December 18, 2024

When Dr. Rebecca Berens left her corporate position, she knew one thing: the rigid schedule and traditional expectations weren't compatible with the mother she wanted to be. What she didn't know was that launching a direct primary care practice with a toddler, through a pandemic, while pregnant, would lead to creating something extraordinary.

The Breaking Point 

"In medicine, when you're in a full-time clinical position, especially in a corporate health system or academic health system, it's very rigid," Dr. Berens explains. "You have to ask off six months in advance if you want a day off." Add in unexpected daycare closures and the guilt began piling up.

An Unexpected Path 

Instead of seeking another employed position, Dr. Berens chose a bold path: opening her own direct primary care practice. "Knowing what I know now, I would have been a lot more afraid," she admits. "I was not appropriately afraid."

Building Through Challenge

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, just months after opening her practice, Dr. Berens faced:

• Daycare closure with a toddler at home

• Pregnancy with her second child

• Loss of backup income from PRN work

• The need to build a practice virtually

The Power of Virtual Networking 

Rather than letting circumstances derail her plans, Dr. Berens adapted. "I would go for walks around the neighborhood, push him in his little trike thing, and take calls with people for networking during that time."

Creating a Mom-Centered Practice Today

Today, Vita Family Medicine embodies what's possible when you design healthcare around real life. "We have an entirely mom-run practice. The doctors are moms, my VA is a mom, my in-person assistant's a mom - we're all moms," Dr. Berens explains. "It's chaotic at times because everyone has kid things come up, but it works because we're flexible."

Key Lessons from Dr. Berens' Journey:

1. Accept help - it benefits both you and your children

2. Sometimes the "wrong" timing creates the right opportunity

3. Building connections virtually can create real impact

4. Flexibility in practice design leads to better medicine

For Physicians considering a similar path, Dr. Berens' story shows that embracing uncertainty while staying true to your vision can create something extraordinary - a practice that works for both providers and patients.

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