Dr. Chelsea Mooreland : ALC ChangeMakers Podcast Interview
Audio Only - All Participants: [00:00:00] Hi, everybody. Welcome to the ALC Changemakers podcast. I'm your host, Jennifer Sconyers, and I am here with Dr. Chelsea Mooreland. Dr. Chelsea and I knew each other back in 2024 with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program here in Columbus, Ohio, and I have been a fan of hers ever since. I'm also a patient.
So you get to hear from Dr. Mooreland on her leadership journey, what she's building with her business, and what that means for the community and the impact they're making, and some of the important choices that she's making in this moment in time. So welcome, Dr. Chelsea. Thank you so much, and thank you for having me.
I'm excited to be able to, um, join you on the ALC, um, podcast today. Um, yeah, I'm, I'm excited to share all about LifeCycle and our why. Absolutely. Well, let's start with you [00:01:00] and what brought you into a career of medicine? 'Cause I feel like that is such a journey when people make that choice that they want to be a medical doctor.
So yeah, what brought you here? So that is a great question, and it's so funny because I think most of my classmates, um, or I should say most of my colleagues throughout my career always had this moment in childhood where they were like, "I was gonna be a doctor when I was five." Um, and that was not my testimony.
Um, I grew up wholeheartedly believing that I was going to be an AP biology teacher. And right around the time I started college and, um, fell in love with the idea of doing biology in general as a major, I also started to love the concept of teaching people just in general about their bodies and how to engage in healthcare.
Um, and that's really what sparked the interest is I was like, you know, "How do I mirror these two loves? How do I mirror my love for science, my love for people, for education, um, and, and make it something that is sustainable, um, [00:02:00] and that has an even bigger impact outside of the classroom setting?" And so that honestly is what made me even consider medicine as a career.
Um, and then I went on a few, uh, research, like summer research opportunities, um, and discovered that medicine was a pathway that was even a realistic one for me, um, because I have to admit that growing up I did not know many physicians. I definitely didn't know many African American physicians, and so that wasn't even on my, like, checklist of possible careers, um, until I was in college.
Hmm. Wow. So tell us a bit about the journey, because you have your own medical practice. Like, what were, what were the decisions or choice points to get there? 'Cause you don't typically just, like, pop out of medical school and, poof, put up a shingle. At least I don't think you do. Maybe some people do, but usually there's a journey to get there.
So you are correct, most people do not, at least not present day. Yeah. Um, I can definitely say that historically that's what medicine was. It was very much so, um, you know, not mom-and-pop medicine, but like [00:03:00] community medicine. Your physician lived in your community. They knew, especially a primary care physician, they knew your whole family.
So that was the history of medicine, and it wasn't until the past 20 years that things really started to transition more into, um, kind of like big box, more corporate medicine where corporate entities own the vast majority of medical offices, even primary care offices. Um, I think the last time I looked, it's like 85% of primary care offices are owned by big com- companies or corporations.
Um, and so for me, I actually founded Lifecycle DPC in the fall of 2021, and it came after a few years of being out in practice in what I would consider more like traditional, or should I say present day traditional, um, community health work. Um, so working in a traditional like, uh, free clinic or a government-based clinic.
Um, and in that setting it became very apparent to me that there was a mismatch between the morals and values that I tend, seek to uphold, um, and what I wanted to give patients in our community and what their [00:04:00] needs were, versus what the system as it is now could provide to my patients. Um, and so I started the business with that in mind.
My hope and expectation was that Lifecycle DPC could bridge that gap for communities who have been historically marginalized to actually realize, um, equitable healthcare, quality care, and to be beneficiaries of the innovations that we have in this healthcare space that are coming every day, um, and not be, you know, brought in on the tail end of advancements.
I love this. Well, as I said for listeners, I'm a patient, right, of Dr. Mooreland's. And so I'll say that I know I've experienced, um... It feels kind of like the, the healthcare of yesteryear in terms of like that community doctor that you knew for a number of years who was there with you from like when you were really little.
