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Doug Farrago, MD

Douglas Farrago, MD received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia in 1987, his Masters of Education degree in the area of Exercise Science from the University of Houston in 1990, and his Medical Degree from the University of Texas at Houston in 1994. His residency training occurred way up north at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. In his final year, he was elected Chief Resident by his peers. Dr. Farrago practiced family medicine for twenty-three years before retiring, first in Auburn, Maine and then in Forest, Virginia. He founded Forest Direct Primary Care in 2014, which quickly filled in 18 months.  In 2000, Dr. Farrago retired from clinical practice and now runs DPCnews.com. He also lectures regularly about the present crisis in our healthcare system and the effect it has on the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Farrago has written three books on direct primary care:  The Official Guide to Starting Your Own Direct Primary Care Practice, The Direct Primary Care Doctor’s Daily Motivational Journal and Slowing the Churn in Direct Primary Care (While Also Keeping Your Sanity) are all best sellers in this genre. He is a leading expert in Direct Primary Care model and lectures medical students, residents, and doctors on how to start their own DPC practice.

Douglas Farrago, MD is the inventor of a product called the Knee Saver which is currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He is also the inventor of the CryoHelmet used by athletes for head injuries as well as migraine sufferers.  

From 2001 – 2011,  Dr. Farrago was the editor and creator of the Placebo Journal which ran for 10 full years.  Described as the Mad Magazine for doctors, he and the Placebo Journal were featured in the Washington Post, US News and World Report, the AP, and the NY Times. Two “Best of” Books are now in publication: The Best of the Placebo Journal Volume One and The Best of the Placebo Journal Volume Two.

Debbie Farrago, M. Ed

Debbie Farrago was the practice manager at Forest Direct Primary Care for six years. She was the backbone behind the operation who is credited with keeping Dr. Farrago organized and on task while also helping to create their successful practice (He has problems with that). Debbie received her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1986 and her Masters of Education in 1992. She is the mother of three great kids whom she was fortunate to be able to stay at home with and raise. Starting Forest Direct Primary Care with her husband was her first foray into the medical field but one she gladly jumped at in order for her and her husband’s dream to come true.

Kenneth Qiu, MD

Dr. Qiu will be moderating our Resident and Student section. Kenneth Qiu, MD recently finished his family medicine residency and has just opened a DPC practice in the Richmond, VA area. He has been involved with the DPC community since medical school and has worked to increase awareness of DPC for medical students and residents across the country.  He’s presented at three previous DPC Summits.

Shane Purcell, MD

Dr. Purcell is board certified family physician working in Anderson, SC. He received his medical degree from Mercer University in Macon, GA and completed family medicine residency at AnMed Health in Anderson, SC. After completing his residency, Dr. Purcell worked in a private group practice for 3 years before opening his own cash-only primary care clinic in 2005. As he built his cash-only clinic, he was also working part-time in a local urgent care facility. In 2008, he purchased a dormant medical clinic on the “wrong side of the tracks” and opened an urgent care and primary care clinic. After gaining his freedom from third-party captives, Dr. Purcell and a colleague formed the first direct primary care clinic in Anderson County in 2015. In 2019, he transitioned to full-time direct primary care and sold his urgent care. The direct primary care model has brought about a restoration of a relationship with patients broken by third-party middlemen. Now, he can offer more access and more of his time to patients. Dr. Purcell firmly believes that the direct primary care model is the last hope for health care in America. Dr. Purcell is an active member of several medical organizations including the DPC Alliance, Free Market Medical Association, and American Academy of Family Physicians. He is the former Chair of the Direct Primary Care Member Interest Group for the AAFP and a founding member of the DPC Alliance and the Carolina’s Free Market Medical Association. He was elected to the Advisory Committee for the DPC Alliance in the Fall of 2018 and completed his term in 2021. Dr. Purcell is the author of Magic, Pixie Dust, and Miracles: A Guide to Direct Primary Care and Employers which shares how to connect DPC with employers of all sizes. He has spoken about this topic and DPC in general at the DPC Summit, DPC Nuts and Bolts conference, Hint Summit, AAFP FMX, Carolina’s Free Market Medical Association, TedexFurman, and DPC Alliance Mastermind sessions. He continues to speak to residents and student groups about DPC as well.

Vance Lassey, MD

Dr. Lassey earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Smoky Hill Family Medicine Program, where he served as the chief resident. He went on to practice rural inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, and obstetric care, in Holton, Kansas. He found the calling he loved to have been hijacked by middlemen. Stuck in a broken system, mired in bureaucracy, clicking boxes, coding, not seeing his family, and hearing patients complain bitterly about medical costs he had no ability to control, Direct Primary Care (DPC) became the solution for him, his family, and his patients. He is passionate about restoring the physician-patient relationship, bringing transparency and sanity to medical costs, and advises physicians around the country on how to get out of the FFS system. He serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, is the recipient of numerous clinical and teaching awards, and is a founding member and the past President of the Direct Primary Care Alliance.

