Reimagine How You Practice Medicine
At Happy Doc, we believe meaningful care takes time. Over the past 12 years we have crafted a practice where you can slow down, focus on your patients, and reconnect with your purpose. Will you be the next doctor to join us?
Know Your Patients
At Happy Doc you’ll see fewer patients and build deep relationships. You’ll have the time to listen, learn, and care for people holistically. We started this practice in 2013 to reconnect to our roots in healing.
Own Your Time
Your time is your life and, once spent, it’s quite hard to get it back. At our clinic, your time is yours—whether it’s working part-time or taking a month off to backpack. We offer a flexible, collaborative, unpaid time-off policy, giving you the freedom to choose how you spend your life.
Shape Your Practice
With us you’ll have lots of autonomy—control over your patient panel and the direction of your practice. We value your ideas and hope you will help build the clinic. You’ll have the opportunity (and responsibility) to mold your experience.
Qualities We Value
Slowing down to be present
Caring for others while nourishing ourselves
Learning the evolving science of medicine
Taking initiative and ownership
How Happy Doc Began
While in medical school, Dr. Lara saw doctors getting frazzled working in big systems, facing pressures that made it hard for them to practice the way they wanted to.
When she entered her residency at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), she enjoyed being in a community dedicated to providing care for the most vulnerable. It was fulfilling work, but many of her colleagues were stressed and depleted.
After residency she briefly worked in a hospital system and was frustrated by how much administrators were controlling her practice and relationships with patients. When she caught herself wishing for an illness just to get a break, she knew something had to change.
That’s when she and her partner began exploring the idea of a micro-practice—a way to practice medicine as she initially envisioned it, living a balanced life with stimulating work while earning a sustainable income.
"I can’t imagine working anywhere else. Happy Doc is a unicorn—our values align perfectly. It's not just about work-life balance, it’s about practicing medicine in a way that respects both our patients and ourselves."
– Dr. Denise, Happy Doc physician
What our patient flow is like
Signs You’d Fit in at Happy Doc
You Embrace Slower Medicine
You went into medicine to help people, but the churn of the traditional model has made it hard to live your values. You crave a slower pace, allowing you to meaningfully connect with patients, a purpose, and your well-being.
You Want Autonomy and Control
You feel boxed in by restrictions and frustrated by others dictating how much time you can spend with each patient. You want the freedom to shape your practice and control the direction of your patient care.
You’re Drawn to Treating All Your Neighbors
At Happy Doc, we ourselves are immigrants, LGBTQ+, white or BIPOC in addition to the other roles in our lives. Our patients are no different, representing these groups, as well as conservative religions or contrasting politics; sometimes all rolled into one person or family.
Since we have more time with patients, their personal lives come through more than in a 10-minute interaction. If working closely with people of varied stories and beliefs inspires you, Say Hello! ¡Salúdanos! Halika na!
Income Guarantee is a Top Priority
We offer a unique pay structure that allows you to create a work life that reflects your goals. If you want to work the same long hours you do elsewhere, you can make just as much money here (likely more) -- that’s up to you. We do not have an income guarantee, but we have a long and enthusiastic waiting list of patients.
Signs This May Not Be Your Place
You Want External Structure and Systems
Our practice offers significant freedom, but it requires self-direction. We will train you on new-to-you tasks, for sure. But if you need external structure and don’t want responsibilities such as of making your own schedule, taking vitals, or talking to patients about bills, you might find the autonomy isn’t worth it.
Job Details
Happy Doc is seeking a Board-certified MD/DO specializing in Family Medicine or Med/Peds to join our team. People with a military background, international experience, language skills, or experience navigating across cultures of any kind are highly encouraged to apply!
Outpatient primary care for patients of all ages and most major insurances, including Medicaid/Medicare.
Full-time or part-time
Unique pay structure that is production-based but channels most of the reimbursement to the doctor. Income range is ~$100K - $450K depending on experience and how much you want to work. We have a calculator we can share with you to play with this!
Autonomy in your daily schedule and flexible, collaborative unpaid time off
Although health insurance is not currently offered, we are open to discussing options if you come on board
3% retirement match
CME negotiable and as needed
Salem, Oregon Facts
Distance to Portland, the beach, or the mountains: 1 hour
Number of city parks: 90
Number of golden axes affixed to roof of Capitol Building: 1
“Rainy” days per year: 150
“Comfortable” hiking and wheeling days per year: 363
Height of tree, within 45 minutes of Salem, that you can get up into and spend the night in a hammock, watching the sun rise over the Cascade mountain range: 300 feet