Exactly. Helped you grow up. And where the staff know the patients and are- Right ... very hospitable and very communicative. Can you just tell us more about the [00:05:00] philosophy? And I also, you say DPC, which is direct primary care. Yeah. And like can you just explain what that is? Because I think, I will just name, I think in this period of time where people are really struggling with healthcare costs and health insurance- Right
and having that trusted physician, we're living in a time where there's a lot of anxiety. Yeah. Really anxiety around that. So I'm really curious, with your direct primary care model- Mm-hmm ... how are you really meeting the moment, if you will, based on the stressors around healthcare? Absolutely. So, LifeCycle Direct Primary Care is a membership-based comprehensive primary care practice where we provide a, essentially a model similar to, like, a Netflix.
So you pay a... or a gym membership. You pay a monthly membership fee. You have unlimited access to your physician, obviously within reason. Um, but it allows us the opportunity to really grow relationships. Because when we look at community-based care, especially for communities who've been historically marginalized, there's an emphasis on family and [00:06:00] community in terms of the value system of the communities we serve.
But in healthcare by and large, that is missing. It is, it is usually more of this, um, authoritative, um, kind of perspective where it's like your doctor tells you what to do, you just do that. And so Lifecycle DPC blends together the, the cultural aspect of community into the, the exam room, essentially. And so our patients have access to me 24/7 by text, phone calls, emails, in person, um, for when they need me the most.
And I also look at Lifecycle DPC, um, as a mission-based practice in the sense that, you know, patients ask me all the time, well, if I'm paying a membership fee but I'm relatively healthy, like what's the point of that? Because I have several months that I don't come in. But see, the difference here is that we are all, as a community, collectively supporting the ability of our community getting care.
So you might not need care one month, but you're essentially subsidizing care for someone else in your community who might need more attention and more care that, that month. Um, and so it allows us the flexibility to be what the [00:07:00] community needs at that moment. Um, for example, during COVID-19, during the pandemic, when we first got vaccines in for children, many of us, I had a three-year-old son at the time who had, who's an asthmatic.
Many of us did not know where we could get our kids vaccinated, couldn't get appointments quick enough, and the big systems were moving very slow with coming up with policies and protocols on how to get kids in. We were able to be one of the first offices to get in vaccines, and we just vaccinated the community.
There was no charge. There was no, "Oh, you have to wait and schedule an appointment, you know, three weeks from now." We literally just sent out the call to action on social media, and people just started showing up with their children. But we were able to meet the moment because we were, we were nimble. We could move quicker and just do what the community needed.
Um, and our community within the community, um, is, is supportive of that. And so that's what I would say. I think Lifecycle is different in many ways because when people are spending money at Lifecycle, they're getting the care that they need, but they're also investing in the care the community needs, um, and advancing health [00:08:00] advocacy and equity for those around them, not just themselves.
Um- I love- To answer the other question with, with kind of, kind of like how you're meeting the moment of now- Yeah ... what we're seeing is healthcare costs have skyrocketed, and I would say it's not new. It's been happening over the past 15 to 20 years. But I think what is starting to really kind of meet a breaking point is the cost of health insurance.
So back in my grandparents' days, where they all worked for Ford and had pristine health benefits that covered literally even like extended family members. So, so my grandparent, my grandparents' insurance covered many of our needs as their grandchildren. Um, it went from that, where healthcare insurance covered everything, to a point where now we're paying In some cases, quadruple the amount in monthly premiums, and we're getting 70% less coverage.
And so what's happening is communities who are living at these margins where they're not low enough income to be recipients of Medicaid, um, and they're not old enough to be on Medicare, but they fall in this, in this kinda [00:09:00] gap where they can't afford the premiums, and even if they are able to salvage the premiums and, and figure out how to pay it, when they go and engage in healthcare and they have these co-pays and deductibles, it prices them out of getting service.
So- Yeah ... what we see is that community members are delaying care until they are ex- extremely sick or until their condition is something that cannot be cured or appropriately addressed, um, or there's lifelong damage there now. And so in our model, because we make care affordable for those communities, they engage early.
They're able to- Yeah ... send me a picture of a weird rash that's presenting. They're able to tell me about these new headaches that are starting, and we can intervene much more quickly, and we can control and contain the cost of them getting the care that they need instead of it being this kind of, you know, surprise factor three months later after you went to the doctor- Yeah
and you get a $3,000 bill. Yeah. Well, I think that's really important, and I, I, I wanna hear who, who the ideal patient is for LifeCycle Primary Care in a [00:10:00] moment. Um, but I will say for listeners, something that I've experienced is that when it comes to costs of things, you know, the ways that your team checks in.
