Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid

Maryal Concepcion
Jul 20
5 min read

From the “Diaper Chair” to Doctoring Differently: Harnessing Side Gigs, Business Savvy, and Self-worth to Fund and Enhance Your DPC Dream

Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid in a white jacket. — Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid

Direct Primary Care (DPC) has always attracted physicians seeking autonomy, closer patient relationships, and a direct hand in the business of medicine. But as many embarking on this journey discover, the leap from employed roles to thriving independence can feel intimidating—financially, logistically, and even emotionally. In a standout episode of the My DPC Story Podcast, Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid, pediatrician-turned-entrepreneur, not only recounts her pivotal moments but generously unpacks the real-world side gig strategies she’s harnessed to create a flexible, lucrative, and deeply satisfying medical career.

If you’re a DPC doctor—or aspiring to become one—her story might be the exact encouragement and toolkit you need to find your footing, broaden your income streams, and ultimately, thrive on your own terms.

From Burnout to Breakthrough: The “Diaper Chair” Wakeup Call

Every journey of reinvention has an origin story, and for Dr. Lawrence-Reid, it’s both hilarious and deeply telling. Working as a full-time academic pediatric ER physician, she describes her grind: relentless overnights, weekends, inflexible scheduling, and a salary that didn’t match the sacrifice. But the breaking point? Walking in to find her office chair’s broken arm “patched” not with a replacement, but with diapers and tape.

“I stood there and just…in that moment I felt truly my value and my worth in that department,” she recounts. That tangible symbol of disregard crystalized her limits and catalyzed her boldest decision yet: resigning, even without a clear plan.

This visceral anecdote reminds every DPC hopeful: often it’s not a single frustration, but a build-up—until it’s simply impossible to ignore how little autonomy and value you have in the system. For many, launching a DPC isn’t just an entrepreneurial choice; it’s a reclamation of self-worth.

The Truth About Side Gigs: More Than a Financial Bridge

Dr. Lawrence-Reid didn’t just leap from a salaried role to independence. She innovated, iterated, diversified—first out of necessity, then by design. In the DPC community, her story resonates because she offers tangible blueprints for others to follow, especially when it comes to funding your way out of the system and into DPC.

Her “Doctoring Differently” platform and summer series were born out of lived experience: “I modeled this whole course…off what I experienced, what I learned, what I tried, what I know to be true and available. These lucrative opportunities are available to all doctors.”

Let’s unpack her top five most-requested, actionable side gigs—each offering realistic, scalable options for DPC doctors to underwrite their practice, supplement income, or simply rediscover their joy in medicine.

1. Aesthetics: Not Just for Dermatologists

Aesthetics, including Botox and fillers, has a reputation as an exclusive or “cosmetic” field, often assumed outside the purview of non-surgeons. Dr. Lawrence-Reid busts this myth: “When I was considering it…I initially thought, well, I’m a pediatrician, I can’t be doing Botox or fillers.” But after a surgeon friend’s encouragement and taking CME-accredited classes, she launched a thriving concierge med spa.

Her message? Any physician can learn. You don’t have to open a sprawling brick-and-mortar clinic. Start with skills acquisition, perhaps offer small-scale or mobile services, and most importantly—let it teach you the true value of your time.

For DPC docs, aesthetics can be a low-overhead, in-demand add-on that builds financial cushion and flexibility as you grow your patient panel.

2. Medical Writing: Claiming Authority (and Income)

So much of what the world reads about health is penned by someone—but why not you? Medical writing is accessible to any physician with interest and basic communication skills. Dr. Lawrence-Reid is emphatic: “Are you a physician? Can you write? You’re a medical writer. You don’t need a journalism degree.”

Whether it’s CME content, articles for UpToDate, patient education, or commercial health resources, this side gig offers remote, flexible, intellectually stimulating work. Most importantly for DPC physicians, medical writing not only creates an extra revenue stream, it also positions you as a thought leader—potentially attracting ideal patients to your practice.

3. Per Diem and Locums: Autonomy Without Burnout

The pivot to per diem and locums work, once dismissed as “not for serious doctors,” was Dr. Lawrence-Reid’s first step beyond full-time employment. She challenges old stigmas, highlighting benefits like flexibility, precise control over your schedule, and often, substantially higher hourly income—especially with savvy negotiation.

“You can control the conversation…these are corporations, they have the same end goal—which is making money. You have to understand it’s about you, and be clear and articulate about what you need.”

For DPC physicians, picking up per diem hospitalist shifts, urgent care, or locums stints (even locally) offers predictable cash flow, covers health insurance needs, and smooths the transition as your membership panel grows. It lets you build your practice intentionally—without desperation.

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4. Expert Witness Work: Leverage Your Clinical Insights

Mention “expert witness,” and most doctors tense up—picturing high-pressure courtrooms or being forced to criticize colleagues. Dr. Lawrence-Reid assures: “Both of those things are actually relatively rare.” Most work is remote, often involves straightforward record review (like distilling a dog bite case for lawyers who don’t speak “medicalese”), and pays exceptionally well—often $600–$700 an hour.

Accessible to any physician at least a few years post-training, expert witness work is not just financially rewarding but also intellectually validating. Knowing how to market yourself and find cases demystifies this arena. For the DPC entrepreneur, it’s another way to use your expertise, fund your transition, and diversify your professional identity.

5. Veteran Disability Exams: Service-Focused, Highly Lucrative

Rounding out her top five, Dr. Lawrence-Reid spotlights a lesser-known niche: conducting disability and compensation exams for veterans. No active-duty doctor can do these assessments, so the VA contracts with civilian physicians—of ANY specialty.

“You’re not ordering tests, not giving advice. You’re simply evaluating their claims,” she explains. With efficient volume, physicians can earn $2,000/day—using just a single state license for work across the U.S., as it’s federal.

This side gig isn’t just about income. For DPC physicians, it offers meaningful encounters, variety, and—critically—ample cash flow and schedule flexibility to support you while growing your practice.

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