Conferences and Events¶

Quick Summary: The DPC Summit (co-hosted by the AAFP, ACOFP, the DPC Alliance and FMEC) is the largest annual DPC-specific conference. Hint Summit, the DPC Alliance's own events, state DPC summits and virtual webinars are the other main options. Budget roughly $1,000-2,500 per major conference including travel.

The kit endorses no conference, organizer or vendor. Events are listed so you know where to look; check the organizer's site for the current programme and fees.

Table of Contents¶

• Major DPC Conferences
• Types of Events
• Getting Value from Conferences
• Event Calendar Planning
• For Those Exploring DPC
• For New DPC Practices
• For Established Practices
• Virtual Learning Resources
• Checklist

Overview¶

DPC conferences and events provide concentrated learning, networking, and inspiration. Whether you're exploring DPC, just starting, or years into practice, events connect you with the broader DPC community and accelerate your growth.

Major DPC Conferences¶

Organizers, seasons and links verified 2026-09-23. Dates and fees change every year; check the organizer's site before you book.

DPC Summit¶

Hosted by: American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), the DPC Alliance and the Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC), jointly

Frequency: Annual, usually mid-July, three to four days

Location: Varies (a different US city each year)

Audience: DPC physicians at all stages, residents and students, staff, industry

Content: - Tracks for starting, growing and running a DPC practice, plus clinical sessions - Procedural skills workshops (extra fee) - Vendor exhibits - Networking events - AAFP Prescribed CME credit - Recorded sessions sold afterwards as "DPC Summit On Demand" through the AAFP

Suited to: A broad introduction to DPC in one place, meeting a large number of DPC physicians

Cost: For the 2026 event the organizer's registration page listed $615 early-bird and $715 standard registration, $250 for residents and $150 for medical students, with one-day and on-demand options (checked 2026-09-23). Expect the next year's fees to differ.

Website: dpcsummit.org

DPC Alliance Events¶

Hosted by: DPC Alliance (a physician membership organization; some events are discounted for members)

Events: Besides co-hosting the DPC Summit, the Alliance runs its own smaller events, which as of September 2026 include a DPC Frontline Bootcamp (September), a Pediatric DPC Conference (spring), DPC Masterminds practice-startup sessions (autumn) and a physician retreat. Names and timing change from year to year.

Suited to: Focused, smaller-group sessions on starting or running a practice

Cost: Not stated on the events listing; see each event's page

Website: dpcalliance.org/events

Hint Summit¶

Hosted by: Hint Health, a DPC membership-management software vendor

Frequency: Annual, usually April, three to four days

Location: Varies (US cities)

Audience: DPC and direct care practices, employers and benefit advisers, industry; open to non-customers

Content: - DPC practice development - Employer and benefits-adviser market - Technology in direct care - CME credit offered since 2026

Suited to: Practice growth, the employer market; a vendor-run event, so expect the host's product to feature

Cost: Not stated on the summit site at the time of checking; see the registration page

Website: summit.hint.com

AAFP FMX (Family Medicine Experience)¶

Hosted by: American Academy of Family Physicians

Frequency: Annual, usually October

Location: Varies (major US cities)

Audience: All family physicians

DPC content: Not DPC-specific. Session topics change yearly; check the programme for practice-model and DPC sessions before registering for that reason alone.

Suited to: General family medicine CME and networking, with DPC content as a side benefit

Cost: Registration fees are published on the AAFP site each year and differ for members and non-members

Website: aafp.org/cme-and-events/in-person/fmx

State and Regional Events¶

Several states now have their own DPC summits, usually organized by a state DPC group or a DPC practice rather than a medical society.

Examples listed on the DPC Frontier events calendar as of September 2026: - Illinois State DPC Summit (autumn, Naperville) - California DPC Summit (early summer) - Free Market Medical Association annual conference (winter; not DPC-specific but with DPC content)

Suited to: Local networking, state-specific legal and market questions, lower travel costs

How to find: The DPC Frontier events page keeps a running calendar; state DPC groups and state medical associations also post events.

