A Letter From Me to You

As we close out 2025, I wanted to take a moment to speak directly to you - doctor to doctor, human to human.

This episode is a little different. It’s a twist on ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, written as a reflection of our shared journey as physicians. It honors not only the work we do in exam rooms and inboxes, but also the quiet, unseen work that happens in kitchens, cars, call rooms, and living rooms - the places where our families, our partners, and our loved ones carry this life with us.

My hope is that you’ll hear pieces of your own story in this reading: the exhaustion that shows up at the end of a too-long day, the hope that never fully disappears, and the quiet, stubborn resilience that keeps you moving forward. Whether you practice Direct Primary Care or another model, the heart of what we do is human-centered medicine, and that heart beats strongest when we remember that compassion includes ourselves.

This episode is my way of acknowledging the realities we juggle, the trust we’re fighting to reclaim between doctor and patient, and the community that continues to grow around this movement. It’s an invitation to take a breath, to feel seen, and to know you are not doing this alone.

As you listen, I hope you feel warmth. I hope you feel connection and I hope you step into the new year with a little more light.

With gratitude,
Maryal Concepcion, MD Family Physician & Mom

Keywords: Direct Primary Care, physician wellness, holiday podcast, medical compassion, family, physician support, Christmas story

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Today Dr. Demetrio Aguila, a Direct Care surgeon and Host of the Direct Care Movement Podcast interviews the Host of My DPC Story, Dr. Maryal Concepcion.  For those listeners new to the podcast, or for those who are always happy to hear a DPC doctor talk about before and after opening a DPC, today you get to hear some of our Host's back story. Dr. Concepcion, a family physician and DPC pioneer in rural California, shares her journey of leaving fee-for-service medicine to open her own DPC practice. The conversation highlights the freedom, flexibility, and genuine patient relationships that DPC offers, contrasting it with the restrictions and burnout found in traditional healthcare systems. 

Listeners will hear practical advice for residents and medical students considering DPC, the financial realities of running a membership-based clinic, and tips for overcoming staffing challenges in rural areas. The episode also dispels common myths about DPC and discusses the growing movement toward patient-centered care. Hear more from Dr. Aguila at the Direct Care Movement podcast on Apple Podcasts!

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Today Dr. Emily Holt, a Direct Primary Care (DPC) physician based in New Orleans, shares her inspiring journey from working in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and university clinics to opening her own DPC practice amidst a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. The discussion dives deep into the effects of the "one big beautiful bill," the challenges facing marginalized communities following recent legislative changes, and innovative ways DPC physicians in Louisiana are collaborating to fill healthcare gaps. The episode also highlights the power of community-driven solutions, nonprofit partnerships, and coalition-building among DPC practitioners to improve access to affordable, relationship-based care. Whether you’re a physician, patient, or healthcare advocate, this episode offers firsthand insight into DPC, healthcare advocacy, and the current realities for patients and providers in New Orleans and beyond. Recorded July 2025.

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Today’s episode is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on My DPC Story. As of July 4th, we are standing at a true inflection point for Direct Primary Care—and for every physician, employer, broker, advocate and patient who believes primary care should be personal, accessible, and free from insurance middlemen.

In this special session, I’m joined by Jay Keese, Executive Director of the Direct Primary Care Coalition, who has spent more than a decade at the front lines in Washington, DC. Together, we break down what HR 1—the major tax bill signed into law this year—actually means for DPC. This includes:

• The historic win: HSAs are now fully compatible with Direct Primary Care for the first time ever.
• What patients can do starting January 1: Use tax-free HSA dollars to pay for DPC memberships without losing HSA eligibility.
• How this changes the landscape: New opportunities with employers, brokers, high-deductible plans, and even ACA bronze/catastrophic plans.
• What stays the same, what’s evolving, and what rulemaking from the IRS will finalize.
• What’s coming next: How DPC can scale responsibly and sustainably as demand accelerates.

If you’ve ever wondered how policy actually becomes reality—or what the future of DPC looks like on a national scale—you’ll want to listen closely. This episode is equal parts celebration, clarification, and a roadmap for what comes next.

Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.

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Brought to you by SmartHeart: get your copy of the 5-Day Mini Metabolic Health Reset to use with your patients during Heart Health month!

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Today we hear from Dr. Maria Rutmann, founder of Lionheart Direct Primary Care in northern Maine. She discusses the transformative power of the Direct Primary Care (DPC) clinic model as physician burnout and healthcare system challenges escalate nationwide. Dr. Rutmann shares her journey from working in a traditional fee-for-service hospital group - where mounting administrative demands and loss of autonomy led to emotional exhaustion - to reclaiming her purpose and joy in medicine through DPC.

Listeners learn how Lionheart DPC empowers physicians to practice value-based care by fostering lasting patient-physician relationships, personalizing health experiences, and eliminating the barriers of insurance-driven healthcare. Dr. Rutmann emphasizes that DPC not only improves healthcare access in rural areas, but also allows doctors the time and freedom to provide comprehensive, preventative, and patient-centered care. Families in her community have experienced the convenience and rapid responsiveness of the DPC model, sometimes avoiding costly and time-consuming ER visits and walk-ins thanks to direct communication and same-day appointments.

This episode also highlights how DPC serves as a solution to physician burnout, supporting practitioners to reconnect with their sense of purpose, maximize patient outcomes, and enjoy professional autonomy. Listeners considering DPC - from those facing moral injury in fee-for-service settings, to those interested in community-driven, flexible healthcare - will find practical advice, heartfelt encouragement, and proof that a better way in healthcare is not only possible, but thriving.

Keywords: physician burnout, healthcare access, direct primary care, DPC, value-based care, physician autonomy, patient-centered care, rural healthcare, medical practice models, Lionheart Direct Primary Care.

Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.

Learn more about Zion HealthShare and REGISTER for the LIVE WEBINAR on Feb 13th at 2pm PST.

Brought to you by SmartHeart: get your copy of the 5-Day Mini Metabolic Health Reset to use with your patients during Heart Health month!

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In this episode of the My DPC Story Podcast, host Dr. Maryal Concepcion interviews Dr. Sarah "Sassy" Weinstein, a triple board-certified physician in family, sports, and lifestyle medicine. Hear how Dr. Sarah Sassy Weinstein turned personal health experiences - including Lyme disease and sports injuries - into a compassionate approach for patient care. Discover why she left insurance-driven medicine for a direct specialty care model in Princeton, NJ, empowering her to focus on holistic, patient-centered treatment without time constraints. Learn her insights on starting a direct care clinic, tips for keeping overhead low, and building a thriving practice. She shares strategies for integrating lifestyle medicine, the importance of listening to patients' goals, and balancing her roles as doctor, mom, and fitness instructor. This inspirational episode is packed with advice for physicians interested in launching a direct care or direct specialty care practice. 

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Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.

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In today's episode of the My DPC Story Podcast, host Dr. Maryal Concepcion welcomes Dr. Stephanie Lucero, the pioneering founder of Northern New Mexico’s first Direct Primary Care (DPC) clinic, Hometown Doc, LLC. Dr. Lucero shares her journey from growing up in the Pojoaque (Puh-Wah-Kee) Valley to becoming a board-certified family physician deeply committed to her local community. The conversation dives into DPC’s benefits over traditional fee-for-service healthcare within New Mexico, addressing common myths about DPC being “concierge medicine” and highlighting its affordability and accessibility—even for Medicaid patients. Dr. Lucero discusses challenges like physician shortages, healthcare access issues in rural New Mexico, the impact of restrictive non-compete clauses, and the importance of relationship-based care. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how DPC empowers physicians and community by fostering meaningful patient relationships, improving health outcomes, and creating community-focused innovation. Discover how Dr. Lucero is making healthcare personal, accessible, and efficient for New Mexicans/Hispanos/Nuevomexicanos—and why DPC might be the answer for patients and physicians nationwide. 

Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.

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Brought to you by SmartHeart: get your copy of the 5-Day Mini Metabolic Health Reset to use with your patients during Heart Health month!

