For Dr. Ben Edwards, medicine is more than a profession. It’s a calling. And at Veritas Wellness in Downtown Lubbock, that calling is transforming lives.
An Unexpected Welcome to Wellness
When you hear the words “Wellness Center” you might imagine many things. Veritas Wellness' historic building greets you with something all its own. A courtyard welcomes you with climbing green vines, shade trees, and water trickling down into a small pool. It feels more like a secret garden than a doctor’s office.
Step further inside and light fills the space. Soft textures, exposed brick, natural elements, and open spaces create an atmosphere of calm and curiosity.
Carrying on a Legacy of Medicine
Called "Dr. Ben" by most of his patients and staff, Dr. Edwards mirrors that spirit. Relaxed, collected, and unhurried, he welcomes patients and visitors to his office. A worn black leather Gladstone bag sits on a bookshelf. It was once carried by Dr. Ben Edwards’ grandfather, a small-town Texas doctor.
Today, Dr. Ben carries the same legacy of services forward in his own way.
His great-grandfather, grandfathers, and uncles all served their communities as doctors. In Belton, Texas, where Dr. Ben grew up, he saw firsthand how both his grandfathers' practices cared for entire families, delivered babies, made house calls, and earned the trust of their neighbors.
That early example led him to pursue his own medical path, earning a degree from The University of Texas in Houston and completing a family practice residency in Waco. He went on to serve as the only doctor in Garza County, where he cared for patients in the clinic, nursing home, county jail, and football field while managing the high-volume demands of rural medicine.
From Observation to Transformative Care
By all measures, his practice was thriving. But the nurse practitioner, Shane, under Dr. Ben’s supervision had a life-changing experience.
After years of severe celiac symptoms, all of a sudden Shane was better. Through dietary and gut health changes, his diagnosis was reversed. Dr. Ben took notice. “I couldn’t ignore what I was seeing,” said Edwards. That single case led him down a path of deeper learning, where he began to explore how nutrition, lifestyle, and inflammation drive many modern chronic diseases.
Soon, more stories followed. One patient’s story has stuck with him ever since. Dr. Edwards had been treating this patient for years. He was a 74-year-old man, a former football coach, over 330lbs with diabetes, and confined to his recliner. He desperately needed insulin but hated needles and refused them. “I’m just waiting to die anyways. I’m not living, I’m sitting.”
Dr. Edwards referred him to the physician his nurse practitioner had seen as a last-ditch effort. “Maybe five months later, coach comes back and he's lost over forty pounds. He's off all of his meds except for half of one blood pressure pill. Wow, he has a pep in his step. Energy's back. He's out picking in the garden with his grandkids living life. With a tear in his eye he says ‘Doc, thank you so much for sending me…I got my life back.'” Years later, Dr. Edwards said patient stories like this one were transformative.
“Once you see this, you can’t unsee it,” Dr. Ben said. “This is what I went to med school to do: help people get well.”
Guided by his faith and a deep conviction, Dr. Ben left his practice in Garza County and founded Veritas Wellness. A place where education, empowerment, and community-driven care guide every patient’s journey.
Why Downtown? A Space That Matches a Philosophy of Care
When it came time to choose a permanent home for Veritas Wellness, Dr. Edwards and his wife, Jamie, knew they wanted something more than just another medical office.
“There’s a real uniqueness to what we do,” Dr. Edwards explained, “and downtown is unique.”
They were drawn to the history, architecture, and spirit of Downtown Lubbock, where creativity and community thrive. When they first walked into their current space, a former theater turned residence, they knew it was the right fit.
Being downtown also offers a personal connection to the surrounding community. Dr. Edwards and his team enjoy local spots like Nashwell Cafe just a few blocks away, and Cast Iron Grill, who just switched to cooking with tallow.
“When a downtown thrives, everyone thrives,” Dr. Edwards says. “It’s a symbiotic relationship, and a good one to be part of.”
Building a Community of Care
At Veritas Wellness, every patient journey starts with education. Their monthly membership includes on-demand videos, meal plans, movement classes, live coaching, and community support. All of it is built around the practice’s four pillars: Nutrition, Hydration, Movement, and Peace. Acute care services, such as IV therapy, are available when needed, but the goal is simple: empower each person to take charge of their health and thrive.
For Dr. Edwards, wellness isn’t just about food or fitness, it’s about connection. “To be a non-standard American by yourself, that’s super hard,” he says. “It takes a community.”
That’s one reason Dr. Edwards feels Veritas has the perfect home in Downtown Lubbock.
