Founding Physician

About the role

Meet knownwell weight-inclusive healthcare for all. Join a dynamic company that is changing the way obesity care is delivered. We offer weight management, primary care, nutrition counseling, and health coaching. Our care model combines in-clinic and virtual care to bring support to patients where and when they need it.

Backed by $50M in funding-including a $25M round by CVS Health Ventures with support from a16z Bio + Health, Flare Capital, MassMutual, and Intermountain Ventures-we’re scaling fast and expanding access to evidence-based obesity care nationwide.

knownwell® is seeking a Founding Physician to lead the establishment of our inaugural Northern California site in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a unique, high-impact opportunity for a physician who wants to shape a market from the ground up - combining clinical leadership with the strategic work of building a new practice, before stepping into full-time clinical care once the clinic opens its doors.

As an active member of the clinical practice, you will work alongside a team of committed clinicians, APCs, registered dietitians, registered nurses, and health coaches to provide comprehensive medical care, with a specific focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of obesity and obesity-related conditions in a primary care setting. This position offers the opportunity to build a knownwell site from its earliest foundation and make a lasting impact on how Bay Area patients experience weight-inclusive, compassionate care.

This Role Is Structured in Three Phases

• Phase 1 (Remote, Pre-Launch): You'll lend your credentials and clinical leadership to secure participation in local Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) and other key partnerships.
• Phase 2 (Remote, Pre-Launch): You’ll work with the knownwell recruiting team and leadership to build the inaugural San Francisco care team - including clinicians and support staff.
• Phase 3 (Full-Time, Hybrid, Clinic Launch): Beginning just prior to clinic opening (anticipated Q4 2027), you'll transition into full-time clinical practice, seeing patients both in person and remotely, as well as providing oversight and mentorship to the site's APCs.

Schedule

• Phase 1 and 2 - flexible, low-touch, remote
• Phase 3 - Monday-Friday with hybrid, flexible scheduling

Emr: Athena

ON-CALL: PHONE CALL ONLY, IN A ROTATION WITH INITIAL TRIAGE BY NURSES (PHASE 3).

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Compensation Structure

• Phase 1 and 2: Monthly rate, reflective of low-touch, remote involvement (credentialing/CIN participation and recruiting support).
• Phase 3: Standard full-time physician compensation program

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) required from an accredited medical school.
• Active, unrestricted license to practice in California, or willingness to obtain. Willingness to obtain additional licensures if needed based upon business needs.
• Board certification in Family Practice or Internal Medicine.
• Certification with the American Board of Obesity Medicine highly preferred, but not required.
• Valid DEA required with no restrictions and prescribing authority (per state practice regulation).
• BLS certification current.
• Minimum of two (2) years of in-person clinical experience in an ambulatory care setting, family or internal medicine; experience in chronic condition management and weight management preferred. If no formal training in weight management, willingness to participate in knownwell clinical education and training plan for weight management and/or pursue ABOM certification.
• Willing to supervise Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs) as deemed necessary and appropriate by the practice. Abide by California-specific rules and regulations as a collaborating physician.
• Experience or interest in market development - credentialing, network-building, and community/CIN partnerships - given the founding nature of this role.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Dedicated to staying current with the latest developments in primary care and obesity medicine.
• Believes in inclusive, compassionate care.
• Believes in shared decision-making with a patient. Honors the goals a patient has for their health, and partners with them to help them achieve those goals.
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to make a patient feel at ease - without judgment and without shame.
• Willing and excited to try new technologies that are both patient- and clinician-oriented.
• Excited to work with a collaborative team of physicians, APCs, registered dietitians, medical assistants, health coaches, and other staff.
• Must have access to high-speed internet and phone lines.
• We are unable to sponsor visas currently, so you must be authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

Phase 1: Founding & Market Development (Remote)

• Use your credentials to support applications and participation in local Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs) and other strategic partners ahead of clinic launch.
• Partner closely with knownwell recruiting to source, interview, and help select the inaugural San Francisco care team, including clinicians and support staff.
• Provide clinical perspective and input on site readiness, staffing plans, and market-specific operational needs.
• Support relationship-building with local healthcare providers, health systems, and community partners to lay the groundwork for referral networks ahead of opening.
• Act as an early clinical voice for the San Francisco market, representing knownwell in a low-touch, remote capacity.

Phase 2: Full-time Clinical Practice & Team Leadership

• Transition to full-time clinical responsibilities beginning just prior to clinic opening (anticipated Q4 2027).
• Provide clinical oversight and mentorship to the site's Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs), consistent with California collaborating physician requirements.
• See patients directly, both in-person and virtually, delivering comprehensive primary care with a focus on obesity and obesity-related conditions.
• Continue to strengthen local referral relationships and community partnerships established during Phase 1.
• Act as a liaison between the practice and external stakeholders, including healthcare organizations and insurance companies.
• Provide clinical guidance to APCs, medical assistants, and nursing teams as assigned.

Practice Exceptional Medicine Within knownwell (Hybrid)

• Sees adults ages 18+ for primary care, often with a focus on metabolic health, or adults for metabolic health only. Shares a panel with APC(s).
• Hybrid care delivery: virtual and in-person patient care.
• Virtual visits using audio and visual technology to complete patient examinations, evaluations, assessments, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
• Embodies the knownwell mission and values of patient inclusivity in how care is delivered.
• Coordinates with the broader care team to ensure the patient has the support they need.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications recommended, but not required.
• Documents as necessary to ensure accurate billing, including review of remote patient monitoring data.
• Communicates with patients in a timely manner through the patient portal for questions and concerns that have been pre-screened to necessitate a clinician response.

Ensure Patients Feel Known Well

• Ensures your patient panel is open to any individual, regardless of their current health status and comorbidities.
• Listens to the aspirations of the patient and ensures care is tailored to the patient's unique health journey.
• Provides an environment in which patients feel comfortable and free from judgment.
• Offers exceptional encouragement as patients reach their goals.

Coordinate Across the Collaborative Care Team

• Escalates any concerns to your dedicated leadership team.
• Provides clinical guidance to Advanced Practice Clinicians, medical assistants, and nursing teams as assigned.

STAY CURRENT WITH LICENSURE AND APPROPRIATE RE-CERTIFICATIONS.

Pay & Perks

• Hybrid opportunity
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with company match
• Up to 20 days of PTO per year + company holidays
• Up to 14 weeks of parental leave (12 for non-birthing parents)

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Based on current size of the clinic and HIPAA regulation, providers cannot receive care in clinic and provider’s household members cannot receive primary care in the clinic.