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Today's episode features Dr. Rob Lamberts, one of Georgia’s early pioneers in Direct Primary Care (DPC). After nearly two decades in traditional insurance-based practice and facing severe burnout, Dr. Lamberts shares his journey opening his DPC practice in 2013—one of Georgia’s first. He discusses the challenges of the fee-for-service model, the healing power of direct physician-patient relationships, and the benefits of membership-based care like enhanced access, affordability, and a renewed passion for medicine. Dr. Lamberts also talks about building a sustainable, patient-centered medical practice and the transition to Welcome Health, a collaborative DPC group. 

Physicians considering switching to DPC will find practical insights into overcoming fears of change, leveraging technology for better access, and tips for building lasting legacy and satisfaction in primary care. If you’re searching for real-world DPC success stories, strategies to fight physician burnout, and ways to reclaim the essence of personalized medicine, this episode is a must-listen.

Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.

Learn more about Zion HealthShare and REGISTER for the LIVE WEBINAR on Feb 13th at 2pm PST.

Brought to you by SmartHeart: get your copy of the 5-Day Mini Metabolic Health Reset to use with your patients during Heart Health month!

REGISTER for the upcoming LIVE WEBINAR Feb 13th 2pm PST about Zion HealthShare.

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In today's episode of the My DPC Story Podcast, host Dr. Maryal Concepcion interviews Dr. Isabel Amigues, the first Direct Specialty Care rheumatologist in Colorado and founder of Unabridged MD in Denver. Dr. Amigues shares her inspiring journey through training in both France and the US, and how surviving stage 4 metastatic breast cancer transformed her medical approach. Blending Western medicine with holistic healing techniques like meditation, visualization, and energy work, she delivers personalized rheumatology care outside the constraints of insurance models. The episode dives deep into her rapid practice growth, patient-centered philosophy, and the advantages of direct specialty care for chronic and autoimmune diseases. Listeners gain valuable insight on patient advocacy, overcoming healthcare burnout, medication access, and building a thriving DPC clinic. Connect with Dr. Amigues for expert rheumatologic care and learn how direct specialty care empowers both physicians and patients. 

Keywords: direct primary care, direct specialty care, rheumatology, Unabridged MD, Dr. Isabel Amigues, Denver, autoimmune disease, holistic medicine, fee-for-service alternative, physician burnout, patient advocacy.

Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.

Learn more about Zion HealthShare and REGISTER for the LIVE WEBINAR on Feb 13th at 2pm PST.

Brought to you by SmartHeart: get your copy of the 5-Day Mini Metabolic Health Reset to use with your patients during Heart Health month!

REGISTER for the upcoming LIVE WEBINAR Feb 13th 2pm PST about Zion HealthShare.

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This weekend Maryal spoke at the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellows event in Washington, D.C. about the growing impact of the Direct Primary Care clinic model in combating physician burnout and promoting sustainable, relationship-based healthcare, so the next main episode will drop next Sunday. 

This episode continues to spotlight the latest issue of “The Toolkit,” a free DPC magazine curated by My DPC Story, designed to support clinics through open enrollment season. The Toolkit offers practical tools, customizable patient resources, and actionable checklists to help physicians and clinics navigate insurance changes and confidently discuss Medicare and healthcare benefits with their patients without feeling like insurance brokers. Listeners will find features on how DPC can help avoid pharmacy surprises and cost spikes, and detailed policy updates like the big win enabling HSA dollars for DPC memberships.

Maryal also shines a light on inspiring DPC leaders who are innovating at the practice level like Dr. Emily Holt and shares information on upcoming events like the DPC Coalition’s webinar on HSAs and the RiseUp Physician Summit for DPC physicians exploring side gigs and direct contracting HAPPENING THIS Oct 23-26th! If you’re a physician looking for meaningful ways to deliver or maintain your delivery of relationship-based care, prevent burnout, and thrive during open enrollment, this episode—and The Toolkit magazine—are essential resources. Download the free issue at mydpcstory.com/magazine and stay ahead in your DPC care journey!

Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.

Learn more about Zion HealthShare and REGISTER for the LIVE WEBINAR on Feb 13th at 2pm PST.

Support the show

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