So there's, there's the membership price, and you, you've got things on your website to tell you, like, where you fall in the membership pricing. But, um, there's thoughtful questions around, you know, the options that you have that I've experienced, whether it's different types of testing and what will that cost.
If you do have insurance, the ways that your team will advocate for you with the insurance companies to really try to get things covered through them, right? Right. What I, what I've experienced as a patient has been, um, just above and beyond, I think, what the, the traditional medical establishment can offer, um, today.
Um, can you speak who the ideal patient is? And I, and I say this because, um, I know for me- Mm-hmm ... it was important for me to have a doctor who would understand my needs- Okay ... [00:11:00] um, who would listen to me, and, um- I'll be honest, not gaslight me when it comes- Mm ... to what I'm experiencing or any symptoms. And candidly, I've not always experienced that in the- Yeah
traditional medical environment, right? I've had doctors who either didn't pay attention or- Mm ... you know, belittle or made light of any experience I was having. Yeah. And so I know as a patient, it's been so important to have a doctor and a team of medical providers who sincerely listen, and who also, I'll say may- perhaps is thinking outside the box, but are culturally aware of certain experiences.
So for me, it was so important to go to an establishment where I could be heard as a patient, where, you know, there are these different, like, we'll call it cultural competency, but cultural considerations- Mm-hmm ... when it comes to type of care we've been receiving in the past, what that's meant when it comes to symptoms, the ways that symptoms present [00:12:00] differently in different communities.
So I know for me- Mm ... this was really essential in finding a primary care physician who could do all of those things. So for me, it became quite obvious, right? Right. That LifeCycle was a spot that made sense for me. Yeah. Can you talk a bit more, like, who you've really built this business model for? Like, who is that ideal patient that's really gonna want to know who you are and gravitate toward the type of care you're providing?
Yeah. So I would say if we think about our ideal, like, avatar, um, as they taught us- Yeah ... in Goldman Sachs, um, we are the place for care for those patients who find themselves in that middle age, um, where they're growing their families, growing in their careers, um, and in that in-between financially, where they're, they're just starting to build, and they find themselves kind of strapped in trying to make that decision, the difficult decision of, do I get health insurance, do I not?
Do I get healthcare right now, or do I hold off until life settles down and [00:13:00] I make more money, and then I get to check in with my healthcare? Um, and then I would also say it's the people who have found themselves in similar positions like you mentioned, where you're going and you're actively engaging in healthcare, and maybe you do have amazing health insurance, but you're just not getting what you need from the teams that you're engaging with, whether it's for you or for your children or for your partner.
Um, because I would argue that that is probably the greatest expense, is your life. Because there are plenty of people who they get free healthcare. So, you know, one of the arguments I heard from people when I was working in, um, like the free clinics before, um, is, you know, "Well, their, their care is free, so why would they not be getting, you know, healthcare?"
Mm. But the problem was that even though technically their insurance would cover things in full, someone had to take time to listen, someone had to take time to see them for who they are, to look at the, the totality of their circumstances and how it plays a role in their illness or condition. Mm-hmm. And to take that in consideration to order the right tests, [00:14:00] place the right referrals, and create the right treatment plan.
So it didn't matter that the healthcare was free, by and large, they still paid with their body and having bad outcomes because they weren't having their healthcare directed the right way. Mm-hmm. Um, and so even if the care isn't free or is free- Yeah ... ultimately, who is, who is quarterbacking that care- Yeah
makes a significant difference in whether or not you make it into the right place at the right time to get what you need. Yeah. Well, I think too, and I want you to speak to this in this avatar, right? So as a Black woman- Mm-hmm ... yes, I was looking for a Black woman to be my doctor. Didn't have to be- Yeah ... it was somebody that listened to me.
But I, to clarify, you don't just have to be a Black woman to be your patient, right? Like- Exactly ... you serve, uh, and speak to that for listeners too, like in terms of- Yeah ... the broadness of who you serve. Absolutely. So you know, it's funny, there was a study that actually looked at, um, outcomes for different physicians with different backgrounds.
Yeah. And patients of women of color specifically did better. All patients, not just Black [00:15:00] patients, not just Black female patients. Mm-hmm. But all patients. Um, so I'm gonna highlight that. Yeah. But also, we serve all people, and so that's another one of the beautiful things about LifeCycle is that the goal of LifeCycle isn't to exclude anyone.
