In this special episode of the My DPC Story podcast, host Dr. Maryal Concepcion sits down with Dr. Natalie Gentile live from the DPC Summit in New Orleans. They delve into the principles and advantages of Direct Primary Care (DPC) and discuss Dr. Gentile's journey in lifestyle medicine and her innovative approach in helping new physicians transition into DPC. The conversation underscores the importance of mission-driven work, community collaboration, and the entrepreneurial opportunities available to physicians in the DPC model. The episode also highlights various resources and support available for DPC practitioners and patients alike.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (00:04):
Direct Primary care is an innovative
alternative path toinsurance-driven healthcare.
Typically, a patient pays theirdoctor a low monthly membership
and in return builds a lastingrelationship with their doctor
and has their doctor availableat their fingertip.
Welcome to the My DPC Storypodcast, where each week you
(00:26):
will hear the ever so relatablestories shared by physicians who
have chosen to practice medicinein their individual communities
through the direct primary caremodel.
I'm your host, MarielleConception.
Family, physician, DPC, owner,and former fee for service.
Doctor, I hope you enjoy today'sepisode and come away feeling
inspired about the future ofpatient care direct primary
(00:49):
care.
Hey.
My DPC story listeners.
This week we're taking a quickbreak from our regular episodes
to bring you something special,a conversation I had with Dr.
Natalie Gentilly, recorded liveat the DPC Summit in New
Orleans.
Dr.
Gentilly speaks on lifestylemedicine and how to empower
(01:09):
physicians to step into DPCwithout having to start from
scratch.
It was such a rich and inspiringconversation, and I'm excited to
share it with you here.
It's been a great time so far,and you can probably tell from
my voice that I have beenlaughing a little too much as
well as talking to so many ofyou listeners in person, it has
been so wonderful to hear yourstories, how the podcast has
(01:32):
affected you, and what yourplans are for the future, and
where your updates are in DPC.
So thank you so much for sharingif I got to meet you or talk
with you in person.
If you're new to the podcast,welcome, welcome, welcome.
I'm so glad you found us, and Ihope you enjoy diving into the
incredible stories of DPCphysicians transforming
Healthcare across the country.
(01:52):
If you're a longtime listenerand you'd like to support the
podcast and everything we'rebuilding here at my DPC story,
please consider joining ourPatreon community.
There you'll get access toexclusive bonus content,
including extended interviews,follow up updates from previous
guests, and more behind thescenes conversations you won't
hear anywhere else.
As always, this podcast is fullyfunded by our amazing sponsors.
(02:14):
If there's a company you'd loveto hear featured, or if you are
that company, reach out on thesponsorship tab@mydpcstory.com
and let us know now with anotherunforgettable DPC summit
wrapping up, don't forget thatmy DPC story is more than just
the podcast.
Head on over to our resourcespages.
Where you'll find curated bookrecommendations and so much
more.
If you're loving a vendor,encourage them to get a profile
(02:37):
in the DPC directory where youcan leave reviews and help other
docs find trusted tools.
And if your practice is alreadyopen, make sure you're
listed@caringdirectly.com.
Our patient facing physicianonly DPC practice Mapper.
It's a growing hub wherepatients can find DPC practices
like yours and the intention isso that it can be truly patient
facing as I'll be releasingpatient stories soon and this
(02:59):
will be a major piece of thepuzzle to help grow the DPC
movement.
Last thing.
If you have questions about DPC,the podcast or just want to
connect, come and join me for alive Zoom q and a.
We host them monthly andeveryone is welcome.
You can go to theeventsPage@mydpcstory.com and
register.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Enjoy this week's specialepisode with Dr.
Gentilly and we'll be back nextSunday.
(03:21):
With more to inspire yourjourney in DPC.
So this is lovely because twoyears ago when you did your
lifestyle medicine talk in the 30 1 course, it was Father's Day
and you literally were like.
Running from presentation toairport gate, and so this is
fantastic to actually sit withyou in person.
We've talked virtually a coupletimes in the podcast, but it is
(03:42):
always so nice to see people inperson.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (03:44):
Yes, absolutely.
This is a really, uh, quite aprivilege and a treat.
To finally be with you and catchup.
Yeah.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (03:49):
One of the things I love about you also
is that I remember in, I want tosay either the first or second
time you were on the podcast,you said, my husband asked me
this year to not start anotherbusiness.
And I think that that is like.
It's, it's people like you who,like especially being in person,
I feel so alive around because Ifeel that in medicine we were so
(04:10):
regimented and we wereencouraged to think, I don't
know what, what other termpeople would use that like, your
job is a doctorate.
And now that we're DPC doctors,you have three and counting
businesses.
And there's.
So many things that we can dobeyond the clinical work that we
were taught and trained to do inmedicine.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (04:31):
I think what DPC brought out in me was
almost this insatiable passion.
Yeah.
Right.
Um, because it opens doors forall of these other ideas and,
and room for creativity and the,and the reality is you are able
to dial up or down the differentthings you wanna do.
