How do you know when it’s time to leave the system and what does it look like to create something better?

In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Cooke shares her journey from burnout in a large healthcare system to opening Sol Direct Primary Care in Atlanta, GA. She talks about the realities of fee-for-service medicine, how the hospital closure in her community pushed her toward direct primary care, and why boundaries are essential for sustainability as a physician.

We also dive into…

• Why the fee-for-service model often leaves both doctors and patients feeling trapped.

• How Dr. Cooke leaned into courage (and community) to launch her Direct Primary Care practice.

• The power of boundaries in preventing burnout and making Direct Primary Care sustainable.

• Her heart for serving Black women’s health and wellness through Sol Direct Primary Care.

• Michelle’s advice for physicians who feel stuck in the system but dream of practicing medicine differently.

This episode is filled with honesty, inspiration, and practical insight into the realities of making DPC work for both physicians and patients.

What really stands out from this conversation is Dr. Cooke reminder that boundaries are not walls-they’re what make it possible to give your best to patients without burning out. She also shares how leaning into her passion for serving Black women gave her practice a powerful mission and identity. And through the support of the Direct Primary Care community, she found the courage to step away from a broken system and build something more sustainable for herself and her patients.

Follow and Connect with Dr. Michelle Cooke

Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube: @drmichellecooke 

LinkedIn: Dr. Michelle Cooke

Website: sol-dpc.org

Spotify: Building DPC

📌 Upcoming Event

• The Metro- Atlanta DPC Mixer – Join the Movement!📍 Four Points by Sheraton Atlanta Airport West, 3520 North Desert Drive, Atlanta, GA 30344

  📅 Saturday, October 11th | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM

  🎟️ Tickets: https://sol-dpc.ac-page.com/atldpcmixer

  
  

Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

• DPC Summit

• DPC Alliance Masterminds – peer-to-peer learning and support for DPC docs

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Reviews help more doctors discover these conversations.

Have an idea for a future topic or guest? Email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.

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