Being Her Own Boss
You hear a lot these days about physicians leaving solo practice for a large group or hospital. You don’t hear much about them leaving groups and hospitals for a solo practice—but that’s exactly what June Messam, MD, did.
“It’s really hard work initially. But then, a few years in, it’s the best thing you’ve ever done,” said the Delaware County pediatrician.
Encouraged by her husband, Dr. Messam decided she wanted to leave a large medical center for something smaller.
Her first step was to contact David McKeighan, executive director of the Delaware County Medical Society, and Mary Ellen Corum, associate director of practice economics and payer relations at the Pennsylvania Medical Society. She said their support was invaluable.
“David gave me a whole bunch of books to read, a number for a medical liability insurer, and Mary Ellen’s number. Mary Ellen and I had a long conversation and I took lots of notes, and that was the day I decided to do it,” Dr. Messam said.
That was five years ago. Dr. Messam has enjoyed the perks of solo practice—setting her own schedule, spending more time with patients, and getting to know them and their families.
“When I have one member of the family, then usually the next member comes in and then another. I am getting to know whole families in a way that I never did before, and I love that,” Dr. Messam said.
She also knows who her patients are when they call her at home, rather than receiving calls when she was on-call from patients she had never treated.
“When my patients call me when something is wrong, they don’t have to go through everything from birth. I’ve taken care of them. I know their history,” Dr. Messam said.
She said she does feel pressure as the only physician in the practice, and it is hard for her to get personal time.
“I feel like I don’t have anyone right now to back me up. If I’m not feeling well, it’s too bad. I have to go do what I have to do,” she said.
Despite that, Dr. Messam said she doesn’t regret her decision.
“I wouldn’t go work for anyone else, not for the world,” she said.
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Last Updated: 2/3/2009