Totally.
When you take over that, uh,ownership.
Of your ideas, your passions,and your drive.
(04:53):
Yeah,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (04:53):
I I absolutely love that.
And it's so interesting becauseI think about how when we have
innovation, it's because people,it's just like small business.
Small business is literally atthe root of innovation.
People see a problem and theyare able to answer that problem
with a solution.
Yes.
Yeah.
And so I, I would love,especially because your.
(05:14):
At another summit where there'sa lot of people who are new to
this space and a lot of peoplewho are, they're thinking about
it.
There's the people who are like,I'm about to do it.
I have my open date plan.
have you had conversations withthese guys about this idea of
the insatiable, ability to goafter?
(05:36):
Whatever you want to, and thatdoes not always have to include
clinical medicine.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (05:40):
Yeah.
I think something that I, I'mglad I did when I first started
out was I stuck with not, Idon't wanna say just my
practice, but it, it, you know,that was the main focus was the
practice building.
And then once I got the practiceto a point of it's starting to
run itself, it's, it's very, youknow, settled and comfortable
and consistent.
That allowed me to then open thedoors to the next endeavors and
(06:02):
I was able to create thatpractice to allow those next
things to happen.
Yeah.
Whereas in the, you know, the,the system setting and the
employed setting, you're notgonna be able to, to adjust
those dials.
Um.
So I've been talking with a lotof people here at the conference
about that.
As you know, it's okay to startout with your practice and let
that be the thing.
Yes.
And if that's all you ever do isdo your DPC practice, guess
(06:24):
what?
That's innovation.
Totally.
Guess what?
You have now changed the world.
Totally.
Even if it's in your corner ofthe world.
That's incredible and exciting.
And so you don't always have toask for more.
You don't always have to do, dodo more.
Right.
For some of us, that drives us.
For some of us it doesn't.
And I think what we were taughtin training to become
physicians.
That you're constantly striving,you're constantly trying to
(06:45):
prove yourself, and you areenough.
And you are worthy right whereyou are, and you are innovative
and exciting and amazing, andall the other stuff is just, you
know, rainbow sprinkles
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (06:55):
a hundred percent.
And I love it too, because it'slike it's taking advantage of
something that we all love andwhy we became physic.
And pairing that withentrepreneurship.
I mean, as you talk about likethe core, the root of your
practice was potentially familypractice.
It became direct primary care.
Uh, direct care physicians ofPittsburgh, DCPP.
(07:17):
Oh my gosh.
Um, oh.
But you've built Rebel Wellness.
You've built an MSO and tell usabout that because I, I find
this so fascinating that yourexpertise and your love are
paired with entrepreneurship ineverything that you do.
And see, because you are afreaking expert.
And that's one thing I, I also,like, somebody said this to me,
(07:37):
they're like, are you an exexpert?
I'm like, no, I, I justgraduated residency.
They're like, they, they're anon position was calling me out
on.
Do you understand how many hoursof training you've had?
You are an expert, like full outexpert, so that's to everyone
who's gone through medicalschool.
But like you've taken yourexpertise and your love of
developing something throughinnovation and entrepreneurship,
(07:59):
and you're like, ding, ding,ding, ding, ding.
So tell us about again, the MSO,but.
So how you continue to partnerthose
Dr. Natalie Gentile (08:07):
things together?
'cause you're not done.
I'm not done.
And I think that, uh, somethingI've always tried to do is lead
with authenticity.
And the words mission driven arejust constantly in the back of
my head.
Because to me, if it's notmission driven, why did I leave
that in the first place?
Right?
Like, what is the point?
Why would I get up in themorning if what I'm doing is not
constantly stoking that innerfire?
(08:28):
Because when you stoke thatfire, that's what goes out into
the community and makes changeand helps other people.
Um.
So what I've done is I lovemedicine and I love the practice
of medicine, and I love familymedicine and lifestyle medicine
specifically.
Awesome.
I'm doing that with my patients,but hey, guess what?
Not everyone's my patient or,Hey, guess what?
I don't want a big panel.
I really don't.
And I, you know, I wanna be ableto take the best care possible
(08:48):
of those people.
So now how I can go into thecommunity, while I can do that
through social media, I can dothat through a media presence.
I can do that through our studioat Rebel Wellness and Teaching
Fitness.
Mm-hmm.
Um, I can do that through WalkWith A Doc, right?
So think of it as like focus ona wheel from that initial
middle, uh, mission driven corelove that.
Um, and then the managedservices organization, Hey,
guess what?
Now we can spread DPC in thecity of Pittsburgh.
(09:10):
Hey, guess what?
We can help docs go out andbecome free.
Absolutely.
Um, and we can do that through avery supportive, mentorship
driven, you know, collaborativeexperience.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (09:19):
And it's not only mentorship driven and
collaborative, it's literallyit's community.
When you are in a place ofemployed medicine and you feel
like such an outsider, you feellike a leper when you're like,
but why can't we do this moreinnovatively, more efficiently,
more cheaply?