John Hayes, Jr., MD

John Hayes, Jr., MD spent years working primarily with family physicians and surgeons helping their pain patients with chiropractic, clinical nutrition, and lifestyle coaching. His work with the sickest lead not only to further his training but more importantly to the development of patient systems & tools to better help those suffering neuropathy & chronic pain. Frustrated with the changes in healthcare and concern about increasing physician demands in 2008 he published the EVVY nominated book “Living & Practicing by Design” and along with his wife Patti developed simplified EMR, practice business platforms, and systems.

April Soto, MD

April Soto was born and raised in Guatemala to Puerto Rican Missionaries. She came to the US to attend university and medical school at University of California San Francisco. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at White Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles, Ca , a 1-year Fellowship in HIV Medicine at Los Angeles County-University of California, 2-year fellowship in Integrative Medicine through Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine in San Diego, Ca. She worked at Kaiser Permanent for 13.5 years in Family Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Family Medicine Surgical Services and served as the Wellness Champion for the Family Medicine Residents. Dr Soto is also trained in psychedelic services and offers Ketamine, Breathwork and Biofield Medicine/Energy Healing services for patients with mental health concerns. She enjoys complementing western medicine along with addressing the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs of her patients as well. She meditates daily and enjoys time in nature. Boogie boarding alongside the surfers brings her great joy! She lives in Los Angeles, Ca with her beloved husband Chris.

Amy Walsh, MD

Family always comes first:
I am married to Whitey and can’t imagine life without him. I have 4 great kids who screw up from time to time; but they are still pretty damn cool.
Dog mom to 2 yellow labs who are exhausting and messy, but we love them. Happy DPC doctor since 2015 as the system wore me down and made me miserable. Luckily I found DPC. I found “my people” and never looked back. DPC was my best career decision without a doubt. Former varsity gymnast at the University of Michigan: I refer to those years as my “first life.” I learned about hard work, goal setting, and most importantly the value of true friendship. Hey, did you know UM gymnastics won NCAA Natty in 2021. Such a proud moment.Go Blue!

Have been accused of being Type A, OCD, perfectionist, competitive.
I may agree with most of those, but prefer words like focused, determined and committed. See? I have learned to use those all to my advantage.

Emily O’Rourke

Dr. Emily O’Rourke started Fountain Direct Primary Care, the very first DPC practice in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in October 2018. She enjoys working with her patients on individualized treatment plans, including lifestyle modification, in order to transform their physical and mental health and help them achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives. She also serves as an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner and performs Veteran Disability Examinations. 

Dr. O’Rourke was born and raised in the state of Nebraska, and she graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She completed her medical education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2010. She served as Chief Resident during her final year of the Eastern Virginia Medical School Portsmouth Family Medicine residency program. Dr. O’Rourke is Board Certified in Family Medicine through both the American Board of Family Medicine and the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons. 

Dr. O’Rourke lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with her husband, Jimmy, and their two sons, Logan and Jackson. She practices yoga regularly and enjoys creative pursuits, including crocheting and playing the cello.

Angela Andrews, MD

Dr. Angela Andrews is a board-certified Internal Medicine and Pediatrics physician, health coach, wife, mom, and lifelong athlete.  When not spending time with her family or caring for her patients, she is training for her next competition. Dr. Andrews graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Biomedical Engineering and worked at General Electric Healthcare Wisconsin for nearly five years before returning to her dream of becoming a doctor.  She received her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She completed her Med-Peds residency at the Detroit Medical Center & Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, MI.  

After 8 years in the system, Dr. Andrews opened Seeds of Health Direct Primary Care in Grand Rapids, MI in February 2014. Her personal journey with fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine training was a key factor in her decision. She spent years trying to figure out how to incorporate this experience into a “standard” clinical practice, before finding a natural fit within Direct Primary Care. Dr. Andrews is passionate about helping patients address the root cause of their mental and physical conditions and guiding them to cultivate healthy habits around exercise, good nutrition, and mental well-being. 

Dr. Andrews lives in Byron Center, Michigan, with her husband and exercise companion, Joseph VanEss, their son, Myles, and her two bonus children, Griffen and Quinne. She engages in various fitness activities (CrossFit, running, swimming, yoga, and bodybuilding) and enjoys gardening, tackling projects around the house, and building things out of wood.

Cristy Gupton

A nationally recognized employee benefits advisor, Cristy Gupton has endeavored to solve healthcare challenges for employers since 1998.  Cristy has been named twice to Employee Benefits Advisor Magazine’s Top 20 Women in Benefits Advising list.  

In 2017, Cristy was credentialed by the Health Rosetta and Mitigate Partners, groups of the nation’s leading healthcare consultants who provide transparent, employer-built health plans with direct primary care at the foundation.  Cristy has a BS in Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill, a MS in Health Benefits Design and Health Informatics from University of Lynchburg and a designation of Global Financial Steward from Wake Forest University’s Center for Board Certified Fiduciaries.

