Noreta’s 6th Anniversary
It seems that Noreta’s 6th anniversary snuck up on me! July 1 came and went with little fanfare this year, perhaps because I’ve been keeping myself plenty busy ????
Interestingly, the end of Noreta’s 6th year and start of Noreta’s 7th year felt a bit like Noreta’s 1st year. For example, the number of new patients I saw in January, February and March 2026 were each the highest totals since the first 3 months of Noreta’s opening. Also, I opened Noreta in 2020 with no staff, and am starting year 7 with no staff (although I hope that changes soon!!). And finally, despite some challenges, I do feel my enthusiasm for practicing in a Direct Primary Care office is nearly as high as when I opened Noreta!
So what was new or different in Noreta’s 6th year? I gave a TEDx talk, and I had more family medicine residents enroll in a Direct Primary Care elective rotation at Noreta than ever before. I also gave more public talks about Direct Primary Care this past year, and guided the Columbia chapter of Walk with a Doc into its 4th year!
I can’t let the month go by without sending a big THANK YOU to everyone who has provided support along the way. Your support keeps me going on days when it is tough.
It happened again this past week — a new patient came in after having bad experiences at (multiple) doctors’ offices, and therefore, lacked some trust in the medical system. One of the most gratifying feelings I experience is watching that mistrust start to melt away during a patient’s appointment at Noreta. The mistrust is replaced with relief that a doctor actually has time to listen. Building trust happens every day in small ways too. “Wow, thanks for calling me back so quickly Dr. B.” or “Oh, thank you, I felt so silly for contacting you, but I feel much better now.” are comments that help me realize that I am doing the right thing with my career.
While I was training in my residency program (just a few years ago ????), I overheard some classmates talking about a conversation they had with a primary care doctor who had been in practice for a while. My classmates said the primary care physician told them that the image they had in their minds of an ideal family doctor doesn’t exist any more. My interpretation of this statement was CAUTION: UNPLEASANT ROAD AHEAD. I never found out who that doctor was, but gosh, I tell all of the students and residents that come to my office the exact opposite! You can indeed bring that image of an ideal doctor to life! Try Direct Primary Care! Despite some challenges that come from owning a small business, I’m lucky enough to say that I am much closer to the ideal family doctor image I had in my mind when I chose to go into family medicine. This doesn’t mean I’m a perfect physician, but I feel I am practicing in a way that is both fulfilling to me and my patients.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this new and different way of providing primary care in Columbia, SC! My success is your success and your success is mine as well. I look forward to continuing to move the Direct Primary Care train forward in the Columbia area and beyond!
Have a good week! Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Melissa Boylan, MD, FAAFP
Family Physician and Owner of Noreta Family Medicine
