Three Questions with Avant Gynecology’s Dr. Lynley Durrett

This week, Avant Gynecology’s Dr. Lynley Durrett took the time to answer three questions related to her and her field of medicine. Avant Gynecology, formerly McDaniel and Durrett, are Atlanta’s GYN and surgical specialists.

1. Why did you choose to work in your particular specialty?
   I grew up wanting to be a doctor, like my father, and also four other generations of doctors in my family before me. I always planned to go into some kind of surgery, so in medical school, I took many surgery electives to help me decide what was right for me. But when I got to the required OB/GYN rotation, I came to learn that this specialty would allow me to do surgery as well as obstetrics and care for women over the course of their lifetime. I have really enjoyed the way in which my field allows me to do the surgery I really enjoy, as well as to care for patients in all stages of their lives, and form long-term relationships.
2. What’s the most rewarding part about your job?
   The most rewarding thing about my practice is the feeling that you can really help people. There have been many changes to the practice of medicine over the last years – increasing paperwork, electronic medical records, dealing with insurance companies, trying to keep up with the many advances, etc. But at the end of the day, if you feel like you were able to connect with a patient and really help them, then you’ve done your job well. I can’t imagine not being a doctor.
3. What does your daily routine look like?
   One of the great things about my job is that every day is different from the next. Generally, I am in surgery Tuesdays and Fridays, and divide the rest of the days between the main office at Piedmont and the satellite office at Northside. When I’m in the office seeing patients, the appointments may range for annual exams and contraceptive planning, to surgical consults and follow up, to evaluation of incontinence, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, fibroids, or prolapse. Having such a great variety keeps every day fresh and my skills up-to-date.

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