DPC Summit 2025 – In review
The longer I am a business owner, the more I realize the importance of taking time away from my daily routine to relax and recharge! I am thankful that I had an opportunity to do that recently, as I write this blog after returning from a trip to the Direct Primary Care (DPC) Summit in New Orleans. My gosh, what an energizing experience it was! I attended my first Summit two years ago in Minneapolis, and some of you may remember that I gave a talk with Noreta’s former intern Nick. This time around, I felt more like a veteran, no longer in the start-up phase, and focused more on growth. I signed up to mentor a few primary doctors who were either starting out in their DPC practice, or interested in DPC but not yet in practice. What I found surprising was that 3 of the 4 doctors were older than me. It’s so nice to see that the DPC movement can accommodate primary care physicians at any stage in their career!
It was also very nice to see my research highlighted by Dr. Delicia Haynes, a DPC family physician, in the keynote address for the conference – a real highlight of my career! She talked about overcoming mental health struggles and how by acknowledging those struggles, she has been able to grow as a person and physician. She discussed how opening a DPC allowed her to slow down and focus on what is important to her in life. She then mentioned my research, which is a small study showing that DPC doctors report fewer feelings of burnout and a higher level of fulfillment than their counterparts who do not practice in DPC. This is certainly the outcome that Dr. Haynes experienced by opening a DPC practice! My full research paper can be found HERE.
There was also buzz about the change in law which will now allow HSA funds to be used to pay for DPC memberships as of January 1, 2026. This is contained in the HR 1 law that passed a few months ago, and means good things for DPC going forward. I am writing a blog about that, so stay tuned!
There were a few surprising things that happened at the conference:
- On our first night in New Orleans, my husband and I went to dinner. We were sitting at our table for no more than 15 minutes when in walks one of the former family medicine residents that I taught while I was a faculty member at a family medicine residency clinic before I opened Noreta. We had stayed in touch a bit after she graduated but hadn’t talked in a few years. It was SO nice to see Meagan and meet her husband! We ended up moving to their table and had a lovely time talking with them!
- I was walking to get in line for breakfast at the conference, and I heard my name. I turned around and lo and behold, it was another resident I taught at the same family medicine residency program. I had no idea Matthew had started a DPC in Virginia!
Between catching up with SC DPC docs, and 3 former residents that I taught (I knew the 3rd former resident was attending), this conference turned into a mini-reunion!
If you are a practicing physician/resident/medical student and are curious about an alternative to large hospital system-based primary care, I would highly recommend attending the DPC Summit in the future! Every time I attend a Direct Primary Care conference, I am amazed by the amount of encouragement, advice, and knowledge that freely passes between attendees. While the conference sessions are very helpful, the networking is just as valuable!
Have a good week! Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Melissa Boylan, MD, FAAFP
Family Physician and Owner of Noreta Family Medicine