Like this is, and you're like,you literally make sense to
(09:41):
people like you and myself.
But in the fee for serviceworld, it is so uncomfortable.
I mean, I like, I physicallyhave been brought to tears
because of like the brick wallof speaking with other
physicians.
And so that community, thementorship that, that it's what
I love about what you guys aredoing also is that your
physicians who are doing.
(10:02):
The mission driven work, not, Ihave a ton of money, don't
actually care about healthcare,but here's a ton of money to do
whatever you want and then we'regonna sell you off.
Yeah.
And that's where, you know, Iwould love if you can tell us a
little bit more about how youare strategically like doing the
MSO, because it's very differentthan hiring a doctor and then
(10:23):
they build up their own panel.
Um.
You make it really, really easythat your, you pointed out one
of your doctors who's joiningand then what the most recent
doctor Dr.
Emily Scott is almost full.
And I was like, oh, thatsurprised me.
'cause I thought she was fullalready.
So tell us about that.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (10:41):
Yeah, so I, the way we're building this out,
you know, when, when you thinkabout, uh, the.
Point of, Hey, I've got a waitlist.
What do I do with this?
Right.
I think that's something we'relearning at this conference is
about hiring.
Um, and so we come to that,let's come to that fork in the
road.
Well, one option is you bringpeople on to take that over.
Um, and that comes with its ownchallenges.
With the MSO, I think what'sbeen really fascinating to see
(11:03):
is in our specific managedservices organization, these
docs are opening their ownautonomous practices.
They're functioningindependently.
While still having thecollaboration, mentorship, cross
coverage, you know, all theservices that we manage, the,
the, um, marketing, you know,and PR presence, all of that.
And they're able to have thebest of both worlds there.
Uh, and by the way, a couple ofus already have wait lists
(11:26):
within this managed servicesorganization.
So now it's a, Hey, have you metso and so?
Uh, and these, you know,patients now have an option that
we've.
Felt as, you know, this humanbeing is incredibly compatible
with our culture that we wanted,you know, develop and, uh,
foster in the city ofPittsburgh.
So everyone kind of wins in thatsituation.
Totally.
And I think that's what's beensuch a magical thing, because
I've thought of hiring manytimes.
(11:47):
Um, but to me that, that I don'twant it.
I don't want it.
And so now it's, Hey, let's,let's help these practices grow.
Now is this a lucrative.
Experience for us is owning theMs.
O.
No, but that's not why we didit.
Hundred percent right.
Again, it's the mission drivenpart of it.
Hundred percent.
It's why are you going intothis?
And I think that for us, it'snot a financial, uh, drive for
(12:08):
us, it's very much this, let'sraise this ship of dpc.
Let's lean on each other, let'shelp each other.
Um, and that's thrilling to me.
Money is cool, like money's fineand you never wanna go under, I
understand that part and we'refine from that perspective.
But that doesn't get you up.
It doesn't get me up in themorning.
Yeah, totally.
Totally.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (12:25):
And I think also that, and I, I would
love your take on this, but Ifeel that when we pair physician
training expertise andentrepreneurship, the more and
more we go forward, you hearless of I, I know the seal.
Person, I don't know how to, andyou're like, dude, I gotta make
sure that the bills are paid andthat I'm doing the right thing.
(12:46):
Like those two absolutely arepaired together.
But I would love your take onthat because that's something
where I, I've heard people inthe hallways say like, I don't
know what I'm gonna say for myelevator pitch.
I don't know about sellingbecause I've never sold before.
And I, I don't, I don'tnecessarily know about like how
the transition came other thanjust doing it.
Yes.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (13:06):
Yeah, repetition.
It's, it's just like when I'm inthe gym, right?
It's like reps, reps over overtime.
Um, because I felt the same way.
I was like, how I'm gonnastumble over these words and
now, six years later, it's, Icould do it all in my sleep.
Like most of us who have been inpractice for a while could say
the same thing.
Um, and, and what I think ismost interesting about what we
do is we already know how to bephysicians.
We already know we love patientcare.
Uh, then you start to show up inyour DPC office and you do your
(13:28):
job every day.
Just tell that story.
Like you, you, you honestlycould just have a ledger of what
you do in a day.
And tell that story and there'syour elevator pitch.
A hundred percent.
Um, and, and I think again, it'scoming back to just that
authentic, this is me, this iswhat I come to offer.
Um, you're not, you know, thatis selling yourself right there.
Yeah.
And I think that
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (13:48):
that's, it's almost like semantics.
It's like, but making peoplerealize that you are so
valuable.
You are the, the valueproposition of your clinic.
And literally there are peoplewho want you as their doctor.
And like I've told my entirefamily, especially since the the
bill passed, I'm like, get theDPC doctor before all of us are
(14:09):
filled up.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (14:11):
Oh sure.
Yeah, sure.
And I think the other thing is,one thing I wish I had known
earlier on was if I'm having tosell myself.
Too hard.
