By: Lennard Goetze, Ed.D
I would never fault any practitioner for the path they choose. For some, working within a hospital system offers structure, consistency, and a sense of security. For others, the pursuit of independence through private practice represents autonomy, innovation, and a deeper connection to purpose. A review of our current practitioners show significant achievements beyond clinical care; some have evolved to publishing and mentoring, others become part of research and technical innovations and yet more push the dial to become award-winning pioneers in the expansion of their specialized study.
Having experienced both models — and having observed countless colleagues navigate both lanes — one can only speak from the vantage point of personal experience. And what anyone can learn from this: "if you’re aiming to make a real difference in the lives of your patients, independence offers a unique kind of freedom".
THE POWER OF PERSONALIZED CARE
I recently finalized a biography of Dr. Robert Bard called "
The Cancer Detective's Journal". He is a board-certified radiologist with licenses in multiple states; he developed and directed over 22 diagnostic health programs focused on cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, wound healing, perimenopausal symptoms, and musculoskeletal injuries — conditions that one could only find medically fascinating but also deeply meaningful to address. This diversity in services didn’t emerge from a corporate playbook. It came from listening to his patients, staying on top of emerging research, and designing care pathways that respond directly to unmet needs. His ability to constantly evolve is driven by a curiosity and a commitment to his patients — and that kind of flexibility simply isn’t possible within a rigid hospital framework. Systems tend to favor protocols and uniformity. Independent practice rewards innovation and patient-centric thinking.
CLINICAL FREEDOM AND EXPANSION
In his biopic, Dr. Bard stated, "Running a successful private practice does require effort — and more than a little entrepreneurial spirit. It demands that you build a following, manage operations, and sustain a patient workflow that allows room for growth. But in return, it offers something priceless: the ability to expand your expertise on your own terms."
Another role model in this independent thinking is one of his colleagues, Dr. Leslie Valle-Montoya who retorts, "You’re free to pursue continuing education, add new services, experiment with integrative models, and tailor your offerings to what your community actually needs — not just what your employer permits. That agility translates to a more meaningful clinical life and, in many cases, better outcomes for patients who otherwise fall through the cracks of conventional care."
THE SHIFT TOWARD INDEPENDENT MEDICINE We're seeing a growing number of physicians opt out of institutional employment and carve out their own space in the medical landscape — whether through solo practice, specialty clinics, direct primary care, or telehealth ventures. And it's not hard to see why. Burnout, bureaucracy, and disillusionment are widespread in corporate health care settings. Independent practitioners are reclaiming the essence of medicine: relationships, responsibility, and results.
Of course, independence isn’t easy. You take on more risk, more responsibility, and often more paperwork. But you also gain the satisfaction of practicing medicine the way it was meant to be practiced — with your judgment intact, your creativity engaged, and your patients at the center of everything.
CONCLUSION: THE ROAD TO IMPACT
Choosing private practice isn’t just a career move. For many of us, it’s a mission. It’s about restoring the doctor-patient relationship, building something that reflects your values, and being accountable to outcomes that truly matter. It’s not the right path for everyone, but for those of us drawn to it, independence isn’t just a trend — it’s a calling.
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"I could not echo the same sentiment more. Independent practice,
although it may seem scary and stressful, it is a "good stress." Yes,
institutional medicine may be right for some providers, but it does not
allow the growth and progress that is necessary for optimal patient care
or medical innovation, not to mention career satisfaction for many (myself included)". -
ANGELA MAZZA, DO - Integrative Functional Endocrinology
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"I am a pharmacist by training (I own my own clinic), but patients seek me out because I develop a personal relationship with them. I think the art of listening to the patient is gone. Being independent allows the time to listen and that's where the best outcomes are found. I was taught that the new medical paradigm of specialization would allow more time for patients but that hasn't happened and in fact, it is worse as now doctors don't have time to speak to each other. It's tough running a business and seeing patients, but I think it's the only way to meet our patients expectations without being pressured to see more and more patients." - SCOTT BERLINER R.Ph. -
Life Science Pharmacy
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"Being in private practice has given me the opportunity to explore emerging areas in medicine and to incorporate innovative approaches into my care. Unlike in a hospital system, private practice allows me to prioritize what is truly best for my patients in every interaction with total autonomy. That freedom has not only shaped my clinical approach but also fueled my passion for medicine. After 29 years, I can confidently say that private practice has allowed me to stay true to the values that first led me to medicine. The autonomy, flexibility, and ability to deliver deeply personalized care offer clear and lasting advantages." - STEPHEN CHAGARES, MD, FACS -
Breast/General/Minimally Invasive/Robotic Surgery
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This article beautifully champions the movement toward independence in medicine, but what truly elevates it is the deeper, unspoken truth humming beneath the surface: independent practitioners aren’t just leaving institutions, they’re responding to a collective cry for something new. This isn’t about faulting systems, it's about birthing a future that still honors the dream many doctors began with. They don’t just seek freedom from bureaucracy, they pursue freedom to evolve. The future of medicine is not “independent or institutional” — it’s integration led by inspiration. This piece plants a flag for a needed cultural shift, and I’d love to see it end with that shared vision: medicine as a living artform, evolving through us all. -
MATTHEW EINSOHN, TN
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"Working as an independent physician has advantages and disadvantages. No one is looking over your shoulder, ready to criticize you if you deviate from corporate policy. Patients are individuals, and their needs do not always match protocol. Most integrative/functional medicine doctors choose to practice independently. They employ primarily evidence-based practices outside the standard of care, which are treatments accepted by medical experts as proper for a particular disease. As an integrative physician, I prefer the freedom of practicing independently. I enjoy my work, helping my patients, and benefitting from a large community of like-minded experts and dedicated independent practitioners." -
Barbara Bartlik, MD (psychiatrist)
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LEGENDS IN ACTION
THE LEGACY OF A SCIENTIFIC TRAILBLAZER: Dr. Robert Langer’s impact on biotechnology and medicine is immeasurable. His work has saved countless lives, improved the quality of healthcare, and inspired generations of scientists. As research continues to evolve, his contributions serve as a foundation for future breakthroughs, ensuring that innovation in medical science remains vibrant and transformative. (see full spotlight)
Long Island cancer support advocate, GERI BARISH shares her uncompromising passion for her life’s work. As co-founder of Hewlett House, Ms. Barish established a well-loved community learning resource center for cancer patients and their families. She and her staff have been serving the local community for over 28 years and have served tens of thousands of cancer patients and their families.
