Building a Direct Primary Care Practice with Dr. Adesola Oyewole, D.O

On this episode of The Recalibrated Vision Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Adesola Oyewole, a board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Lily Primary Care in Houston, Texas. Dr. Oyewole earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Houston Methodist Hospital. She shared her journey from traditional medicine to building a direct primary care practice, showing how physicians can create careers that align with their purpose, values, and desire to make a meaningful impact on patients.

Dr. Oyewole explained that conventional healthcare often felt limiting because of insurance restrictions, short patient visits, and heavy administrative work. She wanted to spend more time with patients, focus on wellness and prevention, and provide care that is more personal and relationship-driven. Her transition to a direct primary care model highlights the importance of understanding your reasons for change when designing a career or business that fits your vision.

In the direct primary care model, patients pay a membership or retainer fee directly to the physician. This reduces administrative barriers and allows doctors to spend more time with patients, offer preventive care, and build stronger relationships. I found it inspiring how Dr. Oyewole’s osteopathic training and focus on whole-person care fit naturally with this model and how it allows her to practice medicine the way she believes it should be practiced.

Dr. Oyewole shared how she built Lily Primary Care by defining her value, setting membership pricing, creating operational systems, and educating patients about the benefits of this new approach. She faced challenges such as helping patients understand the model, managing finances without relying on insurance, and adjusting her processes as she learned what worked. I appreciated how she started small and tested her concept, which is a principle I teach physicians when they are launching purpose-driven programs.

At Lily Primary Care, patients receive longer appointments, direct access to their physician, and coordinated care for labs, prescriptions, and referrals. This model creates a more personal and proactive experience for patients. It reminded me of the work I do with physicians, helping them design careers or businesses where relationships and impact are central.

Dr. Oyewole’s advice to physicians is clear: understand your “why,” start with a small pilot, educate your patients, and plan for a membership-based revenue structure. She emphasized flexibility and the importance of building strong relationships with patients. These strategies align closely with how I guide physicians in moving from a career they feel stuck in to work they are passionate about.

This episode shows that purpose-driven work is possible when you have clarity, planning, and alignment with your values. The direct primary care model demonstrates how physicians can create autonomy, meaningful relationships, and a positive impact on patient care. Dr. Oyewole’s journey is a powerful example for any physician looking to transition their career, test new ideas, educate their audience, and deliver real value.

I not only filmed this episode in Houston, Texas, I am back in Houston, Texas filming a podcast with another client. I decided to take a dopamine break from social media and build out a resourceful extension to this podcast in newsletter form. Whenever and wherever you’re reading this enjoy!

- Bianca Ariel, MBA