Yeah.
If I'm having to really convincesomebody, it's like when you're,
you know, I don't remember whatthe dating world was like, but I
would imagine, I would imaginethat like if you're going out on
a date and you're really tryingto convince somebody to be with
you, it's probably not a goodfit.
(14:31):
Um, because I, I think thatpeople start, if you give your
pitch and people see the valuethere, um, that word of mouth
spreads Totally.
It's the patients, when I lookback where it was not a good
fit.
Guess what?
It wasn't a good fit, gutinstinct was Right.
You know?
And you
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (14:45):
don't have to necessarily convince
people that.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
And I also think that, justgoing back to the MSO, you know,
when you're attracting people tobe on a wait list, to sit on a
wait list, because they wantthat over insurance driven care,
you're literally creating aculture of patients who are
like, we are champions of DPC.
(15:07):
We don't care how long it takes.
We know that this is goingsomewhere and we wanna be on
that train.
And it's like, amen.
And I think that this is where,um, it really, again, I just go
back to community, it sorepresents that idea that you
just said like.
The rising tide floats all shipsso amazing.
Amazing.
Yeah.
(15:27):
Yeah.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (15:27):
We're very excited about what's going on in
Pittsburgh.
Um, and it's really amazing tocome here now two years after
giving that initial talk in 2023about lifestyle medicine and my
practice and just seeing howit's evolved and I'm really
excited to share that here.
Yeah.
And what's next?
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (15:40):
Yeah.
That's awesome.
And where can people go to knowmore about you and all the work
and all the businesses thatyou've opened and been
successful at?
Um, and, you know, just toconnect and learn about the MSO
as well.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (15:52):
Certainly.
So, uh, our practice is DirectCare Physicians of Pittsburgh
and, and all of us are, uh,licensed out with that name.
Yeah.
So if you go to direct carepgh.com, you can learn about all
of our practices.
Um, and we are direct care, PGHon Instagram.
Um, I'm incredibly active inmedia and social media, uh, so
at Natalie Gentilly, MD.
Um, is my, uh, Instagram handle.
(16:14):
I'm also on Substack now and Ihave a YouTube channel, uh,
Natalie Gentilly, md.
So if, uh, you know, resourcesaround fitness and nutrition
that are on there as well.
Yeah,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (16:22):
and I will say, I told you this before
we started recording, but howmany patients have I sent the,
oh, you are.
Frustrated'cause it's icyoutside.
You can't walk.
And I have a dot phrase foryour, uh, walk at home YouTube
video.
I have done it multiple times,but I also literally love
sending that to my patients.
'cause I'm like, no, look, thisis another doctor who does
(16:44):
medicine just like we do here atBig Trees md.
But.
But she also does this and thisis, this is what you are a part
of, like watching your videoworking out with you.
It literally, to me, it's sorepresentative of like, look
what happens when a doctor isfree to do whatever they want
to.
And the patients don't evennecessarily realize that they're
(17:06):
a part of this, but how awesomeis that?
Because when they watch a videoand they share it with their
cousin and whatever.
And they're like, oh dude, I'min Pittsburgh.
What, what is, oh, rebel.
Why does she has a, a place?
This is also what, what that,that, that is what is, is my
insatiable feeling of like, Idon't even know what the hell is
(17:26):
going to happen with thedominoes.
But the dominoes are good.
Yes.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (17:30):
Yeah, the web spreads and I think what's
really cool about dps.
See is the patients want to bepart of it.
Yes.
I mean, they feel like they'rein the cool kids club and, and
we as physicians feel like weare.
It's just this great, great
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (17:42):
mix.
A hundred percent.
And I will put last year, um,that when we talk about
patients, this is why I'vecreated.
Caring directly.com.
So if anybody's listening outthere, go to the website because
it is a patient facing physicianonly DPC practice mapper, and
you can add yourself right away.
(18:02):
But as I'm recording patientstories, patients are gonna be
like, well, where do I findsomebody like that?
Oh, look on the mapper and find.
A primary care practice, aspecialty care practice, but
physician led care because thatis what we are elevating
continuously.
And I do think that as we goforward, we need to be very
staunchly advocating for, wetrained a ton of hours, 15,000
(18:27):
hours to know what's normal.
Yes.
Who would I want for my family?
Somebody who has done and doneand done and done over and over
to know this is something that Ican take care of.
This is not something I can takecare of.
And I am connected in a networkenough to figure out an answer
for you as the next step.
Yes.
Yeah.
Completely agree.
(18:48):
And it's amazing.
And thank you for doing all thatyou do.
Thank you for listening toanother episode of my DBC story.
If you enjoyed it, please leavea five star review on your
favorite podcast platform.
It helps others find the show,have a question about direct
primary care.
Leave me a voicemail.
You might hear it answered in afuture episode.
Follow us on socials at thehandle at my D DPC story and
(19:11):
join DPC didactics our monthlydeep dive into your questions
and challenges.
Links are@mydpcstory.com forexclusive content you won't hear
anywhere else.
