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Spring has sprung!

Happy New Year! Well, not technically, but did you know that some people celebrate the Spring Equinox as the real start to the new year? It makes sense when you think about it. Winter is for reflection, for rest and for soup-making. (We have a great recipe below!) Spring is a time for rebirth and renewal, a time where seeds that have been planted begin to sprout. 

And for you, our wonderful patients, we want to ask: What are you growing this year? Whether you are working on adding more color to your plate, taking brisk walks after meals or keeping your appointment with your DCPP doc, know that the seeds you plant can blossom into beautiful habits that will support your health and wellbeing all year long.

Dr. Rebecca Byard, Dr. Natalie Gentile, Dr. Kirsten Lin, Dr. Marielle Williamson-Rea and Dr. Emily Scott are here to provide evidence-backed advice and support for your healthcare needs. 

Let’s grow together.  

Updates from your DCPP docs

Dr. Lin is sponsoring this summer the Maximum Impact camp for elementary school students. If focuses on fun ways for kids to move their bodies during the summer. 

Children will be split into groups ​according to age. The kids say it’s “like PE class all day.” Learn more about the camp here, and register here.   

ICYMI: Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh recently welcomed Dr. Williamson-Rea, a board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine. Her approach emphasizes nutrition, movement, restorative sleep, stress management, social connection and substance avoidance. Her practice is now open at 11676 Perry Highway, Suite 2105, in Wexford, and she is accepting new patients. If you have a friend or family member looking to make the switch to direct primary care, connect with Dr. Rea today!

Dr. Gentile has some great offerings beyond group fitness at Rebel Wellness, so be sure to follow @rebelwellnessllc on Instagram for the latest event announcements.

Are you an employer looking for an alternative to traditional health insurance for your employees? At Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh, our physicians provide one-on-one, individualized services that allow your employees to truly feel seen and cared for. Learn more here, including how to connect with us to explore what a DCPP option for your employees could look like. 

Pittsburgh Business Collective awards Dr. G Game Changer Award

The Pittsburgh Business Collective recently held its 2026 Summit Leadership Awards, where Dr. G was named its Game Changer of the year. The Game Changer award recognizes transformative innovation in products, strategy or business models that elevate or disrupt markets.

“It means the world to me to be recognized in the Pittsburgh community as a leader in disrupting the healthcare space,” Dr. G said. “Through the innovative DPC model, we have the unique opportunity to deliver primary care in an affordable and accessible way that is truly healthcare without the hassle. I am grateful to get to work as a DPC doc and wellness studio owner everyday that I wake up.”

Stay up-to-date on vaccination information

There is a lot of conflicting information around vaccines circulating, so please discuss directly with your DCPP doctor to receive the most up-to-date information. 

The DCPP doctors are actively monitoring any changes/updates to immunizations and will keep their patient community updated as needed. 

Measles is on the rise, unfortunately due to widespread disinformation. The good news is that most people have immunity to measles, either through immunization or previous infection. The two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) shots given to children provide full lifelong immunization in most people.

  1. People born before 1957 are presumed to have had the disease in childhood and are considered to be immune. Healthcare workers born before 1957 should still get proof of immunity.  

  2. Adults born between 1963 and 1968 may lack immunity because some children received an inactivated (killed) measles vaccine that was less effective than the live vaccine. Talk to your doctor to see if you should get an MMR vaccine booster.

  3. Anyone born after 1957, if you haven’t been vaccinated with MMR (or aren’t sure) - you should consider getting an MMR booster.

  4. Anyone 6 months or older should be vaccinated if they are in an area where an outbreak is occurring. Otherwise, we start regular vaccination with one dose after their 1st birthday, and a 2nd dose at 4-6 years old.

  5. Anyone traveling internationally should be fully vaccinated before leaving, regardless of the destination.

There are a few ways to confirm your vaccination status, including records on paper or in a database. If you don’t have records from your childhood pediatrician, your state may have an Immunization Information System (IIS). Here are some tips on how to locate your vaccination records.

Recipe of the Month: Spring Minestrone Soup

Adapted from Feasting at Home

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cans of garbanzo beans
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 leeks, diced
  • ½  yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cups of chopped fennel bulb or celery stalks
  • 4–6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp cayenne
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 4 ounces of small pasta of your choice
  • 4 cups of finely chopped green vegetables
    (any mix of broccoli, green beans, kale, asparagus — frozen peas work, too)
  • 1–2 tbsp of lemon juice, to taste
  • ½ cup of chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • ¼ cup of fresh dill, chives, basil or tarragon (you can mix a few, too!)  

Instructions: 

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and fennel; sauté 2–3 minutes, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 more minutes, until tender.
  2. Stir in garlic and thyme; cook 2–3 minutes more.
  3. Add stock, water, coriander, cayenne, salt, nutritional yeast and chickpeas. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on medium-low for 20–25 minutes, or until chickpeas are tender.
  4. Bring soup back to a boil and add pasta. When pasta is about halfway cooked, stir in the vegetables. (Avoid overcooking to keep their bright green color.)
  5. When pasta is tender and vegetables are just cooked through, stir in parsley and dill.
  6. Add lemon juice gradually, tasting as you go. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  7. Ladle into bowls and garnish with a sprinkling of nutritional yeast, bread crumbs, chili flakes or croutons for added texture.

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