Yeah. The goal of LifeCycle is really to be inclusive and to meet people where they are the way that they need care. Um, but I would argue too that it has to be someone who respects and values the work that we do. Um, I think what we see a lot in healthcare right now from the, the physician and provider side, um, and even the nursing side, is that people are burned out, and that term I actually hated.
I, I prefer the term moral injury. Um- Yeah ... because what's happening is that people aren't able to feel respected and value in the work they do, and they aren't seeing the outcomes of the effort they're putting in and the sacrifices they're making. And so it's making their day-to-day life miserable. And so serving people who actually value you and see you as a human being makes a huge difference.
It makes a difference in when you have to wake up at midnight to [00:16:00] answer someone's call about going to the ER, how happy you are to do it, how much time you spend vetting that and, and comforting someone. It makes that much difference so that we don't run out of compassion and then start experiencing compassion fatigue.
So people who want it to be Burger King medicine and just have it your way, not great fit for us. Um, people who don't value what we're doing for the community as a whole and that mission and advocacy piece of what we're doing, this isn't the place for you, um, because this isn't just about you. It's about all of us and how we move into the future as a community and ensure- Yeah
that we continue to move the mark with outcomes, not just being present in the community, um, but actually making a difference in how people live and are able to live out their purpose. I love that, and I think for listeners, this is one of the reasons why I wanted Dr. Merlyn on the podcast because as a business owner, the choices that she's making are very community-centric and community-minded around community impact.
And that is the work we do at ALC, so so glad to have you on here. Is there anything else listeners should [00:17:00] know about your business or any programs that you have coming up, or ways for them to get ahold of you? Yeah, absolutely. So a few different ways to get ahold of us. Um, definitely follow us on social media.
We're on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, um, at Dr. Chelsea Mooreland if you are looking to just follow me. For the practice, it's Lifecycle DPC, um, which stands for Direct Primary Care. Um, and then we do have some upcoming offerings and some community events we'll part- we will be participating in. Um, there is Uplift Her, which is coming up, as well as the African American Male Wellness Walk.
We will be there present actually treating people for untreated hypertension who meet criteria. Um, treatment will be free, and it's helping to stand in the gap and bridge care for people. Um, so definitely come out to those events. Um, and then also as a practice, we are celebrating being open for five years.
Awesome. Um, super excited, so we're celebrating that, um, in the end of August going into September. And so we will actually have some new services, some [00:18:00] non-pharmacologic, um, innovative ways of treating, um, mental health disorders, anxiety, depression, brain fog, uh, peripartum issues, um, and pelvic floor dysfunction and sexual dysfunction.
And so we're launching those services this fall. We're really excited about, again, bringing that kind of healthcare innovation to our community, um, and making sure that people know that, you know, medicine isn't the only way. Am I an advocate for medication? Absolutely for the right person. Um, but I think it's critical that, again, we know that there are other treatment options on the horizon, and that we're not left out of that innovation.
Um, so definitely look out on our website for when we announce the official launch. Come out- Yeah ... and enjoy an opportunity to test out those products with us, um, and to just learn more about us and our team. Yeah. And for listeners, this, you're based in Columbus, Ohio. Yeah. So it, this is, this is really for the Columbus market.
And I ask this question- Correct ... because oftentimes I think, you know, come to Columbus, y'all. Um, I'll see some really great practitioners who will ask the question, "Can I come see you? Can I go to you?" So I think- Uh-huh ... j- just in ways for people to know, like [00:19:00] you're based in Columbus. They would have to come here to be a patient.
I just wanna make sure I'm clear. So that is a great question. Yeah. So I am actually licensed in Florida, Georgia, and Michigan in addition to Ohio. Okay. Um, so we do have the option for virtual primary care memberships. People do not have to live in Columbus, Ohio. Um, but they are able, if they are ever traveling to Columbus, Ohio- Yes
they can be seen as a patient because they're establishing care in Ohio. I love that. Well, so listeners, you heard it here. If you lis- live in those states, you can also be a patient of Dr. Mooreland's and her team. So, um, thank you so much, Dr. Chelsea, for being on the podcast. We'll have you back in the future.
This is always so great talking to you and the great work you're doing with your team. Thank you. I appreciate it, and I appreciate all the work that you're doing, um, and supporting all of us who are out here trying to make a difference in our community. Awesome. Great. Well, until last, until next [00:20:00] time.