Join our Patreon.
Find the link in the show notesor search for my DPC story on
patreon.com for DPC news on thedaily.
Check out DPC news.com.
Until next week, this isMarielle conception.
Direct Primary care is an innovative
alternative path toinsurance-driven healthcare.
Typically, a patient pays theirdoctor a low monthly membership
and in return builds a lastingrelationship with their doctor
and has their doctor availableat their fingertip.
Welcome to the My DPC Storypodcast, where each week you
(00:26):
will hear the ever so relatablestories shared by physicians who
have chosen to practice medicinein their individual communities
through the direct primary caremodel.
I'm your host, MarielleConception.
Family, physician, DPC, owner,and former fee for service.
Doctor, I hope you enjoy today'sepisode and come away feeling
inspired about the future ofpatient care direct primary
(00:49):
care.
Hey.
My DPC story listeners.
This week we're taking a quickbreak from our regular episodes
to bring you something special,a conversation I had with Dr.
Natalie Gentilly, recorded liveat the DPC Summit in New
Orleans.
Dr.
Gentilly speaks on lifestylemedicine and how to empower
(01:09):
physicians to step into DPCwithout having to start from
scratch.
It was such a rich and inspiringconversation, and I'm excited to
share it with you here.
It's been a great time so far,and you can probably tell from
my voice that I have beenlaughing a little too much as
well as talking to so many ofyou listeners in person, it has
been so wonderful to hear yourstories, how the podcast has
(01:32):
affected you, and what yourplans are for the future, and
where your updates are in DPC.
So thank you so much for sharingif I got to meet you or talk
with you in person.
If you're new to the podcast,welcome, welcome, welcome.
I'm so glad you found us, and Ihope you enjoy diving into the
incredible stories of DPCphysicians transforming
Healthcare across the country.
(01:52):
If you're a longtime listenerand you'd like to support the
podcast and everything we'rebuilding here at my DPC story,
please consider joining ourPatreon community.
There you'll get access toexclusive bonus content,
including extended interviews,follow up updates from previous
guests, and more behind thescenes conversations you won't
hear anywhere else.
As always, this podcast is fullyfunded by our amazing sponsors.
(02:14):
If there's a company you'd loveto hear featured, or if you are
that company, reach out on thesponsorship tab@mydpcstory.com
and let us know now with anotherunforgettable DPC summit
wrapping up, don't forget thatmy DPC story is more than just
the podcast.
Head on over to our resourcespages.
Where you'll find curated bookrecommendations and so much
more.
If you're loving a vendor,encourage them to get a profile
(02:37):
in the DPC directory where youcan leave reviews and help other
docs find trusted tools.
And if your practice is alreadyopen, make sure you're
listed@caringdirectly.com.
Our patient facing physicianonly DPC practice Mapper.
It's a growing hub wherepatients can find DPC practices
like yours and the intention isso that it can be truly patient
facing as I'll be releasingpatient stories soon and this
(02:59):
will be a major piece of thepuzzle to help grow the DPC
movement.
Last thing.
If you have questions about DPC,the podcast or just want to
connect, come and join me for alive Zoom q and a.
We host them monthly andeveryone is welcome.
You can go to theeventsPage@mydpcstory.com and
register.
Thank you so much for beinghere.
Enjoy this week's specialepisode with Dr.
Gentilly and we'll be back nextSunday.
(03:21):
With more to inspire yourjourney in DPC.
So this is lovely because twoyears ago when you did your
lifestyle medicine talk in the 30 1 course, it was Father's Day
and you literally were like.
Running from presentation toairport gate, and so this is
fantastic to actually sit withyou in person.
We've talked virtually a coupletimes in the podcast, but it is
(03:42):
always so nice to see people inperson.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (03:44):
Yes, absolutely.
This is a really, uh, quite aprivilege and a treat.
To finally be with you and catchup.
Yeah.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (03:49):
One of the things I love about you also
is that I remember in, I want tosay either the first or second
time you were on the podcast,you said, my husband asked me
this year to not start anotherbusiness.
And I think that that is like.
It's, it's people like you who,like especially being in person,
I feel so alive around because Ifeel that in medicine we were so
(04:10):
regimented and we wereencouraged to think, I don't
know what, what other termpeople would use that like, your
job is a doctorate.
And now that we're DPC doctors,you have three and counting
businesses.
And there's.
So many things that we can dobeyond the clinical work that we
were taught and trained to do inmedicine.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (04:31):
I think what DPC brought out in me was
almost this insatiable passion.
Yeah.
Right.
Um, because it opens doors forall of these other ideas and,
and room for creativity and the,and the reality is you are able
to dial up or down the differentthings you wanna do.
Totally.
When you take over that, uh,ownership.
Of your ideas, your passions,and your drive.
(04:53):
Yeah,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (04:53):
I I absolutely love that.
And it's so interesting becauseI think about how when we have
innovation, it's because people,it's just like small business.
Small business is literally atthe root of innovation.