Other highlights:

• Spokesperson of the Free Market Medical Association, Carolinas Chapter
• Contributor to Industry Publications like BenefitsPro Magazine, Physician’s Outlook Magazine and DPC News
• Speaker at Wingate University’s Engaged Citizen’s Series, VAHU, SIIA, DPC Summit, Health Rosetta Summit (now called RosettaFest), Free Market Medical Association, BenefitsPro etc.
• Creator of Healthcare Smartypants, an employee education series meant to help employees become smarter consumers of healthcare.
• Creator of Sunlight Health Plans, a self-funded plan design for employers who embrace Direct Primary Care

Cristy also serves her community and fellow citizens through organizations like Scouting America, and her local chapter of Rotary International.

Andrew Anderson, DO

Dr. Anderson started DPC in 2018 out of equal parts inspiration and desperation. He runs a multi-provider DPC office in Virginia and speaks/writes on how Direct Care can save both the lives of the patient and the physician.

Vasanth Kainkaryam, MD

Dr. Kainkaryam is a “Doctorpreneur” and Founder of 4 Elements Direct Primary Care, and host of the 4 Elements of Health Care Podcast is a triple board-certified Internist, Pediatrician, and Obesity Medicine specialist, and holds a Masters in Health Informatics.   He has held a variety of roles as a community physician and regional medical director in a large health system, as a medical director of a healthcare startup, a Chief Medical Officer of a federally qualified health center and a Physician at the VA and at correctional institutions.   4 Elements Direct Primary Care & Wellness Space is his “ikigai” – a convergence of his previous experiences, as he disrupts the traditional model of health care by infusing his personal philosophies of care with evidence-informed medicine and personalized care.  He is evolving his practice into the 4 Elements Vitality Institute, which is under construction and also is the Chief Medical Officer of a men’s health startup called Bastion Health.  Dr. Kainkaryam’s “4E Philosophy” is how he works with his patients: engage, educate, empower and encourage.  Similarly, his podcast focuses on four elements while looking at the healthcare experience through the lens of the patient: the doctor, patient, system and society.  He is an author of a children’s book titled “To See the World: A Rose-Colored Perspective,” a husband to an Anesthesiologist and a father of three daughters, and assures us that despite his fascination with the number four, he is planning on keeping his number of children at three!  You can follow him on social media at @the.doctor.vk 

Dan Swartz, MD

Dr. Daniel J. Swartz, M.D. (Dr. Dan) earned his Bachelor of Individualized Studies in Biology, Chemistry and Kinesiology (Exercise Science), summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota in 1996. He earned his Medical Degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 2002. His residency training occurred at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa in Mason City, IA. Dr. Dan is board certified in Family Medicine and holds active medical licenses in the commonwealth of VA and the state of MN.

After residency, Dr. Dan practiced “full scope” Family Medicine with Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, MN for over a decade. While there, he joined the nonprofit Season’s Hospice as an on-call physician. He later joined the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN as a consultant and instructor in the Mayo Clinic Medical School. Dr. Dan and his family moved to Forest, VA in 2017 to join the faculty of Liberty University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. In connection with his academic appointment at LUCOM, he was deployed to the Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency where he was awarded the rank of core faculty with the residency and earned adjunct faculty positions with the UVA and VCU Schools of Medicine during his time in academic medicine. In addition to practicing at Forest Direct Primary Care, which he purchased from Douglas Farrago, MD, he continues to serve as an on-call hospice physician for Season’s Hospice in Rochester, MN.

Jack Forbush, DO

Dr. Leigh “Jack” Forbush, DO is a distinguished osteopathic physician with over twenty years of experience in family medicine, emergency medicine, and medical education. As founder of the Osteopathic Center for Family Medicine (2007), founding member of the New England Direct Primary Care Alliance (2015), and founder of the Direct Primary Care Alliance (2017), he has pioneered innovative healthcare delivery models focused on patient-centered care.

His leadership in organized medicine includes serving as President of the Maine Osteopathic Association, President of the Maine Academy of Osteopathic Family Physicians, and leadership roles within the New England Direct Primary Care Alliance.

The Osteopathic Center for Family Medicine provides comprehensive in-patient, out-patient, and obstetrical care – with Dr. Forbush maintaining a long-standing relationship with his coffee maker for those inevitable 3:00 AM delivery calls when babies decide that sleep is overrated.

As an educator, he holds faculty appointments at multiple medical schools and residency programs, mentoring the next generation of physicians. He is a frequent lecturer at local, state, and national conferences.

Dr. Forbush combines his clinical experience with a passion for improving healthcare delivery, contributing to ongoing conversations about making healthcare more accessible, affordable, and patient-centered.

Tic Douloureux

Tic is our anchorman for DPC News Television. He has been in broadcasting for over thirty years. He has worked as an announcer, disc jockey, and newsman for stations from California to New York City. After retiring in 2007 he has graciously accepted our offer to host our show on a sporadic basis. He is an avid fan of Direct Primary Care and parrots.