(see full spotlight)
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DR. BARD'S FINDINGS THROUGHOUT TIME
Dr. Robert Bard has been recognized for his research and clinical care as well as his achievements that impacted the scientific community. His reporting comes from a commitment to move the dial in technology to comport with the current standards in healthcare and its needs for upgrades. As an imaging specialist and the 'cancer detective', his discoveries historically apply as 'game-changers' in the diagnostic community, where his published work memorialized landmarks that clearly helped affect medicine as we know it today. Here are some of those findings:
1) THE ULTRASOUND / DENSE BREAST DEBACLE
1976: Dr. Bard collaborated with pioneer developer Dr. Henry Leis to mitigate the limitations of Mammography- mainly that "mammo" underperformed when scanning past dense breast tissue (deeming early detection scans of dense breasts as false negatives). Remarkably, Dr. Bard's use of ultrasound imaging provided a reliable and supportive imaging for the mammogram, as it was able to see a tumor clearly through the breast density.
2022: Dr. Bard receives the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his research achievements in areas of breast cancer diagnostics. His top achievement was for his use of ultrasound to complement mammograpy for scanning dense breasts.
2024: U.S. Legislation was finally passed to mandate communicating breast density in all mammography centers, and the use of ultrasound is supported as a secondary scanning solution.
2) DECODING BIA-ALCL & THE TEXTURED IMPLANT
1978: After witnessing inflammatory conditions from his patients with textured implants, Dr. Bard wrote the first paper on BIA-ALCL, (Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma) a rare type of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can develop around textured breast implants
1996 to 2015: One hundred pathologically confirmed breast implant-associated ALCL cases were identified in the United States. Mean age at diagnosis was 53.2 ± 12.3 years. Mean interval from implant placement to diagnosis was 10.7 ± 4.6 years.
2019: Allergan voluntarily recalled its Biocell textured breast implants in August 2019
2023: In Australia, a "national outcry" arose regarding BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma), a rare type of lymphoma linked to some textured breast implants, leading to regulatory actions and increased awareness.
3) MOBILIZING ELASTOGRAPHY TO THE WESTERN MARKET
1997: Elastography is a type of imaging test that checks for tissue, organ or tumor stiffness or elasticity- representing this in a dedicated color scale. As a performance upgrade to the Ultrasound, Transient and Shear Eave (SWE) elastography originated in Europe in the late 1990s, with the FibroScan system (Echosens, Paris, France). It was primarily used for liver assessment, a non-invasive technique, emerged as a viable alternative to liver biopsy for staging liver fibrosis.
2008: Thanks to his research and training in France, Dr. Bard was one of the first radiologists to gain access to Elastography, publishing the text on Elastography of the Carotid Artery/MICCAI and Image Guided Therapy
2013: The FibroScan system, a commercially available elastography device was approved by the FDA in the United States. The FDA approved magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) software for breast lesions in 2014.
[OUTLINE]
Title: The Independent Advantage: Why Private Practice Still Matters in Modern Medicine
Introduction
• Brief overview of the evolving landscape of healthcare
• Growing dominance of hospital systems and health conglomerates
• The value of the independent practitioner — why the conversation matters
Autonomy and Flexibility
• Clinical decision-making without bureaucratic interference
• The ability to set your own schedule, patient load, and treatment philosophy
• More personalized patient care
Deeper Patient Relationships
• Emphasis on continuity of care and long-term relationships
• Freedom to spend more time with patients
• Greater patient loyalty and satisfaction
Financial Transparency and Control
• Direct control over billing and collections
• Opportunity to innovate pricing or adopt models like direct primary care or concierge
• Investment back into your own business instead of a hospital system
Innovation and Agility
• Faster adoption of new technologies, diagnostics, and protocols
• Ability to customize office environment and services
• Less red tape for trying novel care pathways or holistic modalities
Challenges to Acknowledge
• Administrative burden and business overhead
• Lack of institutional support or large-scale infrastructure
• Navigating payer relationships and referral networks
Conclusion
• Private practice is not for everyone, but it's a viable and valuable model
• Reclaiming medical autonomy, rebuilding trust, and re-centering the doctor-patient relationship
• Encouragement for physicians considering independence to explore it with open eyes
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