Types of Events¶

Multi-Day Conferences¶

What to expect: - Full educational program - Multiple session tracks - Vendor exhibits - Social/networking events - Optional pre/post workshops

Investment: $500-1,500+ (registration + travel)

Value: Deep immersion, extensive networking

Single-Day Summits¶

What to expect: - Focused agenda - Key topics covered efficiently - Some networking - Local or regional

Investment: $100-300 (minimal travel if local)

Value: Efficient learning, less time away

Webinars and Virtual Events¶

What to expect: - Online presentations - Q&A sessions - On-demand access often available

Investment: Free to ~$100

Value: No travel, specific topic focus, accessible

Sources: - DPC Alliance (some member-only) - Hint Health and other vendors (expect product content) - DPC Frontier blog and events calendar - AAFP on-demand CME

Local Meetups¶

What to expect: - Informal gatherings - Dinner or lunch meetings - Peer discussion - Local focus

Investment: Cost of meal

Value: Local relationships, practical support

How to find/start: DPC Frontier, direct outreach to local DPC docs

Getting Value from Conferences¶

Before the Event¶

Preparation: - Review speaker list and sessions - Identify key sessions for your needs - Research attendees (who do you want to meet?) - Prepare questions - Bring business cards - Plan your schedule

Mindset: - Come ready to learn - Open to networking - Specific goals in mind

During the Event¶

Sessions: - Attend relevant sessions - Take notes - Ask questions - Engage actively

Networking: - Introduce yourself to others - Ask about their practice - Exchange contact information - Attend social events - Don't just stick with people you know

Vendors: - Visit exhibit hall - Learn about new solutions - Compare options - Get contact information for follow-up

After the Event¶

Follow-up: - Send connection emails within a week - Connect on LinkedIn - Review notes - Implement what you learned - Schedule follow-up calls with key contacts

Action: - Identify 2-3 things to implement - Create action items - Share learning with colleagues/staff - Plan for next event

Event Calendar Planning¶

Annual Events¶

Plan around major conferences:

Timing verified 2026-09-23 against each organizer's site; confirm before booking travel.

Budget Considerations¶

Costs to plan for: - Registration fee - Travel (flight, car) - Hotel (2-4 nights typically) - Meals - Miscellaneous

Typical total: $1,000-2,500 per major conference

Budget-friendly options: - Local/regional events - Virtual events - Early bird registration - Membership discounts - Sharing hotel rooms

For Those Exploring DPC¶

Reasonable First Events¶

If you are considering DPC:

1. DPC Summit - the broadest single overview, with a starting-a-practice track
2. Virtual webinars - low-commitment introduction
3. Local DPC meetup or state summit - personal conversations, lower cost
4. DPC sessions at AAFP FMX - if you are attending anyway

What to Learn¶

• Real physician experiences
• Practical startup guidance
• Challenges and solutions
• Financial realities
• Different models and approaches

Questions to Ask Practicing DPC Physicians¶

• What do you wish you knew before starting?
• What were your biggest challenges?
• How long to reach sustainability?
• What would you do differently?
• Any regrets?

For New DPC Practices¶

Prioritize Events About¶

• Practice startup
• Marketing and patient acquisition
• Operations and workflows
• Technology selection
• Early-stage challenges

Networking Focus¶

• Connect with physicians 1-2 years ahead of you
• Learn from their recent experience
• Build relationships for ongoing support
• Find potential mentors

For Established Practices¶

Prioritize Events About¶

• Growth and scaling
• Staff management
• Advanced topics
• Employer/B2B opportunities
• Thought leadership

Contribution¶

• Consider speaking
• Share your experience
• Mentor newer physicians
• Contribute to advocacy

Virtual Learning Resources¶

Regular Webinars¶

DPC Alliance: - Member webinars - Topic-specific sessions - Advocacy updates

Hint Health: - Practice development webinars - Employer market education - Customer success stories

Vendor webinars: - EMR features - Technology tools - Best practices

On-Demand Content¶

Available from: - Past conference recordings (some) - DPC Alliance member resources - Podcast archives (see Podcasts and Media) - YouTube DPC content

Checklist: Event Participation¶

Before Event¶

• Register early for best pricing
• Book travel and hotel
• Review agenda and plan schedule
• Identify networking targets
• Prepare questions
• Pack business cards

During Event¶

• Attend key sessions
• Take notes
• Meet new people
• Visit vendor exhibits
• Exchange contact information
• Attend social events

After Event¶

• Send follow-up emails (within a week)
• Connect on LinkedIn
• Review and organize notes
• Identify action items
• Implement learnings
• Plan next event

Resources¶

• DPC Organizations - Conference hosts
• DPC Communities - Online community to complement events
• Podcasts and Media - Ongoing learning between events
• DPC Summit, DPC Alliance events, Hint Summit, AAFP FMX, DPC Frontier events calendar

Read through and figures checked on 2026-09-23.

Next Steps¶

After attending events: - Implement what you learned - Maintain connections made - Plan for future events - Podcasts and Media - Continue learning