Residency teaches physicians how to care for patients. It does not teach them how to choose a business structure, set membership pricing, market a new practice, or create the systems that keep a clinic running.

That can make opening a Direct Primary Care practice after training feel out of reach.

But four physicians, who later became mentors for Hint’s Direct Care Launch Bootcamp, show that doctors don’t have to spend years working in the traditional system before building the dream practice they want. Each began pursuing DPC during residency and created a path into practice ownership early in their career.

Their experiences show what is possible when a clear vision is paired with thoughtful financial planning, a willingness to learn the business side of medicine, and support from people who have already done it.

Starting Small While Still in Residency

Dr. Alexandra Gerace and Dr. Dylan Morrissey decided to build Highlands Direct Primary Care while they were both still internal medicine residents. Dr. Gerace was entering her second year, and Dr. Morrissey was entering his third.

As Dr. Morrissey began interviewing with hospital systems and private practices, they saw the future being offered to them: short visits, rising patient loads, more administrative work, and little transparency for patients about the cost of basic care.

DPC offered something different. They could spend more time with patients, provide transparent pricing, and have greater control over how they practiced medicine.

“We both just had the kind of soul-deep realization that we didn’t want to work in the insurance system, in the traditional model that was presented to us.” - Dr. Alexandra Gerace

They didn’t wait for ideal circumstances. They started by leasing a small two-room office that had not previously been a medical practice. After reaching out to the equipment manager at their hospital, they secured exam tables, blood pressure cuffs, and other supplies at no cost.

Both continued working full residency schedules while seeing patients at their own practice. Dr. Morrissey’s father, a former business owner, helped room patients, answer messages, and introduce the practice to local businesses and community groups.

By starting with what they had access to, they were able to begin building their practice without taking on more overhead than they could support.

Highlands DPC opened in fall 2023 in Maitland, Florida, and eventually moved into a larger, more comfortable space. Their original two-room setup was never intended to be the final version of the practice; it simply gave them a place to begin.

“It’s my dream job,” Dr. Gerace said. “I know it’s scary, but it’s worth it.”

Opening the Monday after graduation

Dr. Ben Hauter discovered DPC during his second year of medical school. The model reminded him of the relationship-based, small-town medicine he had watched his parents practice before administrative demands began to change their work.

His interest soon became a family plan. Dr. Hauter brought his parents to a DPC conference, and his father opened a practice first. After completing family medicine residency, Dr. Hauter launched Salt and Light DPC in Petersburg, Illinois, a few towns away from his parents’ clinic.

“I started exactly out of residency. People were going to take vacations, and I was like, no, I’ve got work to do. On Monday, I’m just going to sit there and wait for somebody to walk in," says Dr. Ben Hauter

As one of the first physicians in his area to practice DPC, Dr. Hauter had to introduce an unfamiliar model to his rural community.

With each conversation, he refined how he explained DPC and learned where to reach the people most likely to value it. Local Facebook groups, homeschool communities, school physical events, and word of mouth helped Salt and Light DPC become a trusted local resource.

“You’ve got to be the leader wherever you are, even if it makes you weird at the start.”

Dr. Ben Hauter

Building a patient base before residency ended

Dr. Brad Brown did not plan to open his DPC practice during residency.

Then, after a post-call shift, he noticed an available commercial space near his program and stopped to take a closer look. The realtor happened to be there, and although Dr. Brown didn’t expect to need a clinic for another few years, the opportunity completely changed his timeline.

He signed the lease, began building out the space, and opened Strive Direct Health in Erie, Colorado, about a year later. While completing residency, he saw patients during lunch breaks and before and after his scheduled hours. In his words, he was essentially “moonlighting for himself.”

By the time he completed residency, the practice already had about 125 members.

Dr. Brown continued moonlighting in rural emergency departments and hospital settings to cover his personal expenses while the practice grew. That bridge income also allowed him to hire one of his residency classmates earlier than the practice otherwise could have supported.

Six years later, what began as a clinic Dr. Brown operated around his residency schedule has grown into a multi-provider DPC practice. He now also serves as Hint’s medical director.

“I’d rather work all these hours for myself than for someone else. It is a dream, and it’s coming true every day.”

Dr. Brad Brown

What these launch paths have in common

These physicians did not follow one formula, but their experiences point to several things for residents considering DPC.

Start with what you have.
Drs. Gerace and Morrissey began in a two-room office with equipment they secured at no cost. Dr. Brown saw his first patients during lunch breaks and around his residency shifts. The first version of a practice does not need to be the final one.

Create a financial runway.
Membership growth takes time. Keeping overhead low, using savings, moonlighting, or opening part time can give a new practice room to grow without requiring it to generate a full physician income immediately.

Be prepared to explain DPC.
Many potential patients will be unfamiliar with the model. Dr. Hauter refined his message through repeated conversations and learned which communities and outreach channels were most receptive to it.

Expect to become a business owner.
Launching a practice involves legal setup, financial planning, marketing, enrollment, technology, and day-to-day operations. Clinical training may prepare physicians to care for patients, but building a practice requires an entirely different set of skills.

Learn from people who have done it.
Drs. Gerace, Morrissey, Hauter, and Brown all sought out physicians and communities already practicing DPC. They later became mentors for Hint’s Direct Care Launch Bootcamp, helping new practice owners learn from their experience.

Build your dream DPC practice from the start

Knowing that opening a DPC practice is possible is one thing. Knowing where to start and how to take action is another.

Hint’s Direct Care Launch Bootcamp helps aspiring practice owners work through the financial, legal, marketing, technology, and operational decisions involved in launching a practice. Participants receive a comprehensive curriculum, live weekly classes with guest experts, peer support, and mentorship from DPC physicians who have done it themselves.

Ready to build your dream practice? Learn more about joining Hint’s Direct Care Launch Bootcamp.