What does sustainable growth really look like when you’re building a clinic outside a major metro area with limited workforce supply, rising pressure, and no margin for error?

In this episode, Dr Todd sits down with Dr Mary Wyatt and Dr Sean Stevens, owners of two thriving practices in WA, to unpack the unfiltered reality of scaling from a single Greenfield clinic to two high-performing sites, including a respiratory clinic during COVID and rapid expansion to 8.5 FTE GPs. They share what worked, what didn’t, and what most Clinic Owners underestimate when they try to grow. 

From recruitment bottlenecks and ownership alignment, to why culture beats strategy when things get hard, this conversation is packed with lessons for GP owners who feel stuck at a ceiling or are scared of breaking what they’ve already built.

If you’re running a clinic in an MMM town, juggling leadership with clinical work, or wondering whether you’re actually set up to scale, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a blueprint grounded in real-world experience.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• 01:03 – The shift from GP to business owner (and why most owners underestimate it)
• 06:42 – How decisive leadership and strong systems accelerate growth under pressure
• 15:40 – The ownership structure that protect the business from internal friction and create stability for managers and staff
• 25:47 – The biggest mistake owners make when opening a second clinic
• 30:39 – How disciplined decision-making protects you from bad expansion deals

ABOUT SEAN STEVENS

Dr Sean Stevens has been a GP for over 25 years, with 20 of them as a practice owner. Sean’s previous practice was awarded Australian General Practice of the Year, and Sean has been felicitated with the Australian GP Supervisor of the Year award. A highly respected Cockburn GP, Sean is also known for mentoring over 30 doctors on their path to becoming specialist GPs.

He is also the immediate past Chair of the WA Faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the peak body representing 4,000 GPs in WA and 40,000 nationally. Sean has previously served as Deputy Chair of the WA Faculty for four years and as Chair of the RACGP Education Committee for six years.

When not at work, Sean loves socialising, spending time with his young family, and travelling.

“I love the focus on quality, patient care, fun, and innovation.”

WHERE TO FIND SEAN STEVENS

Website: grove-medical.com.au

Website: iinet.net.au 

ABOUT MARY WYATT

Dr Mary Wyatt, a Cockburn GP, completed her medical degree (MBBS) at the University of Wollongong, NSW, in 2010. Following this, she moved to Perth, where she completed her GP specialist training in 2016. Mary enjoys the many aspects of General Practice, including managing chronic disease and mental health. She has a special interest in child health and women’s health (across all stages).

Mary has completed the Diploma in Child Health 2014 and the Vocational Graduate Diploma in Women’s Health (KEMH 2012). She is trained in Mirena and Implanon insertions, as well as managing shared antenatal care. As a GP in Cockburn, Mary is also involved in advocating for the health of her community with her involvement on the WA RACGP Faculty Council. She also became an examiner for the RACGP in 2020 and looks forward to formally teaching registrars at Grove Medical Victoria Park. Prior to training as a Doctor, Mary was a high school Mathematics Teacher.

In her spare time, Mary enjoys outdoor activities such as diving and snorkelling.

QUOTES

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” – Dr. Sean Stevens

“There’s no point climbing the ladder if it’s leaning against the wrong wall.” – Dr. Sean Stevens

“You can’t put a big team into a small team and keep that culture going.” – Dr. Mary Wyatt

“With good process, good people, and good support, you can get just about anything done.” – Dr. Todd Cameron

Missed the previous Episode?

Listen to Episode 86 here: From Transactional to Transformational: The GP Standard That No App, Pharmacy or Walk-In Clinic Can Replace