Leaving Corporate Medicine to Build a Practice from the Ground Up with Dr. Rinku Mehra

I am delighted to talk to Dr. Rinku Mehra today. She is a pediatric endocrinologist and is practicing currently in the Northern Virginia, DC metro area.

Rinku’s Training and Career Evolution 

Rinku did her training at Rush University and the University of Iowa and did a pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the University of Iowa. She is also a pediatric obesity medicine specialist. In her career, she has worked in academics and at the FDA and was the Medical Director for a large multi-specialty pediatric endocrinology group in Northern Virginia. She has also also worked in the payer space. 

In her post-fellowship journey, starting in 2008, she faced the challenges of limited time for patient education, which highlighted the need for more personalized care and a deeper understanding of insurance models and motivated her to seek innovative solutions. Joining the Haslam College of Business in 2022 for an MBA was a pivotal factor that shaped her career path.

Founding The Mehra Clinic

Rinku is the CEO and Founder of The Mera Clinic, a telemedicine-based pediatric endocrinology practice spanning four states. She is on a mission to increase access to care, focusing on patients in Virginia, Maryland, Iowa, and Florida.

Proposed Solutions

To address the problems she identified, Rinku proposes a practice model that eliminates the need for referrals, provides flexible payment options, and ensures quick responses to patient queries. She emphasizes longer appointment times, tailored treatment approaches, and increased accessibility through text, email, and social media campaigns.

Motivations for Concierge Medicine  

Rinku's motivation for transitioning to concierge medicine was her dissatisfaction with the limitations of traditional healthcare. She wanted to reach a broader audience and deliver more personalized care. She also felt constrained by time within traditional practices, leading to burnout. 

Rinku’s Financial Model 

When comparing the financial model in her direct primary care practice with the traditional model, Rinku explains that she does not accept insurance directly when she practices across state lines. Patients pay her directly, and she provides super bills for reimbursement. Transparency is crucial in her model, avoiding hidden fees and passing on cost savings, especially for lab fees, to the patients.

Work-Life Balance and Time Commitment 

To maintain a work-life balance, Rinku aims never to exceed 200 patients, and her boundaries include working only during hours and then being available for emergencies. Having her patients respect her time has helped her maintain a balance.

Marketing through Social Media 

Rinku was initially uncomfortable about using social media for marketing. However, she now shares her monthly themed approach on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. She has a marketing expert and an assistant helping her to ensure the regular release of engaging content.

Course Creation from Social Media Engagement

Responding to comments and questions on social media led Rinku to create a comprehensive online course covering various health aspects for parents. The course emerged from her recognizing common misconceptions and the need for structured education.

Serving Medicaid and Pursuing an MBA

Leaving clinical practice, Rinku entered the corporate world, driven by a desire to make a broader impact on healthcare. With a focus on Medicaid and driven by her experiences as an immigrant, Rinku pursued an MBA to bridge the gap in her understanding of the business side of medicine. However, her frustration grew as she realized she could not influence decisions on matters she believed in, leading her to reconsider her direction.

Rediscovering Passion for Pediatric Endocrinology

Rinku initially saw an MBA as a means to understand the business language. However, her interactions with colleagues reignited her passion for pediatric endocrinology. Her colleagues recognized the need for her expertise in various states. So, with the mentorship of Don Leiter, she developed a business plan for a direct care practice, prompting her to re-evaluate her career trajectory.

Launching a Direct Care Practice and Navigating Doubts

Encouraged by her mentor, Rinku launched her direct care practice despite her doubts about its viability. She decided to step away from the corporate side, recognizing the limitations in effecting change. She acknowledges uncertainty about the future but resolves to take it one step at a time, embracing the challenge of moving forward with her newfound venture.

Links and resources:

Norm Chapin on LinkedIn

Rinku Mehra on LinkedIn