For most of his career since 1999, Michael Hilts, MD worked in the traditional system of healthcare doing non-surgical sports medicine and family medicine. Then, in 2014 some personal family health problems led him to discover the field of functional medicine. He took courses in functional medicine every chance he had, with the intention of applying my knowledge to the benefit of as many patients as possible.

For several years he tried to incorporate aspects of functional medicine into a busy insurance-based practice, but with variable success due to time constraints. Becoming more and more frustrated with the broken healthcare system and its many inefficiencies, he was thrilled to learn about DPC.

While praying for guidance regarding my career in 2021, Dr. Hilts was led to read Bible passages in Jeremiah and Nehemiah. It became very clear to him that God was leading him out of captivity (insurance-based corporate medicine) and into freedom (cash-based membership model of private practice), and is doing it through the vehicle of DPC. He then founded Hilts Direct Primary Care.

I firmly believe that God is calling me to do my small part in rebuilding the broken health care system by starting a DPC practice. Although it will be a challenge, I take comfort knowing that “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Dr. Hilts is board-certified in both family medicine and primary care sports medicine, and he has extensive training in functional medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine. He was the first person in North Carolina to be credentialed by the ARDMS in musculoskeletal ultrasound in 2012, and he has done thousands of diagnostic ultrasounds and ultrasound-guided injections. He has an interest in regenerative musculoskeletal medicine including prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters; hiking and other outdoor activities; coffee roasting; and Bible study.