It’s the season of giving, and while it’s easy to take care of everyone around us, it can be more challenging to give ourselves the gifts of rest and care. What is something you can do – a moment you can carve out – just for yourself? Whether it's making an appointment with your direct primary care physician or taking a nap in the middle of the day (or walking in the sunshine, perhaps), creating space for your own sense of wellbeing is so important during this time of the year.
Fun for the kids! There will be several holiday Little Medical School pop-ups happening, including:
Need a flu shot as we head into the holidays? Schedule an in-office appointment with your DCPP doc to get your yearly flu shot and feel better all season long!
Do you have questions about vaccines, boosters and staying healthy this holiday season? We’re here to help you keep track of the latest health guidelines.
The DCPP doctors have worked together to create online resources where you can learn about the latest on COVID-19, Monkeypox and more at directcarepgh.com.
We are here to answer any questions or schedule sick visits as needed. When in doubt, check it out!
Looking for a perfect holiday treat that’s also plant-based? Give these a whirl!
Vegan Chocolate Candy Cane Cupcakes
Makes 12 cupcakes
FOR THE CUPCAKES
FOR THE CHOCOLATE GLAZE
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a dozen muffin cups.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the coconut milk, vinegar, sugar, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, stir flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Sift dry ingredients into wet ones and stir until lumps are gone.
Step 3: Pour batter into cupcake liners until about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Step 4: When cool, whisk chocolate glaze ingredients until smooth and spread on cupcakes. Decorate with crushed candy canes, and enjoy.
Diane Dean, RN, LPC, CUG, is the owner and founder of Epiphany! Counseling and Wellness center, a practice that offers coaching and counseling services to help patients create lasting personal change. After experiencing her own struggles with mental health, Diane committed to helping others find meaning.
She helps her clients express their values in their day-to-day lives so they can feel fulfilled by creating important, long-lasting impact. Diane encourages her clients to focus on possibilities rather than on limitations. At the end of the day, Diane hopes her clients feel as though they’ve done what they set out to do.
Diane has been a patient of Dr. Gentile’s for over two years and worked at Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh during COVID-19 assisting with triage and doing mental health assessments. She appreciates that Dr. Gentile advocates for mental health and that she sees people as whole people rather than fragmented systems. She loves DCPP’s business model and often recommends DCPP.
You can learn more about Epiphany! Counseling and Wellness at epiphanyweb.net(opens in a new tab).
Would you like to be spotlighted? Do you know another DCPP patient who would make for a great profile? Let us know, and you could be featured in a future newsletter.