Quite a few people have asked me “How do you just do that?” when I tell them I opened my own primary care practice. At first, my response was simply “You just do it,” but I did some reflection on the question and realized no one is born knowing how to open or run a clinic. My journey to opening a DPC began just like anyone else’s- not really getting the concept of DPC. Through the years of me trying to figure this DPC thing out, I’ve encountered so many incredible people who I now consider mentors and friends, and its truly those people who got me to where I am today by encouraging and challenging me along the way.

For anyone who hasn’t been to an in person DPC conference or met any DPC doctors, I want to let you know that they (I guess now “we” since I am one) are some of the nicest and most passionate people you will meet. During my first Summit in 2017, I was a medical student still nervous around attendings, but the approachability of all the speakers allowed me to easily ask my million burning questions. They were all also kind enough to spend an extended time answering everyone’s questions outside their allotted speaking time. Since that time, I’ve visited dozens of DPC offices across the country and have had hundreds of conversations with DPC docs in various stages of practice. Each visit and each conversation helped form the foundation of knowledge that let me really hit the ground running with my own practice.

Locally, I’ve also been very lucky to have some incredible people around. Virginia has seen tremendous growth in DPC. When I started residency, the area where I trained had zero, by graduation there were 5 with another coming soon. The greater Richmond area, where I am, had 1 when I started residency and now there are 4 practices. Similar growth is happening in every major area of Virginia. More importantly than number, the quality of DPC docs is tremendous. All the DPC docs in VA share a unified vision to help each other and raise awareness of DPC in our communities. Even though we’re not as formally connected as some other state DPC groups, we look out for each other and freely share information, help, and resources. All of the early successes I’ve had can be attributed in one way or another to help received from another DPC doc.

I first heard the phrase “a rising tide raises all boats” from a DPC doc and it embodies so well the community as a whole. In 4 years, I’ve only met genuine people always open to helping out their fellow DPC colleagues and other physicians looking to start out, whether they are newly graduated residents or seasoned attendings. There are also many actively working to get into medical schools and residency programs to create a pipeline into DPC from earlier in training. COVID has made connecting harder since we can’t do things in person, but as we go back to doing things in person, I’d encourage getting plugged in if you haven’t yet. The next DPC Summit should be in person in Kansas City and is scheduled for July 15-17. The people are friendly and the lessons invaluable. In the meantime, find some local DPCs and get to know them. We are the rising tide and we are going further together.