Hustle & Balance with Monica McKitterick
In this episode, Aaron Gordon welcomes Monica McKitterick, nurse practitioner and entrepreneur, to share her journey of pivoting from traditional medicine to pioneering membership-based primary care. Starting with dreams of becoming a pediatric oncologist, Monica McKitterick describes how her upbringing instilled resilience and a drive to excel, traits that guided her through major career transitions. Realizing the burnout of conventional healthcare, she launched her own direct primary care practice, prioritizing patient relationships, affordable access, and personal time over profit. Monica discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the power of delegation, and her vision for sustainable healthcare outside insurance constraints. She emphasizes the fundamental elements of health, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management, and advocates for prioritizing well-being as the cornerstone of success. Monica's next chapter centers on educating other providers to adopt direct care models, amplifying positive change. The episode closes with Monica's motivational mantra: "Someone else's opinion of you is none of your business", an inspiring reminder for anyone on their own hustle journey.
Get To Know Monica McKitterick, FNP
Monica McKitterick is a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner and the visionary CEO of Impact Family Wellness, a pioneering provider of Direct Primary Care (DPC) in the Austin area, with locations in Liberty Hill and Cedar Park. Under her leadership, the organization has flourished, serving a growing patient base of 1,800 individuals with a commitment to redefining primary care. Monica’s innovative approach emphasizes same-day or next-day access, direct communication with providers, and transparent pricing that significantly benefits both patients and employers.
As the founder of The DPC Formula, Monica empowers healthcare clinicians to successfully launch and scale their own DPC clinics. Her expertise is encapsulated in her book, “DPC: Dream Job or Total Disaster,” and complemented by the development of “The DPC Launch Kit” e-course, which provides a straightforward roadmap for aspiring clinic owners.
Monica is passionate about enhancing the landscape of healthcare. She helps employers by offering membership primary care tailored for teams in Central Texas, designing and rolling out onsite and near-site clinics, and implementing cost-control strategies that prioritize primary care and reduce avoidable claims.
For fellow clinicians, she offers a comprehensive startup roadmap that includes guidance on pricing, contracts, Medicare opt-out processes, vendor selection, marketing strategies, employer partnerships, and operational protocols aimed at preserving margins while enhancing the patient experience.
With her expertise, dedication, and innovative mindset, Monica McKitterick-Smith is reshaping the future of primary care, creating a healthier and more sustainable healthcare system for both providers and patients.
3 Episode Key Takeaways
1. Redefine Success on Your Own Terms: Monica McKitterick shares how her family's expectations and early pursuit of an "impressive" career led to burnout and unhappiness. Her evolution from aspiring pediatric oncologist to nurse practitioner to entrepreneur highlights the importance of letting go of external validation and crafting a success story that is true to yourself.
2. Embrace Strategic Delegation: One of the biggest hacks for sane, balanced hustle? Delegation. Monica McKitterick reveals that learning to relinquish control and outsource tasks—both professionally (office work, marketing, cleaning) and personally—is a crucial shift that distinguishes true entrepreneurs from perpetual employees.
3. Choose Time Over Money: In launching a membership-based primary care clinic and letting go of traditional insurance models, Monica described how reclaiming her time was more valuable than chasing a higher income. "I'm motivated by my time. I would much rather be home in time for dinner than take home $400,000 a year."
Show Overview
04:24 The Drive to Pivot
07:06 Seasons, Hustle, and Healthcare Change
12:29 Dream Delegation for Long-Term Vision
15:59 Nurse Practitioners vs. Physicians
18:05 Nurse Practitioner Limits Discussed
20:47 Healthcare Access for the Uninsured
23:00 Promoting Direct Primary Care
26:48 Focus on You, Not Others