The word is out! (So are the blood stains.)
One of the many benefits of being a DPC doctor is schedule flexibility. Yesterday I took the day off and drove a couple of hours to Lee’s Summit, MO to meet up with my good friend Dr. Luke VanKirk to co-present a DPC lecture to a group of family medicine residents at a brand new Family Medicine residency program.
Luke had asked if I wanted to co-present this early afternoon, 1.5-hour conference. Of course, I said yes, if nothing else to get a day off and to hang out with a good friend and see the smiling faces of young idealistic physicians.
Luke texted me yesterday morning and asked if I’d want to meet him for lunch at a nearby Chipotle first, which sounded good to me. So we threw down some chipotle and had a few laughs before heading to the residency.
Wouldn’t you know it, upon arrival we discovered Chipotle had been catered. Massive amounts. Copious leftovers. And after I dropped $15 on a salad and a Coke Zero. 
The lecture went great. Almost the way they always do. Excellent engagement, blown minds, and many great questions asked. Residents and students never sleep through a DPC lecture.
The thing that was different (which has been a slow but noticeable change at DPC lectures at med schools and residencies over the last few years) was a refreshing number of students/residents who know what DPC is. Most of them have at least a basic understanding of the model. For the first 5+ years, the letters DPC were new to the ears of the youngsters. But it’s clear that we’re all doing something right. They still have a lot of questions and misconceptions and end up with blown minds, but without a doubt, the word is spreading. Many residents inquired about coming out to do a rotation, and I had a rotation handout printed and ready to give them, thanks to a fantastic rotation proposal template the DPCA has on their website that I made use of.
The program director told us after the lecture, that he is on the committee that chooses lectures at the annual AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents, and every year they have more demand in a DPC lecture than any other topic. More evidence that our ground game is strong in DPC and word is spreading.
After the lecture, I ate another huge chipotle salad, and grabbed a 3rd one to go, which I ate while running some errands while I was in the city a couple hours later. I usually don’t eat lunch. Let alone three. I’m not particularly proud of this gluttony, but there are a few considerations that I feel at least marginally rationalize this behavior: 1) No carbs. 2) Hey, free Chipotle. 3) I’m just a man.
While I’m making numerical lists, here’s a great day in DPC: 1) No patients, easy to take a day off 2) Catch up with a good friend and DPC colleague 3) Experience the non-jaded optimism of young bright physicians 4) Lots of free Chipotle 5) Teach the good news of primary care done right to eager residents 6) I have a bottle of Chipotlaway at home so the blood stains in my underwear were a breeze to remove. The day was a resounding success.
All you DPC docs out there: Please. Get out to the schools. Get out to the residencies. Spread the word. It makes a difference, and it makes you smile.
