BECOME A DIRECT SPECIALTY CARE SUPPORTER
Dr. Girnita was always passionate about technology, innovation and she looked into alternatives that can help her patients. She realized that we all use a fantastic tool to complete many of our interactions with the world, from banking, to shopping to communication: the smartphone. In 2019 she decided to build her own telemedicine company specialized in the management of rheumatology patients. Her goal was to practice medicine, patient-centered, affordably, and transparently. After 6 months of intense research, in April 2020, the Rheumatologist Oncall company was launched.
Dr. Girnita quickly realized that many other specialists were struggling with burnout and restraints and were interested in starting to practice medicine again. She connected with many specialists and gave or received advice about the best ways to practice direct care. In a few months, she realized that direct care is a movement and needs additional advocacy and support. Drs. Lou Flaspohler and Lara Briseno Kenny were instrumental in helping put together the first Direct Care Specialty Alliance.
Dr. Diana Girnita believes in the power of people with a vision that can lead with compassion and is grateful for her family, friends, and colleagues.
Dr. Lara Briseno Kenney is a board certified Internal Medicine physician with sub specialty board certifications in Hematology, Oncology, Hospice and Palliative Care.
Born and raised on the West Coast, she moved to the Midwest in 1997 to attend Medical School in Kansas City.
After attending and graduating from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, she entered into active duty in the United States Army. During her 7 years in the Army she deployed several times in support of the Military Police at the Battalion and Brigade level.
She returned to Kansas City to complete an additional three years of specialized medical training and met and married her husband, Jeff Kenney. In 2014 Jeff and Lara moved back to Jeff’s hometown of Clinton Missouri, to raise a family
In 2018, while looking to leave her employed position, a former classmate provided her with an initial introduction to the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model. She dove into the world of DPC, reading, researching and networking and started her Internal Medicine DPC practice, Leeton Medical, in Jan of 2019.
This eventually led to the realization that this same practice model could also provide accessible, affordable, superior, Hematology Oncology and Palliative Care to her community. In 2020 she resigned from employment, and began developing the specialty part of her direct care practice.
Apart from her passion to transform medicine, her other pursuits include horse training, farm life, delicious food, and raising a family.
