John D. Gaston, M.D.
Board Certified Family Medicine

"My worldview is completely shaped by the fact that
I am a sinner saved by God's grace, awaiting Jesus' return."

I was born and raised in Russellville, AR.  

I have three sons, two daughters, one daughter-in-law, and one granddaughter.  


I am a "has-been" marathon and ultramarathon racer, bicycle racer, and triathlete.  

I was "sidelined" by knee arthritis, but not before completing a 50 mile trail race in less than 7 hours.  

Now, I mainly like to hike on the trails.  


I served in both the Air Force and the Army for a total of 18 years, of which 11 years was on active duty.  

While in the Air Force I completed Pararescue training to become a "PJ" (basically, an airborne paramedic), but then suffered a broken neck and a fractured skull in a bicycle accident in Okinawa.  

These 2 events were the first in a series of events that led me, at age 29, to decide to become a doctor.  

Subsequently, I graduated from the University of Arkansas, then from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in Little Rock in 1993, and completed a family medicine residency program in the Army in 1996.  

While in the Army I served in a peacekeeping operation in Bosnia for 9 months.  

When I got out of the Army in 2000 we moved back to Fayetteville, and I practiced at Northwest Family Care - Fayetteville for 9 years prior to establishing Simply Family Medicine.  

My professional interests include sports medicine, preventative medicine, and chronic disease management.  


I am also a content contributor, and does fact-checking, at Courier Magazine and Community Nurse Health Center.  


In summary, I have experienced a very full and interesting life, and I believe that this experience helps me relate to people from all walks of life.  

And I praise God because he has continually blessed me and repeatedly opened doors to make a way for Simply Family Medicine to exist, so that I can continue to provide high quality health care to patients who otherwise might not be able to afford it.