Dr. Maryal Concepcion
Dr. Maryal Concepcion Journey: From Corporate Chaos to Caring Hands
Dr. Maryal Concepcion, MD, FAAFP (Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians), is a Filipinx family doctor with a passion to fix the problems in healthcare. As the Owner and CEO of Big Trees MD in Calaveras County, California, and the host of the My DPC Story podcast, she's proving that medicine can be personal, affordable, and focused on the patient. Her path is one of courage, rediscovery, and a strong commitment to revolutionizing healthcare. She chose DPC because she believes healthcare should be about building relationships, not rushing through appointments or dealing with insurance paperwork.
A Passion From the Start
Maryal's desire to help others started long before she became a doctor. Growing up in Sacramento, she was always involved in activities like the Latin Club, CSF, and even served as Lieutenant Governor of Key Club during her senior year. 'My family taught me that if someone needs you, you show up,' she says.
The couple chose rural life over the city, inspired by their time training in Nebraska. 'In a small town, we could do everything, full-scope medicine, cradle to grave,' Maryal explains. They dreamed of building close relationships with their patients, but their first jobs in corporate medicine crushed that dream.
The Struggles of Corporate Medicine
When Maryal became an attending physician, the reality of corporate medicine hit hard. The clinic she worked for didn't support her mission. 'They pushed us to see more patients, do more, faster,' she recalls. Instead of being able to deliver the hands-on care she loved, she was forced to refer patients out to specialists.
One day, a first-year resident called family doctors 'referralologists,' and that word stuck. 'It wasn't a joke, it was the truth, and it hurt,' she says. Even worse, the system treated her like just another number. The breaking point came in 2020, when she was 28 weeks pregnant and was given an ultimatum by her employer: sign a contract she hated or get fired.
Discovering DPC
In 2019, a conversation with a local orthopedic surgeon changed everything. 'Have you heard of DPC?' he asked. Maryal hadn't, but it felt like a lightbulb went off. Direct Primary Care, a model where patients pay a flat fee for unlimited visits and cut out insurance, seemed like the answer she had been searching for.
'It was like Neo taking the red pill in The Matrix,' she says with a grin. 'I went down the rabbit hole.' She dove in, attending a California family medicine conference where she met Dr. Janine Rethy, a pioneer in DPC, who spent an hour explaining the model.
Starting Big Trees MD
With her husband's support, Maryal launched Big Trees MD in Arnold, a small town two hours from Sacramento. He stayed in corporate medicine for a steady paycheck while she took the leap. 'If we'd opened a traditional practice, we would've left medicine entirely,' she admits.
Word quickly spread. When their old clinic switched to a non-physician model, patients returned to Maryal and her husband, the only full-scope doctors left in the county. 'People knew us and trusted us,' she says. One patient, who was prescribed antidepressants by her last doctor without a real conversation, told Maryal, 'You're the first one who asked why I'm on this.' That's the kind of care Maryal always dreamed of.
Spreading the Message
Maryal didn't just build a practice; she became an advocate for change. She's spoken on Capitol Hill, recorded almost over 150 podcast episodes with other DPC doctors, and created a directory and magazine to connect the DPC community.
Her advice? 'Know your "why." If DPC doesn't fit your life, your family, your goals, it'll wear you out. But the beauty is, you can shape it. If it's not working, tweak it.' She loves teaching residents about options she never knew were available during her training. 'Back then, no one said you could open your own practice,' she says. Now, she's making sure they know they can.
Looking Ahead
Maryal sees a bright future for DPC. 'We're nimble,' she says, excited about potential changes in laws, like allowing patients to use health savings accounts for DPC or expanding Medicaid access. She points to a bipartisan bill from Reps. Kim Schrier and Dan Crenshaw, which pushes for everyday Americans to get 'concierge-level care' without the high price.
She's also excited about technology. Wearables, AI tools, and open-source platforms which she sees as essential for modern healthcare. And data? That's her secret weapon. At a summit, she saw the difference in cost, $200 for a mammogram in DPC versus $3,000 with insurance.
A Promise Kept
Maryal's story is more than about medicine, it's about sticking to what matters. From rural Nebraska to Capitol Hill, she's fought for a healthcare system that puts people first. 'It's old-time doctoring with a modern twist,' she says.
Dr. Maryal Concepcion shows us that when you follow what's truly right, opportunities open. Her journey inspires us all to rethink what's possible, one patient, one story, one bold step at a time.