Today we’d like to introduce you to Yogini Prajapati.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey to Starlight Pediatrics has been a little unconventional, but every step has shaped the way I care for children and families today.
I actually started my career as a chiropractor, where I developed a strong interest in whole-body health and the importance of looking at the person as a whole rather than focusing on just one symptom. Over time, I realized that my passion was really centered around children and families, and I wanted to be able to care for them in a more comprehensive way. That led me to medical school and eventually to pediatrics.
After completing my pediatric residency, I spent more than a decade caring for children in a variety of settings, including private practice, emergency care, and urgent care. I loved being a pediatrician, but over the years I became increasingly frustrated with the limitations of traditional healthcare. Visits were often rushed, physicians had limited time with families, and the insurance-driven system sometimes made it difficult to provide the kind of personalized care I knew families deserved.
I kept thinking, There has to be a better way to practice pediatrics.
I wanted to create a practice where I could actually know my patients and their families, listen to their concerns without watching the clock, and be available when they needed guidance. I wanted parents to feel comfortable reaching out with questions and to know that they were talking directly to their pediatrician and not navigating a phone tree or waiting days for an appointment.
That vision became Starlight Pediatrics.
I created Starlight as a Direct Primary Care pediatric practice built around relationships, accessibility, and personalized care. I kept my patient panel intentionally small so that I can spend more time with each child and family. I offer longer, unrushed visits, same- or next-day appointments, direct communication with me, telehealth, and even home visits when appropriate.
Being a mother myself has also influenced the way I practice. I understand that parenting comes with a million questions, especially during those first few months and years. My goal is not just to treat a child’s illness, but to be a trusted resource for the entire family, to educate, reassure, listen, and help parents feel confident in caring for their children.
Starting Starlight Pediatrics has allowed me to return to the part of medicine that I love most: the relationship between a pediatrician, a child, and their family. I truly believe that when you have the time to listen and build trust, you can provide better care.
That is really the heart of Starlight Pediatrics, creating a place where families feel known, supported, and cared for, one child and one relationship at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, and I think some of the biggest challenges have also been some of the most rewarding parts of building Starlight Pediatrics.
Starting a medical practice from the ground up while continuing to care for patients was a huge undertaking. I had to learn an entirely different side of medicine everything from building a business and understanding the financial side of healthcare to marketing, technology, operations, and creating systems that would allow me to provide the level of care I envisioned. I was a pediatrician, not a business owner, so there was definitely a learning curve.
One of the biggest challenges was also stepping away from the traditional insurance-based model of pediatrics. It can be scary to build something different when the healthcare system has operated the same way for so long. I knew there would be families who didn’t immediately understand the Direct Primary Care model or why it was different, and I had to learn how to communicate the value of what I was creating.
There have also been the very real challenges of being a business owner and a mom while trying to build something meaningful. There were many long days, a lot of uncertainty, and plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was taking too big of a risk.
But those challenges have also reinforced why I started Starlight in the first place. Every time a parent tells me they finally feel heard, that they can reach me when they need help, or that they feel more confident caring for their child, I’m reminded that the hard work is worth it.
Building Starlight has taught me that sometimes creating something better means being willing to step outside of the traditional path. It hasn’t always been easy, but I wouldn’t change the decision to do it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Starlight Pediatrics is a Direct Primary Care pediatric practice in Austin that was created around a simple idea: children deserve more time, and parents deserve to feel heard.
We provide comprehensive pediatric care from the newborn stage through adolescence, including well-child visits, sick visits, developmental and behavioral care, chronic condition management, basic in-office testing, school and sports physicals, and coordination with specialists when needed. We also offer home visits, particularly for newborns and families who appreciate the convenience and comfort of being cared for at home.
What really sets Starlight apart, though, isn’t just the services we offer—it’s how we deliver them.
I intentionally keep the practice small so I can spend meaningful time with each child and family. Visits aren’t rushed, and parents have direct access to me by phone, text, or telehealth. Families can often get a same- or next-day appointment rather than waiting weeks to see their pediatrician. There are no crowded waiting rooms, no sitting on hold with a call center, and no feeling like you have to start over with a different person every time you have a question.
I think one of the biggest things we’re known for is being there for families beyond the appointment. Parenting doesn’t only happen between 8:00 and 5:00, and neither do questions about your child. Whether it’s a newborn feeding question, a fever that develops at night, a developmental concern, or simply a parent wondering, “Is this normal?”, I want families to know they have a pediatrician they can actually reach.
I’m especially proud of the relationships we’ve built with our families. Some families have followed me throughout my career, and others have trusted me with their very first baby. Hearing parents say that they feel comfortable asking questions, that they never feel rushed, or that they finally feel like someone truly knows their child—that means more to me than any business milestone.
From a brand perspective, I’m most proud of what the Starlight name represents. I wanted Starlight to feel warm, calming, and hopeful. Healthcare can sometimes feel intimidating or overwhelming, especially when you’re a new parent. I want our practice to feel like a safe place where families can come for expert medical care but also feel supported, respected, and genuinely cared for.
At the end of the day, Starlight Pediatrics is about relationships over volume, accessibility over barriers, and quality over rushing through appointments. My hope is that when families leave Starlight, they don’t just feel like they had a doctor’s appointment—they feel like they have found a pediatrician who truly knows and cares about their child.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is simply growing up with my four siblings. Our house was always busy, loud, and full of life! There was never a dull moment, and we learned early on how to share, look out for each other, and enjoy the little moments together.
Looking back, I think growing up in such a big family really shaped who I am today. I loved having built-in playmates, celebrating milestones together, and knowing that I always had someone by my side. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for family and the special bond between siblings, something I now get to see every day in my work with children and families.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://starlightpediatrics.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starlight.pediatrics/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starlightpediatricsatx
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/105960185/admin/dashboard/
