Community & Resources

Key DPC organizations:

DPC Alliance (dpcalliance.org) — The primary national advocacy organization for Direct Primary Care. They lobby for DPC-friendly legislation at the federal and state level, including the DPC Act (which would allow Medicare patients to use HSA funds for DPC memberships). They also maintain a DPC practice directory and provide practice startup resources. Membership: $200-500/year depending on practice size.

DPC Frontier (dpcfrontier.com) — Founded by Dr. Philip Eskew, DPC Frontier is the go-to resource for DPC data, research, and practice mapping. Their interactive DPC practice mapper shows every known DPC practice in the US. They also publish the most comprehensive DPC research database and host webinars on DPC topics. Free to access; donations welcome.

DPC Coalition — A grassroots coalition of DPC physicians focused on federal legislative advocacy. They coordinate letter-writing campaigns, congressional meetings, and public comments on proposed regulations that affect DPC.

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) — The AAFP has officially endorsed DPC as a legitimate practice model and provides DPC-specific resources through their practice transformation programs. Their DPC resource page includes startup guides, legal summaries, and practice management tools.

Society of Direct Primary Care (SDPC) — A professional society for DPC physicians that provides CME, networking, and practice resources.

Hint Health Community — Hint Health (the DPC membership management platform) hosts an active online community of DPC physicians, publishes the Hint blog with DPC business insights, and hosts the annual Hint Summit conference.

Major DPC conferences:

DPC Summit — The flagship annual conference organized by the DPC Alliance. Typically held in July/August in a major US city. 2-3 days of sessions covering everything from startup mechanics to employer contracts to legislative updates. 500+ attendees including DPC physicians, startup founders, employers, and policy makers. This is THE must-attend conference for DPC. Early bird registration: ~$400-600.

Hint Summit — Hosted by Hint Health, this annual conference focuses on the business and technology side of DPC. Strong content on employer DPC, practice growth, and DPC technology. Typically held in San Francisco or a major West Coast city. 300+ attendees. Great for networking with DPC-focused vendors and tech companies.

DPC Nuts & Bolts — An intensive workshop-style conference designed specifically for physicians in the early stages of starting a DPC practice. Very tactical content: business plans, financial modeling, legal setup, marketing plans. Smaller, more intimate format (50-100 attendees). Often held in conjunction with the DPC Summit or as a standalone event.

AAFP FMX — The American Academy of Family Physicians' annual conference includes DPC-specific tracks and sessions. Good for FP physicians who want to explore DPC alongside broader family medicine content. 5,000+ attendees.

Regional DPC meetups and masterminds: Many states and metro areas have regular DPC physician meetups — either in person or virtual. Check your state's DPC Facebook group, the DPC Alliance chapter directory, or ask in the national DPC Facebook groups. These intimate gatherings are often the most valuable networking opportunities because you meet DPC physicians in your market who understand your specific challenges.

Webinars and virtual events: DPC Frontier, Hint Health, and the DPC Alliance all host regular webinars on DPC topics. These are great for continuing education and staying current on DPC trends without travel. Most are free or low-cost.

Essential DPC Facebook Groups:

"DPC Docs" (facebook.com/groups/dpcdocs) — The largest and most active DPC Facebook group with 5,000+ members. This is where DPC physicians ask questions, share wins, troubleshoot problems, and support each other. Topics range from "What EHR should I use?" to "How do I handle a Medicare opt-out?" to "My lease negotiation is going sideways, help!" Moderated by experienced DPC physicians. Joining requirement: you must be a physician (MD/DO) or physician in training.

"Direct Primary Care" (facebook.com/groups/directprimarycare) — A broader DPC group that includes physicians, NPs, PAs, practice managers, and DPC-curious healthcare professionals. More general discussion about the DPC model, policy, and news.

"DPC Frontier" (facebook.com/groups/dpcfrontier) — Managed by DPC Frontier. Focused on DPC data, research, and evidence-based practice. Great for physicians who want to stay current on DPC literature and outcomes studies.

"DPC Women Physicians" — A supportive community specifically for women physicians in DPC or considering DPC. Discusses unique challenges and opportunities for women in DPC practice.