People see a problem and theyare able to answer that problem
with a solution.
Yes.
Yeah.
And so I, I would love,especially because your.
(05:14):
At another summit where there'sa lot of people who are new to
this space and a lot of peoplewho are, they're thinking about
it.
There's the people who are like,I'm about to do it.
I have my open date plan.
have you had conversations withthese guys about this idea of
the insatiable, ability to goafter?
(05:36):
Whatever you want to, and thatdoes not always have to include
clinical medicine.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (05:40):
Yeah.
I think something that I, I'mglad I did when I first started
out was I stuck with not, Idon't wanna say just my
practice, but it, it, you know,that was the main focus was the
practice building.
And then once I got the practiceto a point of it's starting to
run itself, it's, it's very, youknow, settled and comfortable
and consistent.
That allowed me to then open thedoors to the next endeavors and
(06:02):
I was able to create thatpractice to allow those next
things to happen.
Yeah.
Whereas in the, you know, the,the system setting and the
employed setting, you're notgonna be able to, to adjust
those dials.
Um.
So I've been talking with a lotof people here at the conference
about that.
As you know, it's okay to startout with your practice and let
that be the thing.
Yes.
And if that's all you ever do isdo your DPC practice, guess
(06:24):
what?
That's innovation.
Totally.
Guess what?
You have now changed the world.
Totally.
Even if it's in your corner ofthe world.
That's incredible and exciting.
And so you don't always have toask for more.
You don't always have to do, dodo more.
Right.
For some of us, that drives us.
For some of us it doesn't.
And I think what we were taughtin training to become
physicians.
That you're constantly striving,you're constantly trying to
(06:45):
prove yourself, and you areenough.
And you are worthy right whereyou are, and you are innovative
and exciting and amazing, andall the other stuff is just, you
know, rainbow sprinkles
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (06:55):
a hundred percent.
And I love it too, because it'slike it's taking advantage of
something that we all love andwhy we became physic.
And pairing that withentrepreneurship.
I mean, as you talk about likethe core, the root of your
practice was potentially familypractice.
It became direct primary care.
Uh, direct care physicians ofPittsburgh, DCPP.
(07:17):
Oh my gosh.
Um, oh.
But you've built Rebel Wellness.
You've built an MSO and tell usabout that because I, I find
this so fascinating that yourexpertise and your love are
paired with entrepreneurship ineverything that you do.
And see, because you are afreaking expert.
And that's one thing I, I also,like, somebody said this to me,
(07:37):
they're like, are you an exexpert?
I'm like, no, I, I justgraduated residency.
They're like, they, they're anon position was calling me out
on.
Do you understand how many hoursof training you've had?
You are an expert, like full outexpert, so that's to everyone
who's gone through medicalschool.
But like you've taken yourexpertise and your love of
developing something throughinnovation and entrepreneurship,
(07:59):
and you're like, ding, ding,ding, ding, ding.
So tell us about again, the MSO,but.
So how you continue to partnerthose
Dr. Natalie Gentile (08:07):
things together?
'cause you're not done.
I'm not done.
And I think that, uh, somethingI've always tried to do is lead
with authenticity.
And the words mission driven arejust constantly in the back of
my head.
Because to me, if it's notmission driven, why did I leave
that in the first place?
Right?
Like, what is the point?
Why would I get up in themorning if what I'm doing is not
constantly stoking that innerfire?
(08:28):
Because when you stoke thatfire, that's what goes out into
the community and makes changeand helps other people.
Um.
So what I've done is I lovemedicine and I love the practice
of medicine, and I love familymedicine and lifestyle medicine
specifically.
Awesome.
I'm doing that with my patients,but hey, guess what?
Not everyone's my patient or,Hey, guess what?
I don't want a big panel.
I really don't.
And I, you know, I wanna be ableto take the best care possible
(08:48):
of those people.
So now how I can go into thecommunity, while I can do that
through social media, I can dothat through a media presence.
I can do that through our studioat Rebel Wellness and Teaching
Fitness.
Mm-hmm.
Um, I can do that through WalkWith A Doc, right?
So think of it as like focus ona wheel from that initial
middle, uh, mission driven corelove that.
Um, and then the managedservices organization, Hey,
guess what?
Now we can spread DPC in thecity of Pittsburgh.
(09:10):
Hey, guess what?
We can help docs go out andbecome free.
Absolutely.
Um, and we can do that through avery supportive, mentorship
driven, you know, collaborativeexperience.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (09:19):
And it's not only mentorship driven and
collaborative, it's literallyit's community.
When you are in a place ofemployed medicine and you feel
like such an outsider, you feellike a leper when you're like,
but why can't we do this moreinnovatively, more efficiently,
more cheaply?
Like this is, and you're like,you literally make sense to
(09:41):
people like you and myself.
But in the fee for serviceworld, it is so uncomfortable.
I mean, I like, I physicallyhave been brought to tears
because of like the brick wallof speaking with other
physicians.
