ABOUT
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About Whole Family Direct Care

Contact us with questions or to enroll with Whole Family Direct Care.

Whole Family Direct Care Staff photo

Whole Family Direct Care is part of a new model to improve the relationship between the patient and their Primary Care doctor.


We follow the Direct Primary Care model that removes insurance from the picture of your health care and replaces it with a low monthly membership fee. This allows Dr. Mark, Sarah, and Tim to reduce their patient panel size and remove many of the barriers and intrusions created by insurance companies and government plans like Medicaid or Medicare. 

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Investment into your health

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Focused on your health

With a reduced patient base, our health professionals have the ability to focus on what is important: YOU, the patient. We have the ability to tailor your care to more of your specific needs as much as possible. The ability for longer office visits to address all your needs becomes possible.

Medical text icon

Better access for your health

Whole Family Direct Care is all about getting back to basics. Dr. Mark’s goal is to re-invigorate the Family Doctor/Patient relationship that has been chipped away by the current medical system. As our patients, you have better access than ever before so that your care becomes number one while working to keep your overall medical costs lower.

Whole Family Direct Care is part of a new model to improve the relationship between the patient and their Primary Care doctor.


Whole Family Direct Care Staff photo

Contact us with questions or to enroll with Whole Family Direct Care.

We follow the Direct Primary Care model that removes insurance from the picture of your health care and replaces it with a low monthly membership fee. This allows Dr. Mark, Sarah, and Tim to reduce their patient panel size and remove many of the barriers and intrusions created by insurance companies and government plans like Medicaid or Medicare. 

Wallet icon

Investment into your health

Hands together icon

Focused on your health

With a reduced patient base, our health professionals have the ability to focus on what is important: YOU, the patient. We have the ability to tailor your care to more of your specific needs as much as possible. The ability for longer office visits to address all your needs becomes possible.

Medical text icon

Better access for your health

Whole Family Direct Care is all about getting back to basics. Dr. Mark’s goal is to re-invigorate the Family Doctor/Patient relationship that has been chipped away by the current medical system. As our patients, you have better access than ever before so that your care becomes number one while working to keep your overall medical costs lower.

MARK MACHALKA, M.D.

Board Certified Family Physician and Owner

Dr. Mark grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois and his medical degree from Loyola University in Chicago. He completed a family practice residency at St. Vincent Health Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. He furthered his training with an obstetrics fellowship at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas. He joined Marshall Medical Associates in 2004 where he practiced under the traditional insurance model until early 2017. He opened Whole Family Direct Care in April of 2017 in an effort to bring back the traditional family doctor model. He is board certified in Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians. In 2016, Dr. Mark became the Medical Director of Oaklawn Hospice in addition to working as a Family Physician. He resides in Marshall and has three grown children. He enjoys gardening, swimming, running, and reading in his spare time. 

Doctor Mark Machalka
Sarah Wiley, FNP

SARAH WILEY, FNP

Family Practice Nurse Practitioner

Sarah grew up in northern Michigan before moving to Indiana and earning an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Tri-State University (now known as Trine University). She started as a CNA in 2008 and earned a nursing degree from Kellogg Community College in 2010. While enjoying a successful nursing career and starting her family, she continued to work her way through graduate school. She graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2018 as a Nurse Practitioner with a focus in Family Medicine.


After beginning her career as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Marshall Medical Associates, she transitioned to Bronson Family Medicine in Marshall before joining Dr. Mark and Tim at Whole Family Direct Care in early 2021. Sarah is board certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is excited to be able to practice in the Direct Primary Care model. She feels that it has allowed her to have more time focusing on the patients and helping them achieve their optimal levels of health. In her spare time, Sarah is a dedicated mom of three children and enjoys running and yoga.

TIM TAYLOR, PA-C

Family Practice Physician Assistant

Tim grew up in the suburbs of the Chicagoland area where he was very active serving in the community and had a love for athletics. He graduated from Bob Jones University with his bachelor’s in biology and chemistry. While in college, he worked as a medical assistant, x-ray technician, and phlebotomist, and was first introduced to the direct pay model and knew this was how he wanted to practice medicine.


Before moving on to Kalamazoo before pursuing a career as a Physician’s Assistant at Western Michigan University‘s graduate program. Upon graduating in 2013, Tim started working at Marshall Medical Associates with Dr. Mark Machalka. After five years of battling the modern insurance-based healthcare system, he decided to join Dr. Mark at Whole Family Direct Care in 2019. Tim's passion for family, medicine and disease prevention led him to open Veritable Wellness in 2023 where he has combined his passion for fitness and knowledge and medicine to provide a way for people to not just live long, but to live healthy.  Tim lives in Battle Creek with his wife and five children and continues to enjoy all things sports and family time.

Tim Taylor, PA-C

TARIA HAMILTON

Medical Assistant

Taria was born and raised in the Battle Creek area. After graduating from Harper Creek High School, she went on to Everett College to receive her degree as a medical assistant. Taria has worked with Dr. Mark and his patients most of her career—first at Marshall Medical Associates and then joining him at Whole Family Direct Care, upon its opening. In her spare time, Taria is a dedicated mother of five and always running around from one activity to another. 

Taria Hamilton
Tonya Grey

TONYA KING

Medical Assistant

Tonya was born in Texas and moved to Michigan during middle school. Upon graduating from Olivet High School, Tonya attended Ross College where she obtained her medical assistant degree. She started working at Marshall Medical Associates and then transitioned to Whole Family Direct Care to work as the medical assistant for Tim Taylor in 2019. Tonya lives in Marshall with her husband and foster child. In her spare time, she likes to go on long walks, bake, and travel. 

RENA ZIZELMAN

Medical Assistant

Rena was born and raised in Ohio.  In 2004, she moved to Michigan with her daughters Stephanie and Chloe and their father, Terry. Rena has been in the medical field since 1998.  In 2021, Rena joined the Whole Family Direct Care team and has been working as Sarah's medical assistant. 


In her spare time, Rena loves spending time with her family and pets. With Rena's love for the outdoors, she enjoys fishing, camping, and hiking.  When she's not outdoors, you can find Rena reading a good book.

Rena Zizelman
April Smith

APRIL SMITH

Front Desk & Billing

April grew up in Homer, MI, and is the middle child of four children. She went to Ross college and graduated with a 4.0 from the Medical Insurance Billing Office Administration program in March 2022. She started at Whole Family Direct Care during her externship in September 2021, and this turned into a full-time position upon graduation. April is married and has three adult children, two sons-in-law, and a fur baby. Residing in Marshall, April enjoys genealogy, crafts, playing video games, and spending time with family and friends. 

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"I can not say enough GOOD things about Dr. Mark, I trust him with my whole family and have switched them all over to him. We all get a level of care that is above and beyond what we have ever experienced before and truly appreciate his ability to listen and work out a treatment plan. We trust him explicitly!"

- ratemds.com

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"This is a new doctor I started seeing, and I absolutely love him! In fact, I switched my whole family to him. He is so kind, understanding, and CARING. He takes the time to listen and counsel. A ONE-OF-A-KIND doctor. Truly wonderful."

- ratemds.com

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"My family and I have been seeing Dr. Mark since my daughter was born in 2008 and we love him. He is great with kids and he is very nice. He always remembers us when we see him out and about - it makes you feel like you are not just a number. Also, the walk-in hours at his office have come in handy many times!!"

- ratemds.com

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