When you step into the home office of Orlando physician and author Nayana Vyas, MD, there are two things you notice immediately: the numerous awards that line her walls and desk – and her nonstop smile.
And there has been a lot to smile about lately. Vyas was recently honored with the Pillar of Support and Literary Excellence Award by the Indian American Chamber of Commerce. The crystal-shaped award was presented by Ambassador Dr. Seth Sumit, Consul General of India during the launch of Vyas’ book, “The Powery of Primary Care.”
“We wanted to honor Dr. Vyas for her outstanding contributions to literature, leadership and our community,” said attorney and Chamber President Sarah Gulati, who emceed Vyas’ book launch in front of a packed audience at the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando, Oct. 17.
Vyas held the crowd of almost 100 friends, family and professional colleagues spellbound with stories of her 50-year journey across four continents, from her childhood in a Ugandan village to medical school in India, early practice in England and her eventual ground-breaking practice in Orlando.
Vyas went from a small office in the Conway neighborhood to over 30 offices across Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Sumter counties by creating Family Physicians Group, a medical practice she had dreamed about from her youth. The practice added affiliate offices in Jacksonville and Polk County.
Among the innovations she created:
- Free transportation for patients who needed help getting to their appointments.
- A pharmacy in-house so that Vyas could ensure patients were getting their medications.
- A hospitalist who could support a patient’s care between the office and hospital.
- Senior centers with physical fitness education and strength training.
A study out of Stanford University, funded by the Peterson Healthcare Foundation, found Vyas’ practice was among the Top 11 in America when it came to quality, access, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. It was one of the factors that Vyas said contributed to her decision to write “The Power of Primary Care.” The book advocates major changes in our national healthcare system and also shares Vyas’ autobiography.
About Dr. Nayana Vyas
Dr. Vyas was born in Jinja, Uganda. The death of her father and the death of her infant nephew from a fall inspired her to want to be a physician and make sure patients had accessible, compassionate care. She attended medical college in India before traveling to England after her family was driven out of Uganda by the infamous dictator Idi Amin. She married her husband, Andy, and moved to England, where she endured having to pass medical exams again. She felt she could build the kind of medical care she wanted to practice in the United States, and she also sought a warmer climate. Those goals eventually saw her moving to Orlando, where she created Central Florida’s largest primary care practice, the Family Physicians Group. Her success earned her many accolades, including Best Physician Entrepreneur and Business Owner of the Year. She was also honored by her peers with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2024, she established The Nayana Vyas MD Wellness Foundation to improve the quality of life for individuals and families affected by memory and wellness challenges.
She and her husband, Andy, have two adult children and live in Orlando. She is the founder and president of Vyas Primary Care Advisors. www.primarycareadvisors.com.
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