How everything started?

In the middle of the pandemic, I was dissatisfied with the lack of autonomy and career advancement opportunities in my previous job. I interviewed in different places, but nothing worked for me. I came to the conclusion, that I had to create my own opportunities. I received an invitation for the Virtual Direct Primary Care (DPC) Summit held on June last year threfore I registered for it and started to learn about the DPC model. I also, further my studies with books, followed the DPC Alliance Group bulletins, and found Dr Sanders who became my mentor in the State of Utah. He has been my to go person when I have any questions. There is definately a learning curve as there is tons of questions along the way. Obviously, I am still learning on the go. 

I had followed the DPC Alliance Group recommendations; and now I am in the process of opening Grateful MD, my first DPC clinic. This process is quite challenging, and rewarding at the same time. Step by step I am achieving my dream of stablishing my own business. I am a firm believer that having a righteous goal and determinatIon, the God I belived in will provide the way to achieve any dream.

I am so grateful for all those helping hands I have found along the way, especially my family who have been there supporting me with any decision, and many of my family responsibilities. I am raising two little boys; they are my motivation to continue on this journey. I want them to learn to be entrepreneurs and to value hard work. I am also very grateful for all the people who I met during this life project. I must mention here to my good friend and business planner Fernando Carrera and his wife Nancy Paz, who have been my emotional support team. It is important to be surrounded by people who believe in you, and are willing to be present as this dream clinic becomes a reality.

The Direct Primary Care model is not new, it has been labelled that way by pioneer doctors who want to practice medicine with autonomy. This model of care is a cash-based model that offers a monthly membership to patients who want to establish higher quality of care and foster the patient-doctor relationship. I value these connections that I can stablish with my patients, with the community, as well as the deep connection I can develop with my coworkers in my work place. Implementing the Direct Primary Care model has the added benefit of independence and flexibility with my working hours.

Who is behind Grateful MD? 

I am a Bilingual Family Medicine Physician trained at the McAllen Medical Center hospital located in McAllen, Texas.  I obtained my doctorate degree from the Central University of Ecuador and immigrated to the United States to complete the specialty in Family Medicine. I have lived in Washington DC, Texas, and live currently in Utah. I have had the opportunity to work with the Latino community; first as a medical assistant, as a medical interpreter, and now as a doctor. In every step of my journey of becoming a practicing physician in the USA, I had in mind the why I chose Family Medicine as a career.  My why are my patients.

I have experience working in urgent care and outpatient settings for the last 6 years. I am here to offer Direct Primary Care services. I am a problem solver and skilled in diagnosis conditions such asthma, COPD, diabetes, depression, anxiety, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, hepatitis C, contraception, among many others. My goal is to provide quality medical and culturally sensitive care.  We work together to find the best solution for your medical problem. I am also here to serve and devote my time to strengthen our patient-physician relationship. As a resourceful physician, I commit myself to help you find affordable prices, and help you navigate the Utah health system. It is a pleasure to work with you as a partner. We can work together in your journey of achieving and maintaining your health.