Building Relationships, Not Just Appointments
By Dr. Parveen Kaur, Founder of Tula Healthcare
From Rushed to Relational
After years of working in corporate healthcare and community clinics, I realized something important was missing — genuine, patient-centered care. Both systems pushed for volume over value. I was constantly asked to see more patients in less time, often with appointment slots so short that there was barely time to ask how someone was doing, let alone understand their deeper concerns. That model just didn’t feel right to me. I became a physician to help people — not rush them through.
The Seed of an Idea — and All the Warnings
I began thinking about starting my own private practice — one that would let me care for people the way I truly believed in. But every time I spoke to colleagues or mentors, I was met with hesitation. “The business side of medicine is hard,” they’d say. “You’ll have to manage everything — office space, insurance credentialing, staffing, marketing.” And they weren’t wrong — running a private medical practice comes with real challenges, especially for physicians who never got business training in medical school. Still, the idea stayed with me.
I wanted to open a clinic in San Ramon, where I live and where my children go to school. I wanted to build relationships with the people in my own neighborhood — to offer personalized primary care to the community I’m a part of. But having worked in Hayward for years, I faced another major challenge: no one in San Ramon knew me. I worried: How would patients find me? Would anyone come?
Thankfully, I had support. A dear friend and colleague from my Hayward days, Maria Gonzalez, encouraged me to go for it. She reminded me that the kind of care I wanted to offer was rare — and needed.
Choosing Purpose Over Comfort
Even though it would have been easier to stay in a salaried position, something in my heart wouldn’t let me. I was no longer able to build real connections in 10-minute visits. I wanted to create a space where patients felt seen, heard, and cared for. I finally took the plunge, and in November 2024, I officially opened the doors to Tula Healthcare in San Ramon
The transition hasn’t been easy. All the warnings were true — and then some. Insurance companies don’t negotiate fairly with small, independent practices. Some patient platforms charge outrageous referral fees. And running a clinic means dealing with last-minute cancellations, managing technology, and often working long hours without the steady income I once had. But I wouldn’t change a thing.
Because now, when a new patient walks into Tula Healthcare and tells me they finally feel listened to... when someone leaves smiling and says they feel hopeful again... I know I made the right choice. I feel proud to be part of a new kind of healthcare — one that values relationships over rush, care over quotas. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
This is exactly the kind of practice I always dreamed of — and the kind of care every patient deserves.
If you are looking for a Physician in San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Danville and adjoining area please call my office. At Tula Healthcare , i offer personalized care focussed on you - not quotas or time limits. Whether you are managing chronic illness or simply want a provider who listens , i welcome you to be part of our care family