"DPC + Employer" — Focused specifically on employer DPC contracts, sales strategies, and plan design. Smaller but highly targeted group for physicians building the employer side of their DPC practice.

Other online communities: - Reddit: r/directprimarycare — Active subreddit with DPC discussions - DPC podcasts: "My DPC Story" (hosted by Dr. Maryal Concepcion), "DPC Insights," "Physician Nerd" — excellent for learning from DPC physicians' real experiences - LinkedIn: Search "Direct Primary Care" and follow DPC thought leaders. LinkedIn is also the best platform for connecting with employers and benefits brokers.

Pro tip: Before asking a question in any DPC group, use the search function first. Most common startup questions have been asked and thoroughly answered many times. The group archives are an incredible knowledge base.

Finding a DPC mentor:

1. Attend a DPC conference: The DPC Summit and Hint Summit are the best places to meet experienced DPC physicians in person. The hallway conversations and after-hours networking are as valuable as the formal sessions.

2. DPC Frontier mapper: Use the interactive map at dpcfrontier.com to find DPC practices near you. Reach out to physicians in your area or in similar markets and ask if they'd be open to a mentorship conversation. Most will say yes.

3. Facebook groups: Post in DPC Docs or Direct Primary Care groups that you're starting a DPC practice and looking for a mentor. You'll get multiple responses.

4. DPC Alliance: They have a mentorship program that matches aspiring DPC physicians with experienced practitioners.

5. State medical associations: Some state medical associations have DPC interest groups or can connect you with DPC physicians in your state.

What to look for in a mentor: - 2+ years in DPC (has survived the ramp-up and has real operational experience) - Similar market to yours (rural, suburban, urban) - Similar practice model (solo, group, employer-focused) - Willing to share financial data (actual revenue, expenses, growth curves) - Available for regular check-ins (monthly call or coffee meeting)

What to bring to the mentorship: - Specific questions (not "tell me everything about DPC") - Willingness to share your progress and challenges honestly - Respect for their time (prepare for each meeting) - Pay it forward — when you're established, mentor the next generation

Peer support groups: Many DPC physicians participate in peer mastermind groups — small groups (4-8 physicians) who meet monthly to share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and hold each other accountable. If one doesn't exist in your area, start one. Post in the DPC Facebook groups to find interested physicians near you.

Essential DPC reading:

Books: - "The Direct Primary Care Revolution" by Dr. Josh Umbehr — THE foundational DPC book. Dr. Umbehr founded one of the first DPC practices (Atlas.md in Wichita, KS) and shares the philosophy, mechanics, and evidence behind the model. - "DPC How" by Dr. Paul Thomas — A practical, step-by-step guide to starting a DPC practice. Covers business planning, legal setup, pricing, marketing, and operations. - "The Startup Owner's Manual" by Steve Blank — Not healthcare-specific, but essential reading for any physician-entrepreneur. Teaches lean startup methodology that applies directly to DPC. - "Direct Primary Care: The Cure for Our Broken Healthcare System" by Dr. Lee Gross — A compelling argument for DPC as a healthcare policy solution, with practical advice for physicians considering the model.

Podcasts: - "My DPC Story" — Dr. Maryal Concepcion interviews DPC physicians about their journeys. Hundreds of episodes covering every DPC topic imaginable. The single best DPC podcast. - "DPC Insights" — Short, tactical episodes on specific DPC practice management topics. - "Physician Nerd" — Dr. Nii Darko discusses physician entrepreneurship with a focus on DPC and direct care models.

Online courses and programs: - DPC Nuts & Bolts course (online version available between conferences) - Hint Health Academy — Free online resources for DPC practice management - DPC Alliance startup toolkit — Includes checklists, templates, and guides

Financial planning resources: - Physicians Thrive — Financial planning firm focused on physicians - WealthKeel — Physician-specific financial advisory - White Coat Investor — Physician personal finance community

The DPC literature: DPC Frontier maintains the most comprehensive database of DPC research and publications at dpcfrontier.com/research. Key studies to read: Qliance outcomes study, University of Michigan DPC satisfaction study, Nextera employer outcomes data, and your state's DPC-specific research if available.