Williamson County has grown fast, and its restaurant scene has kept pace, especially for families who want something better than a drive-through on a weeknight. Franklin, Brentwood, and Cool Springs are home to a handful of restaurants doing real, from-scratch cooking, and to three of LIFE Pediatric Endocrinology's physicians. Here's our guide to both.
Our Middle Tennessee Team
Families in Franklin, Brentwood, and the surrounding area have the rare advantage of a full team close to home: Dr. Natalie Hernandez, Dr. Toni Kim, and Dr. Kelli Davis all see patients in this market, each with a different focus.
Dr. Toni Kim, MD, is LIFE's founder and a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist with more than 20 years of experience. Her focus is growth and puberty disorders, and she takes an integrative approach — combining medications like growth hormone or aromatase inhibitors, when appropriate, with attention to lifestyle and nutrition. She's known for looking at growth and puberty concerns from angles other physicians might not consider.
Dr. Kelli Davis, D.O., is board-certified in both pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology and trained under Dr. Jill Simmons at Vanderbilt's Program for Pediatric Metabolic Bone Disorders. Her focus areas are metabolic bone disease, growth disorders, and post-operative thyroid cancer care, and she continues Dr. Kim's integrative philosophy for growth and puberty. Middle Tennessee — Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, and Cool Springs is home turf for her practice.
Dr. Natalie Hernandez, MD, leads LIFE's metabolic and obesity medicine work: insulin resistance, PCOS/PMOS, and pediatric weight concerns. She trained at Duke University Hospital and has published research on insulin resistance in youth-onset type 2 diabetes in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. She sees patients in Spanish and English.
LIFE's Brentwood office is a short drive from most of Franklin and Cool Springs, and all three physicians also see patients by telehealth for families who'd rather skip the drive. None of the three require a family to commit to a formal weight program before being seen, a first visit can be a straightforward hormone evaluation, a second opinion, or ongoing care.
Where to Eat Well in Franklin
Radish Kitchen — Founded by Amanda Frederickson, a former Williams-Sonoma test kitchen chef, Radish serves colorful, made-in-house salads and grain bowls at its Aspen Grove Drive location. Proteins are thoughtfully sourced and most dishes are cooked in avocado oil rather than seed oils, a detail that matters more than it sounds like it should.
Flower Child — Franklin was chosen as Flower Child's very first Tennessee location, and it shows: the Southside at McEwen spot has a dedicated "Healthy Kids" menu alongside customizable bowls, wraps, and salads for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free eaters alike.
Vui's Kitchen — Founder Vui Hunt grew up with Vietnamese home cooking and built a menu around it: pho, banh mi, and fresh summer rolls, all MSG-free and made from scratch daily. Her Franklin location, at Liberty Station, is personal for her, she lived in Franklin herself for several years before opening here.
True Food Kitchen — A short drive north in Green Hills, this one runs on Dr. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory-diet philosophy, with a seasonal, whole-food menu worth the extra fifteen minutes on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Does LIFE have an office near Franklin? Yes, LIFE's standing office in Brentwood, TN, is a short drive from most of Franklin, Cool Springs, and the surrounding area.
What's the difference between Dr. Hernandez, Dr. Kim, and Dr. Davis? Dr. Kim and Dr. Davis both focus on growth and puberty, with Dr. Davis additionally specializing in metabolic bone disease and post-operative thyroid cancer care. Dr. Hernandez focuses on metabolic and obesity medicine, including insulin resistance and PCOS/PMOS.
Do you see families from outside Williamson County? Yes. LIFE is a national practice, and families throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond see our physicians both in person at the Brentwood office and by telehealth.
How soon can we get an appointment? Reach out through our contact page and our team will help find the right physician and the next available time.
LIFE Pediatric Endocrinology is a national concierge pediatric endocrinology practice with a standing office in Brentwood, TN. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Hernandez, Dr. Kim, Dr. Davis, or another member of our team.
