How Two Entrepreneurial Doctors Launched a Successful Practice

Tiffany Bates, DO, and E. Nicole Parson, MD, are co-owners of Femwell Gynecology and Wellness in Charlotte, North Carolina. They started their practice together in 2025 to empower women to live healthier, fuller lives by integrating traditional gynecologic services with innovative lifestyle medicine and mental health support.

This article originally appeared in Medical Professionals magazine and is republished with permission.

What were your experiences before starting a practice together?

Dr. Bates: We met a little over a decade ago during our residencies at East Carolina University. We stayed in touch, but our relationship deepened in 2017 when I moved to Charlotte during my third trimester of pregnancy and asked Dr. Parson to be my doctor.

Dr. Parson: At the time, we were working for the same health system, though at different practices. We bonded over our shared passion for a different approach to medicine that would better meet the needs of women.

We had a vision of more personalized, holistic care that would require us to have practice ownership and autonomy.

What led you to take the leap and launch Femwell?

Dr. Bates: We spend years cultivating our own individual style of medicine. I realized that becoming a practice owner would allow me to care for patients my way and do what I believe is best for them. Now, if I want to reduce my volume so I can give patients more time, attention, and support, I’m able to. I can build a deeper rapport with them and understand their full health history and goals.

Dr. Parson: I believe that an overwhelming desire to do more for our patients is a main cause of burnout. Another catalyst behind making our dream of private practice a reality was hearing an inspiring speech by a fellow gynecologist, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, about supporting patients through menopause and all phases of life. I immediately said to Dr. Bates, “Let’s do this!”

How did you execute on your plan?

Dr. Bates: Before making a business plan, we started an Instagram account. Our goal was to share content to combat misinformation around women’s health and to gauge interest in the integrated practice we had in mind. We realized that there was a massive demand, so we moved forward with real estate, consulting, and launching a business.

Dr. Parson: Before opening, we partnered with Privia Medical Group — North Carolina. They helped with credentialing and payer contracting so we could focus on treating and building our patient base. Their model, which connects doctors across specialties, matches our approach in combining gynecology, nutrition counseling, and behavioral health. It’s great to join a community of clinicians, many of whom have owned and operated their practices for years. There’s an element of camaraderie and mentorship with them that is very important to me.

What’s it been like to own your practice?

Dr. Parson: It’s rewarding and fulfilling to know that we’re offering something unique and appreciated in our community. Patients love our philosophy of whole-person care. Often, women’s health is all about pregnancy. But there’s menopause, fertility counseling, the fourth trimester, not to mention general well-being and health.

Dr. Bates: It’s often joyful, sometimes stressful, but always rewarding. Our focus has been on nurturing relationships and building trust. We don’t believe in the “I’m the doctor, you’re the patient” style. For us, it’s about collaboration and listening. Sometimes, patients don’t need treatment so much as reassurance and kindness. We didn’t have the time and bandwidth for that before opening our own practice. Now we do.

How do you see the practice evolving?

Dr. Parson: One of our guiding beliefs is staying up-to-date on research and developments so we can give our patients a leading-edge experience. We would love to incorporate clinical research, which is a fairly seamless process with Privia.

Dr. Bates: Clinical research helps democratize research and get real-world results, which not only helps your patients access innovative therapies but also contributes to the progress of science. It can also be a great way to add new revenue.

What would you say to doctors considering their own practice?

Dr. Bates: It’s work, but it’s worth it. And, you don’t have to do it alone. There are partners like Privia who can help with the business side, and doctors like us who want to share what we’ve learned.

Dr. Parson: Consider your unique value proposition. Convenience and comfort are our two main differentiators. That’s why we offer walk-in appointments and an inviting culture and environment.

The last thing is to avoid analysis paralysis. Do your due diligence, then do it.

Learn how Privia can simplify the transition from employment to practice ownership!