Gratitude for Direct Healthcare—and for the Patients who Make it Meaningful
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been reflecting on gratitude—not just in a general sense, but within direct healthcare itself. Every year, I’m reminded that the greatest privilege of being a direct primary care (DPC) physician isn’t the science, the problem-solving, or even the milestones of training. It’s the people. It’s the patients who let us into their lives and allow us to be part of their stories.
I’m so grateful for my patients—for their trust, their honesty, and their openness. Direct healthcare works best when it’s a partnership, and I’m continually honored to build these relationships with my patients. From the everyday conversations to the life-changing decisions, these moments are what make the long hours and years of training worthwhile.
That training—the foundation of medicine—is something I’m also deeply thankful for. I may be biased, but I am blessed to have trained with some of the best physicians who are also some of the best people I know! Physicians complete more than 18,000 hours of supervised clinical experience before practicing independently, and as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), I also completed additional hands-on training in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), which focuses on the connection between structure and function in healing. Those years of education and practice shaped how I think, diagnose, and respond under pressure. They taught humility, empathy, and perspective—lessons learned not from textbooks, but from people.
Lately, I’ve noticed the changing landscape of direct healthcare—as more DPC offices open, more nurse practitioners and physician assistants are stepping into larger roles. Many patients may not realize that some offices don’t have a physician on site, which can make it challenging to understand what each type of practice offers.
I’ve worked with outstanding NPs and PAs who care deeply about their patients. But I’ve also seen how confusing the system can be for those seeking direct healthcare—especially when training pathways and actual supervision vary so widely. PAs typically complete about 2,000, and NPs around 500–1,000 hours of training, sometimes with online components replacing face-to-face clinical training. Each plays an important role, but the differences matter—especially when it comes to decision-making and complexity of care.
That’s not a criticism—it’s a call for transparency and teamwork. Patients deserve to know who is providing their care, and clinicians need to practice within the scope of their training. At True Insight Direct Care, you can trust that your direct healthcare will come directly from me and every decision will be guided by partnership, respect, and experience.
This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the chance to do what I love in a way that honors both the art and the science of medicine. I’m thankful for my mentors who paved the way, my patients, both former and current whose trust gives this work its purpose, and for the people who’ve stood beside me through it all.
The People That Made it Possible
My husband and co-owner, Jeff, has always believed in me—even when the road was uncertain. His steady encouragement made this dream possible and continues to keep me grounded (and the family fed!). Our son, Landon, has shown incredible flexibility through every challenge, reminding me daily why balance matters just as much as hard work. Our moms, Cheri and Robin, have been with us through it all—feeling the uncertainty that comes with building something from the ground up, and sharing in the pride and joy of seeing our hearts fully committed to serving others through direct healthcare and growing as a family business.
At the heart of medicine is gratitude—for every story shared, every recovery witnessed, and for every lesson learned. I’m thankful every day for the opportunity to keep showing up, to keep learning, and to keep caring.
