Can I start a practice if I still have student debt?

This episode explains that pediatricians can start a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice even while carrying substantial student loans, as long as they plan carefully and intentionally. Phil and Marina share personal examples of launching DPC with 1500–2000 dollar monthly loan payments and original balances around 250,000 dollars to show it is possible but requires realism about cash flow. They describe strategies like keeping a part‑time employed position, timing departure around potential loan‑forgiveness milestones, and building savings and cutting expenses before opening. A major theme is not allowing fear or uncertainty about federal loan programs and politics to be the primary reason for staying in a burnout‑inducing job. They encourage combining detailed financial planning with an internal sense that “this is the right time,” emphasizing that student loans are usually a challenge to plan around, not an automatic deal breaker for DPC. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dpcpediatricians.substack.com