Our Story
Walking Tree Family Practice is a family-owned and operated primary healthcare clinic conveniently located in Lake Mary, Florida.
As spouses and business partners, Devin and Bessie Fairbairn strive to build a practice that provides exceptional healthcare. Our goal is to deliver care that enhances health and wellness through disease prevention while improving the overall quality of life. With Walking Tree, you will work with the same provider at each visit, with ample appointment times to ensure your healthcare needs are met.
We offer a medical home for the entire family by improving access to comprehensive medical care, developing lasting partnerships with our patients, and engaging in ongoing collaboration with other specialty providers to enhance your medical outcomes.
Why the Mangrove Tree?
We named ourselves after the mangrove tree and the role mangroves play in the ecosystem. When the roots of the mangrove are exposed, the tree appears to be walking on water or standing on the surface, so it has been nicknamed the “walking tree.”
Here in Florida, there are three native species of mangroves: the red, black, and white mangroves. An estimated 600,000 acres of mangrove forests contribute to the overall health of Florida’s coastal zone and beyond.
Mangroves play a significant role in the Florida ecosystem by providing shelter for fish and other organisms, and keeping water and air quality clean and healthy, while also protecting against erosion, flooding, and hurricanes. The relationship between mangroves and the life that they protect cannot be emphasized enough.
Our 'Roots'
Dr. Bessie Fairbairn
DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Dr. Bessie Fairbairn is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. With more than 9 years of experience treating acute and chronic health conditions in various clinical settings, including primary care, urgent care, medical research, gastroenterology, hospital settings, pediatric home health, rehabilitation, hospice, palliative, and long-term care, Dr. Fairbairn has proven expertise. Moreover, she is a Certified Medical Examiner for the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Dr. Fairbairn earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Central Florida in 2023, her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of Cincinnati in 2016, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Montana State University in 2013.
Dr. Fairbairn offers personalized healthcare services to patients of all ages. She values establishing long-lasting relationships with her patients and promotes preventative health with evidence-based recommendations and mutual decision-making.
Devin Fairbairn
President and Practice Manager
Devin Fairbairn is our practice manager! Devin graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration. After nearly two decades in visual effects, working on films like Avatar, Mandalorian, and Avengers, he decided on a career change to help enrich people’s lives through healthcare and well-being. From his experience owning and managing a visual effects firm, he provides his skills in project management, quality and value control, patient satisfaction, and billing coordination.
Bessie and Devin met in 2019, married in 2021 in Asheville, North Carolina, and blended their family of seven, including Haley, Logan, Kairi, Jasmine, and Alice. As a family, we enjoy visiting Disney, exploring water parks, relaxing on beaches, and traveling around the world.
We refer to our household as a zoo, which includes our three dogs, four cats, a ferret, a turtle, a cichlid pond, and a koi pond. When not working, we love scuba diving, kayaking, reading novels, and visiting our favorite towns, including Asheville, St. Pete, Tampa, and Vero Beach.
