Five top takeaways from the 2025 Concierge Medicine Forum

A better way forward for physicians navigating a broken health care system took center stage at the 2025 Concierge Medicine Forum in Atlanta. The annual gathering drew leaders from across the industry, including pioneering consultants Specialdocs and 10 of its affiliated physicians. Together they inspired a record number of attendees with candid insights and practical strategies shaping the next era of membership-based care.

Here are the top five takeaways from this year’s event.

1. The physician shortage crisis may be an efficiency problem

The notion of a nationwide doctor shortage often dominates headlines. But according to some forum speakers, the real issue isn’t numbers but inefficiency.

“If you divide the U.S. population by the total number of family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics physicians, we actually have a manageable number of patients per provider,” said Dr. Brad Brown, of Strive Direct Health, a direct primary care (DPC) practice. “The problem is the layers of non-clinical workthat separates doctors from their patients. By eliminating those with a simple membership model, I can care for patients promptly and appropriately because I truly know them.”

This streamlined structure not only improves availability and satisfaction but enhances sustainability. Terry Bauer, CEO emeritus of Specialdocs, agreed: “Concierge and DPC practices are the only models I’ve seen that truly achieve health care’s Quadruple Aim: reducing system costs while improving population health, patient experience, and provider well-being.”

2. The doors to concierge medicine are opening wider, but preparation is everything

Once viewed as a niche option for private practitioners, concierge medicine has matured into a flexible model increasingly chosen by physicians in larger organizations.

“In the past few years, the concierge model has evolved to the point where we can confidently convert physicians employed by hospitals, health systems, or group practices,” said Andrew Bonner, Specialdocs.

Dr. Michael Golden, who transitioned from a multi-specialty group to a solo concierge practice in 2021, emphasized the importance of expert guidance. “It was essential to have a partner who understood all the business aspects, including legal, accounting, real estate, office design, and medical equipment, and helped me anticipate potential pitfalls,” he said. “Equally critical was learning how to communicate with patients. Unlike a gym membership, the idea of paying a fee to join a doctor’s practice may still be unfamiliar and requires thoughtful explanation. You need to be prepared for the hard questions, like ‘Why are you doing this?’ My answer: It’s not my job to fix the entire health care system — it’s my job to care for my patients as best I can today.”

For Dr. Priya Mathur, who left a large health system for a smaller concierge group, the transition was a steep but rewarding learning curve. “Mentorship from the practice founder and experienced consultants were foundational to success,” she said. “Building a practice where patients choose to enroll, and cultivating new referral relationships with specialists, was a complete shift from traditional employment. The support I received was invaluable.”

3. Group conversions can thrive, with the right leadership and culture

For many physicians, burnout has become the breaking point that spurs change. Dr. Elizabeth Walton of Piedmont Internal Medicine (PIM) experienced this firsthand. “Our fee-for-service practice was financially sound but had become bureaucratic and exhausting,” she recalled. “By 2022, I was done. I needed a better way to care for my patients and myself.”

Her successful conversion to a concierge model that year not only restored her ability to practice medicine as she had always envisioned but also inspired six of her colleagues to follow suit in 2024.

“It was a very successful pilot,” said Dr. Craig Peters, PIM practice leader. “We saw Elizabeth smiling again, enjoying her work, and having time to care for herself. That made all of us take notice.” The group developed a comprehensive plan for staff education, patient communications, and physician input at every step. “A few months later, we were up and running smoothly with robust panels of satisfied patients and happy doctors,” Peters added.

4. There’s no perfect age to make the leap. What matters most is readiness for change

Whether early-career or nearing retirement, the best time to transition to concierge care depends less on age and more on mindset and stability in one’s community.

“I was seeing 15 to 25 patients a day and spending late nights catching up on documentation,” said Dr. Brad Pontz, NOVAMED Associates. “I’d put my kids to bed, then go back on the computer for two or three hours. It wasn’t sustainable.” Since converting, he describes concierge medicine as “the third and best chapter of my career.”

He emphasized that readiness, both emotional and professional, is key. “You need some tenure in your community and a sense of your patients’ loyalty,” he said. “Formal surveys can help but trust your intuition. Many of us underestimate the value we bring to our patients. If you’re considering it, do it sooner rather than later — you’ll likely wish you had done it years earlier.”

Dr. Jeff Puglisi, co-founder of Glenville Medical Concierge Care in Connecticut, echoed the sentiment. “We were doing the best we could, but it wasn’t the best care for our patients,” he said. “We didn’t have time for the calls, the follow-ups, or to implement new preventive techniques. I knew something had to change.”

He believes the climate today is far more supportive than when he transitioned a decade ago. “Awareness of the model has grown significantly,” he said. “New physicians should market their practice as offering something distinct or consider joining an established concierge group. But whatever you do, don’t wait. I’ve never met a concierge physician who didn’t say, ‘I wish I’d done this 10 years ago.”

5. Discover your ‘why’ and build from there

Beyond financial sustainability or scheduling flexibility, the most successful concierge physicians share a deeper motivation: reclaiming purpose.

“As one of the few Black female physicians to pursue concierge medicine, I faced a lot of skepticism early on,” said Dr. Angela Marshall, founder of Comprehensive Concierge Care in Maryland. “It was scary, but I stood firm in my belief that this was what I needed, as a physician, a parent, and a member of my community. The model allows us to reclaim our power and joy in practicing medicine.

For Dr. Uday Jani, who established the first concierge practice in southern Delaware over a decade ago, the shift provided space for a more holistic and spiritual approach to care. “Compassion literally means ‘to suffer with,’” he reflected. “As a concierge physician, it’s not just about prescribing or testing. It’s about helping patients reflect, find purpose, and discover peace. Walking alongside them on that journey makes us more compassionate physicians, better able to care for our patients and ourselves.”

A movement that’s maturing

The message from this year’s Forum was clear: Concierge medicine is no longer a fringe experiment but a proven solution to many of health care’s systemic pain points. By reducing administrative friction, empowering physicians to lead, and restoring the doctor-patient relationship, the model continues to demonstrate both clinical and emotional ROI.

As Specialdocs COO Greg Grant noted: “Concierge medicine is not an escape from health care’s challenges but a blueprint for rebuilding it around what matters most: the patient-physician relationship.”

For more learnings from the 2025 Concierge Medicine Forum, see our special coverage HERE.