A doctor who answers. By phone. In Port Alder.
I'm Dr. Sam Castellano. I'm an internist who grew up here. For a monthly membership you get my direct line — phone, text or video — and a real visit in town when you need one. Keep your insurance. Keep your doctor. Add me.
- Who
- Board-certified internist. Five years in the hospital, three in primary care, all in Port Alder.
- How
- Phone, text and video first. In-person visits two half-days a week.
- Where
- Anywhere in Florida by video. In person on the south side of town.
- Cost
- $200 a month. No contract. Cancel with 30 days' notice.
You called your doctor. Who answered?
The hold music
You press 2, then 4, then wait. By the time someone picks up, you forgot half of what you meant to ask.
The portal
You send a message. Three days later a reply comes from a name you don't know.
The fifteen minutes
Your doctor is good. He is also looking at a screen, with a waiting room full of people behind you.
I went into medicine to know my patients. The hospital taught me a lot. It never gave me time to know anyone.
I grew up on the north side of Port Alder, racing a little sixteen-foot sailboat on the bay every summer. I went to college at the state university, then the state medical school, then came home to train in internal medicine at Port Alder General. I never left. I did give up the sailing. Residency will do that. My wife teaches fourth grade in the Port Alder schools, and our two kids think the waterfront belongs to them.
I spent five years as a hospitalist at Port Alder General Hospital. I was the doctor who took care of you once you were admitted. I got thousands of people through their worst week. Then they went home, and I never saw them again. Too many of them told me the same thing: "I couldn't reach my doctor."
So I moved to the office. For three years I practiced primary care with Port Alder General Medical Group. Finally I had patients of my own — for fifteen minutes at a time. We fixed the problem in front of us, refilled the prescription, and waited for the next one. Nobody had time to help anyone live better.
So I built a small practice where there is time. I want to know you for years — the new baby, the bad knee, your mom getting older — and help with the years in between, not just the next emergency. I keep it small on purpose. When you call, you get me.
Training
- 2011B.S., Biology — State University
- 2015M.D. — State University College of Medicine
- 2015–18Residency, Internal Medicine — Port Alder General Hospital
Practice
- 2018–23Hospitalist — Port Alder General Hospital
- 2023–26Primary care physician — Port Alder General Medical Group
- 2026Opened this membership practice
Credentials
- ABIMBoard certified, Internal Medicine
- FLFlorida medical license ME000000 (sample)
"I know what happens inside the hospital. I can help you understand it from the outside."
Eight years of hospital and office medicine.
In the hospital I saw the serious stuff every day — heart failure, bad infections, a new diagnosis nobody saw coming. In the office I saw what happens before that. Together they make me good at three things members care about:
- Knowing when it matters. Is this a "wait and see," a "see me tomorrow," or a "go to the ER now"?
- The long game. Blood pressure, weight, sleep, the stuff that sneaks up over years. There's finally time to work on it together.
- Getting you through a hospital stay. If you or your mom are admitted, I help you understand the plan, ask the right questions, and get home safely.
I don't run your care inside a hospital. The hospital team does. I help you and your family make sense of it.
Phone first. In person when you need it.
Call or text me
You get my direct practice line. During my hours I answer, or call you back as soon as I can — usually the same day. Most things get sorted out right there.
Video visits
Long, unhurried visits from your kitchen table. You need to be in Florida during the visit — that's where my license is.
In-person visits
Two half-days a week I see members at an office I share with a colleague on the south side of town. Booked ahead. Limited spots.
| Day | Hours | How |
|---|---|---|
| Mon · Thu | 5:00 – 8:00 pm | Phone · text · video |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | Phone · text · video |
| Wednesday | 1:00 – 5:00 pm | In person · south side |
| Saturday | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm | In person Phone · video |
| Other times | Leave a message | I call back next business hours. Emergencies: call 911. |
Included in your membership
- My direct linePhone and text in my published hours, answered by me.
- Unhurried video visitsAs many as you reasonably need. No per-visit charge.
- In-person visitsOn the south side of town, booked ahead, on my in-person days.
- A second opinionTold you need surgery, a new drug, a scan? We'll go through it together.
- Help reading your resultsLabs, imaging, specialist notes — explained in plain English.
- A yearly reviewA long visit and a written plan for the year ahead.
- Help during a hospital stayFor you or a family member who's a member.
What membership is not
- Not for emergenciesChest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs: call 911.
- Not health insuranceIt does not replace it. Please keep yours.
- Not a replacement for your doctorYou keep your regular doctor. I work alongside them.
- Not everything is coveredLabs, scans, medicines and specialists are billed by them, often to your insurance.
- No controlled substances by videoMy practice policy, for your safety.
- Florida onlyYou must be in Florida when we talk by phone or video.
Never drop your health insurance to join.
Insurance pays for the big things — the hospital, the surgeon, the MRI. My membership pays for something insurance doesn't: a doctor you can reach. You need both. I will tell every member that, every time.
One price. No surprises.
I keep my practice small so I can answer my phone. That means I take only a few new members at a time. If I'm full, I'll put you on the list and call you when a spot opens.
The first step is a short phone call. No cost. We'll see if this fits what you need. If it doesn't, I'll tell you.
- Month to month. No long contract.
- Cancel with 30 days' notice.
- No sign-up fee.
- Written membership agreement before you pay anything.
Sample pricing. A real practice sets its own.
Ask your own tax adviser whether you can use HSA or FSA money. I can't give tax advice.
What people ask me first
Do you take my insurance?
No. The membership is paid by you, directly to my practice. Keep your insurance for everything else — labs, scans, specialists, the hospital.
Will you be my regular doctor?
No, and you don't need to switch. Keep your doctor. I'm the one you can reach when you can't reach them, and a second set of eyes when you want one.
What if it's after hours?
Leave a message and I'll call back in my next hours. If it's an emergency, call 911. I'm one doctor, not an answering service, and I won't pretend otherwise.
Can you prescribe medicine?
Yes, when it's right for you and safe to do after a visit. I don't prescribe controlled substances by phone or video.
Do you see children?
No. I'm an internist, so I see adults 18 and older.
My parent lives here but I don't. Can I sign them up?
Yes. With your parent's written OK, I can keep you in the loop. Many members join for exactly this reason.
I'm traveling. Can I still call?
You can call. For a medical visit, you need to be in Florida, because that's where my license is. If you're out of state, I'll help you find care there.
What happens on the first call?
About 15 minutes. You tell me what's going on and what you want. I tell you how I work. If it fits, I send the membership agreement. If not, I'll say so.
Call me. I’ll pick up, or call you back as soon as I can.
(555) 555-0142Sample number. Office: south side of Port Alder, address given to members.
(Sample: nothing was sent.)