Lynn Bowlby, MD, the subject of our 20th Faculty Spotlight article, works to help residents complete their training, both in the classroom and in the Duke Outpatient Clinic. In this interview, she talks about the joys of working with residents, her medical areas of interest, and keeping busy both at the division and at home.
How long have you been at Duke? How long have you been at the division?
I’ve been at Duke and the division for 8 1/2 years! Time does fly. I was at Brown before I came to Duke.
What does your work involve? What does a typical day for you look like?
I am the Medical Director at the Duke Outpatient Clinic (DOC), the largest site for the continuity clinic the medicine residents do as part of their training. Most days I am at the DOC, but I often have meetings off-site.
A typical day would probably include precepting clinic. For this the residents see the patients, we review and discuss; then I often see the patient afterward. I also have my own small panel of patients I see. I also attend meetings at Duke Hospital or Duke Regional Hospital for various projects.
Finally, I round at Duke Regional four weeks a year, where I lead a General Medicine resident team.
What’s the biggest difference between working at the Duke Outpatient Clinic and Duke Regional?
The patients at both locations are very complex. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to see both inpatients and outpatients and know both worlds. There is a lot of energy around keeping our outpatients managed in the clinic, not admitted to the hospital, and working in both locations helps me do that!
Earlier this summer you won an award for teaching ambulatory medicine. How long have you been teaching in this area? What other teaching duties do you have?
I have been teaching either here or Brown since 1999. I love it. I love the residents, and I learn from them every day. I teach general medicine involving all the specialties as well as didactic teaching on patient communication, chronic non cancer pain and medical problems of pregnancy.
What do you enjoy the most about teaching residents?
I learn something every day from the residents. I love their enthusiasm and commitment to their patients. They inspire me, and are the best part of my day!
What kinds of patients do you see the most? Do you have a particular area of focus?
I often see patients dealing with a range of issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, COPD and many psychiatric diagnoses. My areas of interest are medical problems during pregnancy, chronic non-cancer pain, and physician-patient communication.
What passions or hobbies do you have outside of the Division?
HA! I’m mom to my 2 children ages 12 and 16. Between that and work I stay very busy.