And so that community, thementorship that, that it's what
I love about what you guys aredoing also is that your
physicians who are doing.
(10:02):
The mission driven work, not, Ihave a ton of money, don't
actually care about healthcare,but here's a ton of money to do
whatever you want and then we'regonna sell you off.
Yeah.
And that's where, you know, Iwould love if you can tell us a
little bit more about how youare strategically like doing the
MSO, because it's very differentthan hiring a doctor and then
(10:23):
they build up their own panel.
Um.
You make it really, really easythat your, you pointed out one
of your doctors who's joiningand then what the most recent
doctor Dr.
Emily Scott is almost full.
And I was like, oh, thatsurprised me.
'cause I thought she was fullalready.
So tell us about that.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (10:41):
Yeah, so I, the way we're building this out,
you know, when, when you thinkabout, uh, the.
Point of, Hey, I've got a waitlist.
What do I do with this?
Right.
I think that's something we'relearning at this conference is
about hiring.
Um, and so we come to that,let's come to that fork in the
road.
Well, one option is you bringpeople on to take that over.
Um, and that comes with its ownchallenges.
With the MSO, I think what'sbeen really fascinating to see
(11:03):
is in our specific managedservices organization, these
docs are opening their ownautonomous practices.
They're functioningindependently.
While still having thecollaboration, mentorship, cross
coverage, you know, all theservices that we manage, the,
the, um, marketing, you know,and PR presence, all of that.
And they're able to have thebest of both worlds there.
Uh, and by the way, a couple ofus already have wait lists
(11:26):
within this managed servicesorganization.
So now it's a, Hey, have you metso and so?
Uh, and these, you know,patients now have an option that
we've.
Felt as, you know, this humanbeing is incredibly compatible
with our culture that we wanted,you know, develop and, uh,
foster in the city ofPittsburgh.
So everyone kind of wins in thatsituation.
Totally.
And I think that's what's beensuch a magical thing, because
I've thought of hiring manytimes.
(11:47):
Um, but to me that, that I don'twant it.
I don't want it.
And so now it's, Hey, let's,let's help these practices grow.
Now is this a lucrative.
Experience for us is owning theMs.
O.
No, but that's not why we didit.
Hundred percent right.
Again, it's the mission drivenpart of it.
Hundred percent.
It's why are you going intothis?
And I think that for us, it'snot a financial, uh, drive for
(12:08):
us, it's very much this, let'sraise this ship of dpc.
Let's lean on each other, let'shelp each other.
Um, and that's thrilling to me.
Money is cool, like money's fineand you never wanna go under, I
understand that part and we'refine from that perspective.
But that doesn't get you up.
It doesn't get me up in themorning.
Yeah, totally.
Totally.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (12:25):
And I think also that, and I, I would
love your take on this, but Ifeel that when we pair physician
training expertise andentrepreneurship, the more and
more we go forward, you hearless of I, I know the seal.
Person, I don't know how to, andyou're like, dude, I gotta make
sure that the bills are paid andthat I'm doing the right thing.
(12:46):
Like those two absolutely arepaired together.
But I would love your take onthat because that's something
where I, I've heard people inthe hallways say like, I don't
know what I'm gonna say for myelevator pitch.
I don't know about sellingbecause I've never sold before.
And I, I don't, I don'tnecessarily know about like how
the transition came other thanjust doing it.
Yes.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (13:06):
Yeah, repetition.
It's, it's just like when I'm inthe gym, right?
It's like reps, reps over overtime.
Um, because I felt the same way.
I was like, how I'm gonnastumble over these words and
now, six years later, it's, Icould do it all in my sleep.
Like most of us who have been inpractice for a while could say
the same thing.
Um, and, and what I think ismost interesting about what we
do is we already know how to bephysicians.
We already know we love patientcare.
Uh, then you start to show up inyour DPC office and you do your
(13:28):
job every day.
Just tell that story.
Like you, you, you honestlycould just have a ledger of what
you do in a day.
And tell that story and there'syour elevator pitch.
A hundred percent.
Um, and, and I think again, it'scoming back to just that
authentic, this is me, this iswhat I come to offer.
Um, you're not, you know, thatis selling yourself right there.
Yeah.
And I think that
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (13:48):
that's, it's almost like semantics.
It's like, but making peoplerealize that you are so
valuable.
You are the, the valueproposition of your clinic.
And literally there are peoplewho want you as their doctor.
And like I've told my entirefamily, especially since the the
bill passed, I'm like, get theDPC doctor before all of us are
(14:09):
filled up.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (14:11):
Oh sure.
Yeah, sure.
And I think the other thing is,one thing I wish I had known
earlier on was if I'm having tosell myself.
Too hard.
Yeah.
If I'm having to really convincesomebody, it's like when you're,
you know, I don't remember whatthe dating world was like, but I
would imagine, I would imaginethat like if you're going out on
a date and you're really tryingto convince somebody to be with
you, it's probably not a goodfit.
