Direct Primary Care (DPC) is gaining popularity as an alternative healthcare model that offers patients more personalized and accessible care. Unlike traditional insurance-based systems, DPC involves a membership or subscription fee that covers most primary care services. Understanding the cost of direct primary care is essential for anyone considering this healthcare option. This article breaks down the expenses involved, what you get for your money, and how it compares to c

I used to search for physicians online who would tell me I could ignore LDL. I have the physique. I am insulin sensitive. Triglycerides look great. I wanted the fantasy to be true. It was a good hypothesis. It has failed in front of me. Patients now walk in already subscribed. They are quoting a short list of doctors, a Harvard-Oxford YouTube channel, an engineer, and a fasting cardiologist with a million subscribers. Below is that list, what they actually sell, and the step

By Stefan Hartmann, PA-C My questioning of lipids began in PA school in 2016, when a physician gave our class a lecture on evidence-based medicine. He showed us mortality data on statins. When you look at mortality alone, the number needed to treat can look underwhelming. He also explained relative risk reduction in a way that made it feel, to me at the time, like a Big Pharma manipulation of data. That lecture planted a seed. I adopted the paradigm that LDL elevation was ove

In my role as the CEO of Iron Direct Primary Care I spend a portion of my day reading and studying the latest in anti-aging medicine. Since the development of AI I have been combining research with our real-world primary care population to see how it fits Iron DPC. This paper is important because it answers several questions our patients have every day and answers many of the commonly repeated myths found on the internet. Low Fasting Insulin Does Not Exclude Elevated Apolipop

Elizabeth is a Physician Associate with a passion for functional and integrative medicine and helping patients understand the why behind their health—not just treating symptoms as they come up. Before becoming a PA, Elizabeth completed training through FMCA (Functional Medicine Coaching Academy), NTA (Nutritional Therapy Association) and NBC-HWC, and spent six years working as a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach. Her background in functional medicine, nutrition

Stretch Therapist Stefan Massie My name is Stefan and I am the cofounder/owner of Motivated Movements. I am certified in stretch therapy, personal training, strength and conditioning, and have an extensive knowledge of kinesiology and exercise science. I am always in pursuit of furthering my education and certifications in my field, and I thoroughly enjoy the work I do. My priority is to do anything and everything within my abilities to help others feel and perform at their h

What happens when addiction medicine, primary care, and national drug policy collide? On this episode of the Iron Direct Primary Care Podcast, Stefan Hartmann, PA-C sits down with Dr. Andrea Barthwell, one of the most experienced voices in American addiction medicine. Dr. Barthwell is a past president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and served in the George W. Bush White House as Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control

Prevalence of Silent Atherosclerosis across Adult Life.” NEJM, August 2026. REACT imaged 16,808 apparently ASCVD-free adults aged 18–70 with carotid/femoral 3D ultrasound and coronary CTA. Silent atherosclerosis was already present in 57.1% overall and was detectable even at age 18–29. Plaque burden then rose dramatically with age

Low Fasting Insulin Does Not Exclude Elevated Apolipoprotein B: A Real-World Primary Care Study Stefan Hartmann, PA-C, Muhammed Alo DO, Salaheldin Halasa MD ¹ Iron Direct Primary Care, Melbourne, Florida, USA Download PDF to view images and the paper. Watch lecture presented to the Osteopathic Society of Integrative Medicine Abstract Background Insulin resistance and elevated apolipoprotein B (ApoB) frequently coexist in adverse cardiometabolic phenotypes. However, biologic a

What does primary care look like when you combine traditional medicine, functional medicine, hormone optimization, cardiovascular prevention, and longevity medicine under one roof? If you are a provider who would like to add HRT to your practice learn how at HRTPCP.com In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Manuel Salvadori, Biologo Nutrizionista, for a fascinating Italian-American discussion about what we do at Iron Direct Primary Care in Melbourne, Florida—and why our mo

