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Preferred Medical Group is always within reach. We've placed our clinics where families live, work, and grow.
At Preferred Medical Group, we're committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive care for every member of your family. Here's what sets us apart:
For your convenience, prescriptions are sent electronically and directly to your pharmacy.
Our secure patient portal allows you to access your health records anytime, from anywhere.
We welcome new patients with appointments available within one week of registration.
When you're not feeling well, we're here for you with same-day appointments.
We provide board-certified specialists and dedicated providers for patients of all ages. Our team includes pediatricians, internal medicine physicians, and family practice doctors, along with behavioral health services — counseling and psychiatry for children and adults. We also offer speech therapy to support developmental and daily living needs.
We believe in collaborative care. Our doctors and specialists work together, sharing insights and expertise to create the most effective treatment plan for each patient.
For your convenience, we're open every Saturday and offer late evening appointments on Thursdays.
At Preferred Medical Group, your family's health is our top priority.
We strive to create a future where children and adults can find all their healthcare needs in their own community, Pediatrics, Primary Care, Counseling, Psychiatry, Speech Therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis, under one trusted roof.
At Preferred Medical Group, our mission is to provide compassionate, patient-centered healthcare for children, adults, and families, while fostering trust and wellness. We believe in building lasting relationships in the communities we serve.
We are committed to improving lives through excellence in Pediatrics, Adult Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Speech Therapy, and Applied Behavioral Analysis.
In 2006, Dr. Ritu Chandra opened a small pediatric practice in a rented suite on Stadium Drive in Phenix City — one doctor, two employees, zero patients. Within six months, 1,000 families had trusted her with their children's care.
Every time she saw a gap in the community's healthcare, she filled it. Today, PMG stands as 5 locations, a team of specialists across multiple disciplines, and a practice that still feels like family.
Learn More About Us →
Pediatrics
Founder of Preferred Medical Group and board-certified pediatrician serving Phenix City since 2006. Decorated Indian Army veteran with special expertise in pediatric behavioral health including ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression.
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Pediatrics
Pediatrician passionate about guiding families through early parenthood and promoting childhood vaccinations. Graduate of UAB School of Medicine, cum laude. Residency at Medical College of Georgia at Children's Hospital of Georgia.
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Adult Primary Care
Board-certified internist and geriatrician with over 25 years of experience in emergency and primary care medicine. Brings deep expertise in chronic disease management and vascular health to Preferred Medical Group since 2019.
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Psychiatry
American Board-certified psychiatrist with over 26 years of experience in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care. Specializes in mood disorders, PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, and advanced interventions including ketamine therapy.
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Adult Primary Care
Family Physician and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice with over 50 years of compassionate patient-centered care. Holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine and serves the Columbus and Phenix City communities.
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Primary Care
Board-certified Physician Assistant with over a decade of experience in family medicine and urgent care. Known for her approachable, compassionate approach to patient-centered care at Preferred Medical Group since 2017.
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Primary Care
Board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in family medicine for pediatric and adult patients. Inspired by her physician father and nurse mother, Alexa has been delivering compassionate preventive care at PMG since 2019.
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Primary Care
Board-certified Physician Assistant with experience in urgent care medicine. Passionate about health equity and committed to empowering patients in underserved communities through education, prevention, and compassionate care.
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Primary Care
Board-certified Physician Assistant with a strong passion for family medicine. Dedicated to building trust-based relationships with patients and proud to call Alabama home after growing up in a military family.
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Counseling
Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions for children and families. Uses empathy, humor, and evidence-based practices to help clients heal, grow, and thrive.
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Counseling
Licensed psychotherapist and former professional baseball player with a compassionate, eclectic approach to mental health. Specializes in resilience training, behavioral health, and performance psychology for diverse clients.
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Speech Therapist
Dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist with over ten years of experience helping children with speech delays, autism spectrum disorder, and communication challenges. Creates positive, supportive therapy environments where children thrive.
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Primary Care
Board-certified Family Physician with over a decade of experience in preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and women's health. Passionate about health equity and bridging gaps in care for underserved communities.
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National Recognition
This distinction reflects our commitment to making behavioral health care more accessible, coordinated, and connected to each patient's overall medical care.
Preferred Medical Group
A look at the care, community, and compassion that defines Preferred Medical Group.
Eriel Chapman
Eriel's mom shares how Dr. Chandra's correct diagnosis and treatment of her daughter's ADHD changed their lives.
Mackenzie Scott
Brittany shares how Dr. Chandra made a lasting difference in her daughter Mackenzie's life.
Jennifer & Allyson DeFrates
A patient family shares their experience with the care team at Preferred Medical Group.
Charlene Rose
Ms. Rose describes bringing her daughter Alenea to Phenix City Children's and the compassionate care they received.
Ms. Tammy Barnes
The principal of MOIS speaks about Dr. Chandra's dedication to students, families, and the school community.
My son has been a patient at Phenix City Children's & Family Clinic since birth, and now at 6 years old, we still couldn't be happier with the care he receives. Dr. Chandra is absolutely amazing – so knowledgeable, compassionate, and attentive to every detail. The entire staff is warm, friendly, and always makes us feel welcomed and cared for. Even after moving out of state, they continue to support my son through telemedicine visits, which has been such a blessing. Highly recommend Dr. Chandra and the whole team to anyone looking for the best care for their children!
Absolutely love all of the providers here. They take their time, listen to my concerns, and are proactive in helping address the issues I'm having. I've been coming here for almost 10 years and have no plans of changing! I highly recommend them!
Moved here with our non verbal autistic son. Was referred to Dr. Chandra and it was truly a game changer. Dr. Chandra is quick to react and very experienced in dealing with autism. We had issues with our sons school and she even helped connect us to someone who was able to help get things fixed. 100/10 recommend!
Ms.Brooke the speech therapist is absolutely amazing. She works great with my autistic 6 yr old son, and she keeps him interested and motivated during their sessions. I couldn't ask for a more caring and understand therapist for my son!
I love this place. My doctor Miss Amanda is the best Doctor I have every had or met. She takes her time to explain things with you and She truly cares about her patients. Everyone that works there is amazing and so friendly and helpful. The place is very clean and has a peaceful vibe to it. I go to the Ft. Mitchell Clinic. I rate it 5 stars because I could not think of one bad thing about this wonderful place. LOVE LOVE LOVE
Welcome from the Founder
Welcome! I'm Dr. Chandra, a pediatrician and the founder of Preferred Medical Group. My family and I are proud to call Alabama home, and I've had the privilege of caring for this community since 2007.
As a pediatrician, I've always been passionate about providing the best care for children, but I recognized the need for both primary care and mental health services, which is why I've made it a priority to offer these services alongside pediatric care in my practice. It's important to me that every family has access to comprehensive care in one place, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to support the health and well-being of our community.
It's truly an honor to be trusted with your family's health, and I'm grateful to serve this community with the love and care that it deserves. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives — I look forward to supporting you and your family for many years to come.
