Continuing our physician spotlight series on the blog, we recently caught up with Dr. Lynn Davis and asked her a few questions.

SRM: Where is your hometown?

I grew up first in Seattle. Then our family moved to Washington, D.C., when I was in elementary school. I came back to Seattle after college, then again after my fellowship in 2008 when I joined SRM.

SRM: When did you first think about going into medicine?

When I was in college I was really interested in biology. I thought it would be great to get a PhD in biology and do research. But then I had a chance to shadow a pediatric endocrinologist and to see patients with him. That’s when I realized I needed to go to medical school instead and changed my plans.

SRM: What have you learned about patient-centered care from your experience in medicine?

In fertility medicine, all care is in some ways elective – it comes down to personal choice. Each patient’s goals, values, and priorities are unique. So for care to be patient-centered, it has to be individualized. The art of what we do is good communication and team work. Becoming a team with your patient is especially important.

SRM: What is the most challenging part of your work?

The toughest part is the emotional toll that comes along with patient disappointment. Patient disappointment is our disappointment. We feel it too. On the other hand, we feel a similar elation that our patients feel when we help them fulfill their hope of building a family.

SRM: What kind of work would you choose to do if you weren’t a physician?

When I retire, I want to become a master gardener. I like to nurture things.

SRM: What do you do to relax?

Our family is really active. We ski every weekend in the winter with our kids. In the summers, we really enjoy camping.

Click here to learn a little more about Dr. Lynn Davis.