Dr. L Cress

Episode 24 - How to Escape Physician Burnout by Starting a Direct Primary Care Practice

DPC| Primary Care| DPC Podcast
February 11, 2026•2 min read

What if the way medicine is practiced today isn’t the way it was ever meant to be? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Lyndsi Cress, a family medicine physician and founder of Coral Direct Primary Care in Little River, South Carolina, who made the transition from employed medicine to owning her own DPC practice. After years in high-volume systems and growing burnout, she discovered a model that allowed her to reconnect with patients while rebuilding balance at home. We talk about her journey into Direct Primary Care, the challenges of starting from scratch, and what physicians often don’t expect when they finally gain back time and autonomy.


Who it’s for

  • Physicians feeling burned out or questioning the traditional system

  • Doctors considering Direct Primary Care but unsure where to begin

  • Healthcare professionals wanting more autonomy, flexibility, and patient connection


In this episode, you’ll hear

  • Starting before you feel ready is often the hardest step.

  • Business skills can be learned — medicine already trained you to adapt.

  • Patient relationships improve when time pressure disappears.

  • Freedom in scheduling changes both practice and personal life.

  • Growth often comes from trusting the process and taking action.


If you’ve ever wondered whether medicine could feel different — slower, more personal, and more sustainable — this conversation is a reminder that it’s possible. Thanks for joining us for Episode 24 of the DPC Life Podcast, and we’ll see you in the next episode.


Resources + Links

Website: https://coraldpc.com

Coral Direct Primary Care (Facebook, Instagram)


Next Step: Get Guided Support

The hardest part isn’t just launching the practice. It’s becoming a physician-entrepreneur, often without anyone around you who really gets it.

That’s why I created DPC Women Connect: a small, in-person gathering this February for women physicians navigating the shift from employed to independent.

If you want support, strategy, and women who are walking the same path, DM me CONNECT on Instagram or learn more here:
https://connect.harmonyopshealth.com/

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Dr. Gonzalez was born in NYC, but grew up in Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia and Eastern Virginia Medical School before completing her Family Medicine residency and Geriatrics Fellowship in 2002 at USC in Columbia, SC. She worked in Morganton, NC for 5 years at Burke Primary Care. After that, she headed the Primary Care Department at A Woman's View for 13 years and taught part time at the Geriatrics Fellowship in Morganton. She appreciates the privilege of working with her patients to improve their health, independence, and quality of life. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatrics.

Anne Gonzalez

Dr. Gonzalez was born in NYC, but grew up in Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia and Eastern Virginia Medical School before completing her Family Medicine residency and Geriatrics Fellowship in 2002 at USC in Columbia, SC. She worked in Morganton, NC for 5 years at Burke Primary Care. After that, she headed the Primary Care Department at A Woman's View for 13 years and taught part time at the Geriatrics Fellowship in Morganton. She appreciates the privilege of working with her patients to improve their health, independence, and quality of life. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatrics.

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