Day in the Life of a Direct Primary Care CEO | Iron Direct Primary Care VLOG Come spend a day with me at Iron Direct Primary Care in Melbourne, Florida. In this vlog, I take you behind the scenes of what it actually looks like to run a modern Direct Primary Care practice—from seeing patients and managing the business to getting out into the community and exploring Downtown Melbourne. One of today’s stops: Jacqueline’s Bakery & Café, a local Downtown Melbourne staple serving F

Gillian Godon Perue MD on Acute Ischemic Stroke Guidelines at the FAPA conference in Daytona Beach June 26, 2026. As always, if interested in our HRT course please visit HRTPCP.com

In this talk at The Mermaid House in Indian Harbour Beach, Ashley Curtis, MSN, APRN, FNP-C of Iron Direct Primary Care (Iron DPC) shares insights on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women. Ashley is a Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of nursing experience. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University and brings a strong background in functional medicine and integrative nutrition to her practice. Passionate about relationship-b

I used to put substantial weight on LDL subfractions. The theory was compelling: small, dense LDL particles were believed to be more dangerous than large, buoyant LDL particles because they may circulate longer, penetrate the arterial wall more readily, bind less effectively to the LDL receptor, and be more susceptible to oxidative modification. Early observational studies supported this idea. Studies such as the Québec Cardiovascular Study, prospective studies of myocardial

Events coming up: The Reset Social Club july 26th 11am-3pm at Ember & Oak downtown melbourne. Check out the event we are participating in here (tickets needed) Tennis training in West Melbourne at Veteran’s Memorial Complex Monday July 27th at 6pm register here in FB (free) If friends are interested in learning more about us please have them meet Iron DPC’s Ashley Curtis NP at The Mermaid House Cafe & Wine Bar Thursday 30th at 6:30pm for her talk on Human Performance & Optimi

🇺🇸 The One Big Beautiful Bill Changed Direct Primary Care for the Better✅ Starting in 2026, qualifying Direct Primary Care (DPC) memberships can be paid with tax-free HSA dollars—and having a DPC membership no longer prevents you from contributing to your HSA if you also have a qualifying high-deductible health plan. What this means:💰 Lower taxes🏥 Better access to your primary care provider⏱️ Longer visits & same-day appointments❤️ More preventive care before disease deve

The most important lecture I have released and considered required watching for all Iron DPC members as it answers all your questions: Please watch: We Can Eliminate Heart Disease: 2026 Latest in Lipid Lowering Therapy for the Osteopathic Society of Integrative Medicine. In fact this lecture was produced thanks to your questions that made us think harder and search for better answers. I want every Iron DPC member to understand lipidology because it affects everyone from chil

Every week I meet patients who come into my office with a list of peptides, supplements, hormones, and biohacking products they found online. They're intelligent people. They listen to Huberman. They follow Brian Johnson. They watch podcasts. They read Reddit. They aren't looking for shortcuts—they're trying to optimize their health. But they often make one fundamental mistake. They start with the treatment instead of the diagnosis. Recently I had a great conversation with on

During a carotid endarterectomy, the surgeon opens the carotid artery and removes the plaque that is narrowing the vessel. What is in that yellow plaque? Mainly: 1. Cholesterol-containing lipids Cholesterol esters Free cholesterol Oxidized lipids These lipids largely arrive because ApoB-containing particles (LDL, VLDL remnants, Lp(a), etc.) entered the artery wall and became trapped. ApoB is basically the "delivery vehicle" — every ApoB particle carries one atherogenic partic

Well... first measure it a couple times because you may have just had a little cold illness when you measured hs-CRP at jacked it up. Then... Consider logically that hs-CRP can’t mechanically itself cause an occlusion. The data suggest that hs-CRP is capturing a different component of cardiovascular risk than ApoB. It is not simply another measure of cholesterol exposure. It appears to reflect the inflammatory environment that makes vascular disease more likely and plaques m