Dr. Ryan Brang, MD FAAFP, is the Owner of NorthCountry Health Direct Primary Care
What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine?
I was motivated to practice medicine because I appreciate the humanitarian aspect and enjoy the daily learning it requires. Now that I practice medicine every day, I particularly enjoy the regular challenges of staying abreast of the current evidence and having the time to do the research to provide the most relevant information for my patients and the community.
What do you wish you had known about the medical school application process before you applied?
I would have spent more time focusing on being a well-rounded candidate. Most medical schools these days have so many applications to review that they really need something that stands out. A good MCAT or transcript is nice, but it means a lot more to have some real-life experiences. As a past reviewer of applications for the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, it can be refreshing to see an applicant who has a mix of real world employment/experience in addition to a well rounded academic transcript.
What was the biggest challenge that caught you off guard when you sat down to write the MCAT?
This was quite a while ago. Truthfully, I didn’t really take it that seriously, and I probably should have. I had to travel and therefore didn’t sleep well the night before. All mistakes that I would encourage others to avoid.
How much work experience did you gain before applying to medical school? What opportunities did you pursue, and what helped you the most during the application process?
I worked full time prior to medical school and I’ve been told that helped me in my application process. Having significant life experience not only makes for an attractive applicant, it will help manage the rigors of medical school and residency. I did do some volunteering in medical clinics and hospitals, but this pales in comparison to the experience I gained as a manager at UPS for 6 years during college. The bottom line here is that you don’t have to focus entirely on medical experiences and opportunities to find success in a future medical career.
Did you have any setbacks or rejections during the med school admissions process, and what did you learn from those experiences?
My MCAT scores and GPA weren’t amazing, so I didn’t bother applying to US medical schools.
What led you to specialize in Family Medicine? What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue your specialty?
I specialized in Family Medicine because I love the breadth of the care I can provide. I did rural family medicine for many years prior to opening my own practice. I did OB, pediatrics, sports medicine, mental health, hospital medicine and lots of procedures. More recently I’ve transitioned to doing more lifestyle medicine focusing on nutrition, exercise, culinary medicine and non-pharmacologic chronic pain management. I’ve been able to adjust my focus whenever it is convenient for me or whenever I see a need in my community. It’s been wonderful to have so many options. I would encourage somebody considering Family Medicine to check out a DPC practice. It is absolutely the best way to practice medicine for patients and physicians.
If someone wants to start their own practice, what does that path look like after finishing medical school?
It all comes down to finances and how much debt you’re willing to take on. Most would probably work a few years for a hospital system to get started on paying off medical debt. My wife (who is also a Family Physician) and I were able to pay off all of our substantial medical debt 8 years after residency graduation. This allowed us to open our own practice without taking on substantial debt. This isn’t necessary, but it was nice to not have that hanging over us. This also allowed us to be less profitable for a while as we built the practice at a pace that was sustainable.
What advice would you give to someone who’s looking to start their practice today?
Keep your overhead low! Patients care about the recommendations of a good physician who has good rapport and not the look of a fancy office. If you’re thinking about opening your own practice, I would highly recommend doing it for the right reasons. If you’re looking to make more money this probably wouldn’t be the right choice. However, if you’re looking to have more autonomy and control over your work life and personal life, dramatically improved relationships with your patients and a more rewarding experience being a physician, then you should definitely consider a DPC practice.
Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Dr. Ryan Brang to help future doctors understand the challenges and rewards of a medical career.
.svg)
