Guides
The physician visit and lab work at a medical wellness retreat, explained in plain language
At our wellness retreat in Puerto Rico, the medical part is real: Dra. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a general practitioner licensed in Puerto Rico, does a physician assessment and, when clinically appropriate, orders lab work. It is assessment, education and habits, not treatment, and it does not replace your own doctor. We do not promise specific tests or results. The retreat is held in English.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Pay now, then choose your time right away. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead.
See the cancellation policy
You can cancel for a full refund or change the time up to 24 hours before your visit. Within 24 hours you can't cancel and there's no refund. If you don't join in the first 10 minutes, there's no refund.
If you choose a time less than 24 hours away, it can't be cancelled or changed.
If the clinic can't see you, for example because of a technical problem on our side, we refund you in full.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting: call 911
- Sudden weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking or a sudden severe headache: call 911
- A recent change in a health condition or a new medication before you travel: talk to your own doctor first
Help lines
What the medical part of the retreat is
Many people wonder whether a retreat with "medical care" is a spa with a different name. Here the difference is concrete: the medical care is provided by a licensed physician, Dra. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a general practitioner licensed in Puerto Rico. She provides all the medical services at the retreat, including the lab work.
The approach is root-cause and led by a licensed physician: your history is heard, your habits are discussed and, when it makes sense, tests are ordered. The goal is wellness: assessment, education, habits and coaching. It is not treatment and it is not a promise of results.
The physician assessment and lab work are included in the US$4,500 per person price. For how to compare retreats in general, read what to ask any retreat about its medical care.
What the visit with the physician can include
Each visit depends on you. In general terms, an assessment like this can include:
- Your history. Conditions, medications, surgeries, family history and what you would like to understand better about your health.
- Your habits. Sleep, eating, movement, stress and rest.
- A conversation about labs. Whether any are needed, which ones and why. Sometimes the answer is that none are needed.
- Education. What the findings mean and which habits you can keep working on with your coaching during the week and afterward.
How the lab work works
Labs are part of the medical care when they are clinically appropriate. The physician decides which tests, if any, make sense for you, based on your age, history and symptoms. We do not promise specific tests or results, and there is no fixed "retreat panel" for everyone.
This is the opposite of "test everything" kits. According to MedlinePlus, a lab's reference range is based on results from large groups of healthy people, and it is common for a healthy person to have a result outside the range. The more tests are ordered without a reason, the more likely one gets flagged by chance. That is why the question that matters is what decision each result would change. More detail in functional medicine labs: which tests are worth it.
Some tests have clear guidance and others do not. For example, the USPSTF recommends screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults aged 35 to 70 with overweight or obesity, but found the evidence insufficient to test adults without symptoms for vitamin D. The physician uses clinical judgment, not a fixed list.
When results come back, see how to read lab results.
What the physician visit is not
So your expectations are clear:
- It does not replace your own doctor. It is an assessment during your retreat week. Your primary care doctor and specialists remain the ones who follow you over time.
- It is not emergency care. If you have an emergency, call 911.
- It is not treatment or a cure. The retreat offers wellness: assessment, education, habits and coaching.
- It is not a promise of results. No one can promise what lab work will show.
- It is not a specialty consultation. The physician is a general practitioner licensed in Puerto Rico.
What to bring: recent labs and your medication list
If you have recent lab results, bring them or upload them when we tell you how after you are accepted. With earlier results, the physician can avoid repeating what you already have and see whether anything has changed.
- Your most recent lab results, with the dates.
- A list of your medications and supplements, with doses.
- Your diagnosed conditions and any recent surgeries.
- Any questions you want to ask the physician.
- If your own doctor gave you instructions about a test (for example, fasting), tell the physician.
After the retreat, give your own doctor a copy of what was done so tests are not repeated. Details on how your documents are handled are shared with accepted guests.
Talk to us first if
Some situations just call for a conversation before you apply, so we can plan your week safely. This is not a list of people who cannot come. Talk to us first if:
- You are pregnant.
- You had surgery recently.
- You have a condition that is not stable or changed recently.
- You were hospitalized recently.
- You take medications that need follow-up testing with your own doctor.
- You have mobility needs we should plan for.
Keep reading
The retreat runs 5 days starting November 15, 2026, with 10 places, held at a hacienda in Río Grande, Puerto Rico, in English. Applications close November 5, 2026. To see how to apply, read how to apply for a place at the retreat.
For the habits side of the approach, see what lifestyle medicine is. For everything about the first cohort, go back to the wellness retreat in Puerto Rico.
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides the medical care at the retreat?
What labs will I get at the retreat?
Do the labs cost extra?
Does the physician visit replace my own doctor?
Should I bring my recent lab results?
Is this medical treatment?
Can I attend if I have a chronic condition?
What are the physician's credentials?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-10 · Updated: 2026-10-11
Sources (4)
- How to understand your lab results (MedlinePlus, NIH) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-09)
- Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: screening (USPSTF, 2021) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-09)
- Vitamin D deficiency in adults: screening (USPSTF, 2021) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-09)
- 5 questions to ask your doctor before you get any test, treatment, or procedure (Choosing Wisely, ABIM Foundation) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-09)