna cum laude, and her medical degree from the University of Connecticut, where she was a student in the Urban Service Track and received Professional Honors in Leadership. She completed her Family Medicine residency in Hendersonville, NC, with a focus on rural and community primary care.
Dr. Downing cares for the whole family, integrating primary care with women's health, prenatal care and deliveries, hospital medicine, mental health, and several specialized office procedures. She and Dr. Allen met during residency and built New River Family Wellness together in 2018. Outside the clinic she gardens, cooks, home-brews, and camps in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
Colorado College, bachelor's degree in music
Medical School
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Residency
Family Medicine residency, Hendersonville, NC
Certifications
Languages
English
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Downing right for?
Dr. Downing is a fit for families in Ashe County who want a family physician who integrates women's health, prenatal care, mental health, and pediatric care in one relationship. Patients who want unhurried 30-to-60-minute visits under a direct primary care membership, with direct access to their doctor, fit the practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Downing earned her bachelor's degree from Colorado College, her medical degree from the University of Connecticut, and completed her Family Medicine residency in Hendersonville, NC.
Yes. Dr. Downing is board certified in Family Medicine.
Yes. In addition to primary care and women's health, Dr. Downing practices prenatal care and deliveries, hospital medicine, and mental health care.
Dr. Downing cares for the whole family, and New River Family Wellness accepts patients of all ages.
Members can video-chat, text, call, or email their doctor directly, even after hours, and 30-to-60-minute appointments are often available the same day.
Dr. Downing and Dr. Allen met during residency in Hendersonville, NC, and founded New River Family Wellness as a direct primary care practice in 2018.
Doctor profile last updated September 17, 2026