In this incredibly candid and inspiring episode of the DFC Life Interview, we sat down with Dr. Melissa Boylan, the founder of Noreta Family Medicine in Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. Boylan gave us the full story of her transition from a decade in a hospital system to becoming a thriving Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice owner.

Dr. Boylan shared the "disaster day" complete with a house fire and an EMR catastrophe that finally pushed her to seek change after a three-year search, leading to the launch of Noreta in July 2020. We talked about everything from the best decisions we made when opening our practices to the innovative work she is doing to organize DPC physicians in South Carolina.

We talk about…

• The pivotal "disaster day" that prompted Dr. Boylan's departure from the hospital system.

• How Dr. Boylan minimized initial debt by renting her clinic space and meticulously researching costs.

• The benefits of leveraging free consulting from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for business planning.

• Dr. Boylan's active role in forming an association for South Carolina DPC doctors to advocate collectively.

• Her research showing DPC physicians experience less burnout and greater fulfillment, despite similar working hours.

Connect with Dr. Melissa Boylan & Noreta Family Medicine 🤝

Practice Website: noretafamilymed.com

LinkedIn & Socials: Find Dr. Boylan and Noreta on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Further Reading/Resources Mentioned

• SCORE (for new business owners and mentors)

• DPC Summit

• DPC Masterminds (from DPC Alliance)

• The MSO in Pittsburgh (Dr. Gentilly and Dr. Lynn)

  
  

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the DFC Life Podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend! Your reviews help more doctors discover these real conversations about Direct Primary Care.

Have an idea for a future topic or guest? Email us at anne@crescendooperations.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Ready to transform your practice? Follow DPC Life for more real stories and behind-the-scenes conversations about Direct Primary Care.

Building your own DPC practice? We've got you covered with tools built by a DPC doc (me!), for DPC docs:

• HarmonyOps: Streamline your operations and automate the administrative tasks that eat up your time, giving you more freedom to focus on patients.

• DPC Ads in Minutes: Learn how to launch simple, effective advertising campaigns to attract new patients, all without the usual overwhelm.

What happens when a pediatrician realizes she might have ADHD and then uses that insight to help parents navigate the hardest parts of raising complex kids?

In this episode of DPC Life, Dr. Crystal Vernon shares her journey as both a physician and a mom, and how coaching became a powerful tool for creating more calm in the chaos. From recognizing her own ADHD to guiding physician-parents of children with ADHD and medically complex needs, Dr. Vernon offers practical wisdom and hope.

We talk about:

• Why small steps often create the biggest change.

• Coaching strategies parents can use to connect with their kids.

• The “CPR” framework (Connection, Problem-Solving, Response) that helps bring order to chaotic moments.

• How physicians can find support without feeling alone in their struggles.

  
  

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed as both a parent and a physician or wondered how to build a more intentional way of parenting this conversation is for you.

Connect with Dr. Vernon:

• Follow Dr. Crystal Vernon on Facebook: Dr. Anonymous Coaching - Crystal Vernon

• Visit: dranonymouscoaching.com

• Email: dranonymous.coaching@gmail.com

Resources / References

Operation Helo – A disaster relief group using helicopters to deliver supplies to flooded or remote areas. Mentioned during the Hurricane Helene relief story.

Hear more about the relief efforts and Dr. Anne’s full story in another podcast episode here: Watch on YouTube.

Surgeon Masters – A physician coaching training program founded by Dr. Jeffrey Smith, an orthopedic surgeon. Where Dr. Vernon received her coaching certification.

Follow DPC Life for more real stories and behind-the-scenes conversations about Direct Primary Care.

Building your own DPC practice?

• ⁠HarmonyOps ⁠helps you streamline operations and automate the tasks that eat up your time.

• ⁠DPC Ads in Minutes ⁠shows you how to get simple, effective ads running without the overwhelm.

Both are built by a DPC doc (me!), for DPC docs.

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 anne@crescendooperations.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Building your own DPC practice?

• ⁠HarmonyOps ⁠helps you streamline operations and automate the tasks that eat up your time.

• ⁠DPC Ads in Minutes ⁠shows you how to get simple, effective ads running without the overwhelm.

Both are built by a DPC doc (me!), for DPC docs.