About
Two Doctors. One Big Decision.
The story behind Grateful Living Medicine.
The Narrative
We left the system. On purpose.
After years of practicing inside a model that wasn’t designed for patients or physicians, Dr. Holly Hickman and Dr. Julie McKenzie made a decision: build the practice that makes sense, for themselves and their patients.
Grateful Living Medicine is a direct primary care clinic in Summit County, Colorado, where you’re not a number, the pricing is honest, and your doctors have time to know you. We left a high-volume, insurance-driven practice to build something smaller, more focused, and honestly, more fun.
We believe medicine should feel like a relationship, not a transaction. That’s why we capped our patient panel, so we can actually show up for the people who trust us with their health.
Meet the Team
Meet Holly + Julie.
Dr. Holly Hickman, MD
Holly didn’t stumble into women’s health, she chased it. A summa cum laude graduate of Lambuth University and faculty medal recipient at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, she came out of medical school at the top of her class, inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, and awarded top student by the Department of OB-GYN.
She completed her residency at the University of Louisville, where she earned the top teaching award as an intern, was named best all-around resident as chief resident, and logged over 200 robotic-assisted surgeries.
She’s a board-certified OB-GYN with deep expertise in minimally invasive robotic surgery, obstetrics, vulvar disease, menopause management, infertility, and pelvic ultrasound, a breadth of specialty care that’s rare in any primary care setting, and genuinely unmatched in Summit County.
But here’s what her credentials don’t fully capture: she’s the kind of doctor who makes you feel seen. She’s been building relationships in this community for years, and Grateful Living finally gives her the space to honor them the way they deserve.
When she’s not in the clinic, you’ll find her outside, in her garden or greenhouse or on the mountain, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, with her family and friends and two dogs, Indy (the German shorthaired pointer), and Hank (the beagle rescue who did not ask for any of this but is thriving).
Dr. Julie McKenzie, DO
Julie is Summit County through and through, she graduated from Summit High, left for a while to earn a degree in Molecular Biology from CU Boulder and a medical degree (top of her class) from Rocky Vista University, then came back where she belongs.
She completed her Family Medicine residency at St. Anthony North Hospital with additional training in surgical obstetrics and neonatal care, and she brings a genuinely holistic lens to everything she does. As a Doctor of Osteopathy, she incorporates Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) alongside conventional medicine, the kind of whole-person approach that looks at how everything connects, not just what’s presenting today.
Her particular interests are sports medicine, women’s health, and pediatrics, which means she’s uniquely equipped for Summit County families, the ones who ski hard, run trails, raise kids at altitude, and want a doctor who gets all of that.
She moved back to Summit County in 2018 after residency. When she’s not working, she’s out doing everything this county has to offer, mountain biking, trail running, skiing, snowboarding, skinning, kayaking, and hiking. (She’s basically the patient she’s trying to take care of, which we think is a good sign.)
Julie built her career on meaningful patient-physician relationships. Grateful Living gives her the time and space actually to nurture them.
And Jerry.
Our four-legged chief of staff has a standing appointment at the front desk and is the unofficial reason half our patients look forward to coming in. He takes his job very seriously.
What We Believe
Five beliefs, plainly stated.
Authentic Connection.
We moved away from rushed appointments to foster non-judgmental, lifelong relationships where we, as doctors, actually have the time to listen.
Radical Transparency.
Upfront pricing. Direct physician access. Cost savings (labs and medicines) passed on to patients.
Clinical Innovation.
We embrace forward-thinking medicine, hormone replacement therapy, peptides, and holistic treatments, to help patients age better and stay proactive.
Mutual Respect.
We value our patients' time as much as our own. Limiting our panel ensures same-day access and real focus on what matters.
Intentional Gratitude.
We approach medicine with a sense of joy and purpose. We're grateful to care for this community in a way that's human, playful, and high-value.
Ready to feel like a patient again?
Join a practice as invested in your long-term health as you are.