(14:31):
Um, because I, I think thatpeople start, if you give your
pitch and people see the valuethere, um, that word of mouth
spreads Totally.
It's the patients, when I lookback where it was not a good
fit.
Guess what?
It wasn't a good fit, gutinstinct was Right.
You know?
And you
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (14:45):
don't have to necessarily convince
people that.
Yeah, a hundred percent.
And I also think that, justgoing back to the MSO, you know,
when you're attracting people tobe on a wait list, to sit on a
wait list, because they wantthat over insurance driven care,
you're literally creating aculture of patients who are
like, we are champions of DPC.
(15:07):
We don't care how long it takes.
We know that this is goingsomewhere and we wanna be on
that train.
And it's like, amen.
And I think that this is where,um, it really, again, I just go
back to community, it sorepresents that idea that you
just said like.
The rising tide floats all shipsso amazing.
Amazing.
Yeah.
(15:27):
Yeah.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (15:27):
We're very excited about what's going on in
Pittsburgh.
Um, and it's really amazing tocome here now two years after
giving that initial talk in 2023about lifestyle medicine and my
practice and just seeing howit's evolved and I'm really
excited to share that here.
Yeah.
And what's next?
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (15:40):
Yeah.
That's awesome.
And where can people go to knowmore about you and all the work
and all the businesses thatyou've opened and been
successful at?
Um, and, you know, just toconnect and learn about the MSO
as well.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (15:52):
Certainly.
So, uh, our practice is DirectCare Physicians of Pittsburgh
and, and all of us are, uh,licensed out with that name.
Yeah.
So if you go to direct carepgh.com, you can learn about all
of our practices.
Um, and we are direct care, PGHon Instagram.
Um, I'm incredibly active inmedia and social media, uh, so
at Natalie Gentilly, MD.
Um, is my, uh, Instagram handle.
(16:14):
I'm also on Substack now and Ihave a YouTube channel, uh,
Natalie Gentilly, md.
So if, uh, you know, resourcesaround fitness and nutrition
that are on there as well.
Yeah,
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (16:22):
and I will say, I told you this before
we started recording, but howmany patients have I sent the,
oh, you are.
Frustrated'cause it's icyoutside.
You can't walk.
And I have a dot phrase foryour, uh, walk at home YouTube
video.
I have done it multiple times,but I also literally love
sending that to my patients.
'cause I'm like, no, look, thisis another doctor who does
(16:44):
medicine just like we do here atBig Trees md.
But.
But she also does this and thisis, this is what you are a part
of, like watching your videoworking out with you.
It literally, to me, it's sorepresentative of like, look
what happens when a doctor isfree to do whatever they want
to.
And the patients don't evennecessarily realize that they're
(17:06):
a part of this, but how awesomeis that?
Because when they watch a videoand they share it with their
cousin and whatever.
And they're like, oh dude, I'min Pittsburgh.
What, what is, oh, rebel.
Why does she has a, a place?
This is also what, what that,that, that is what is, is my
insatiable feeling of like, Idon't even know what the hell is
(17:26):
going to happen with thedominoes.
But the dominoes are good.
Yes.
Dr. Natalie Gentile (17:30):
Yeah, the web spreads and I think what's
really cool about dps.
See is the patients want to bepart of it.
Yes.
I mean, they feel like they'rein the cool kids club and, and
we as physicians feel like weare.
It's just this great, great
Dr. Maryal Concepcion (17:42):
mix.
A hundred percent.
And I will put last year, um,that when we talk about
patients, this is why I'vecreated.
Caring directly.com.
So if anybody's listening outthere, go to the website because
it is a patient facing physicianonly DPC practice mapper, and
you can add yourself right away.
(18:02):
But as I'm recording patientstories, patients are gonna be
like, well, where do I findsomebody like that?
Oh, look on the mapper and find.
A primary care practice, aspecialty care practice, but
physician led care because thatis what we are elevating
continuously.
And I do think that as we goforward, we need to be very
staunchly advocating for, wetrained a ton of hours, 15,000
(18:27):
hours to know what's normal.
Yes.
Who would I want for my family?
Somebody who has done and doneand done and done over and over
to know this is something that Ican take care of.
This is not something I can takecare of.
And I am connected in a networkenough to figure out an answer
for you as the next step.
Yes.
Yeah.
Completely agree.
(18:48):
And it's amazing.
And thank you for doing all thatyou do.
Thank you for listening toanother episode of my DBC story.
If you enjoyed it, please leavea five star review on your
favorite podcast platform.
It helps others find the show,have a question about direct
primary care.
Leave me a voicemail.
You might hear it answered in afuture episode.
Follow us on socials at thehandle at my D DPC story and
(19:11):
join DPC didactics our monthlydeep dive into your questions
and challenges.
Links are@mydpcstory.com forexclusive content you won't hear
anywhere else.
Join our Patreon.
Find the link in the show notesor search for my DPC story on
patreon.com for DPC news on thedaily.
Check out DPC news.com.
Until next week, this isMarielle conception.
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