Loretta Duggan was born and raised in Sparta, Georgia. After graduating from Hancock Central High School, she attended Mercer University, where she studied sociology and chemistry, before moving to Atlanta and studying medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. She received her training in Family Medicine in Spartanburg, SC, before conducting her fellowship training in Adolescent Medicine in Miami. In 2019, she moved to Athens and worked at MedLink. Today, Loretta just opened her first private practice, Her Health, on Prince Avenue. After moving around the city, Loretta now calls West Athens home.
What do you love most about your work?
The relationships that I get to make with my patients. With the work that we do, we really get to see another side of most people. Sometimes it’s in a vulnerable state, sometimes it’s when things are going well, or they have family changes and dynamics going on that we get to experience with them. I think it’s a gift that I’m given to be able to have that relationship with patients where we kind of grow together. Yes, taking care of their health, but if there are other things we can take care of as well, that’s when we really start to grow and progress together. I really enjoy those relationships, I don’t take them for granted at all. I think my patients appreciate it too, it makes things more relatable.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do in and around Athens?
Trying new restaurants; that’s been really fun. Seabear is so good. It’s cute, it’s good food, they have inside and outside seating, drinks are good, prices are reasonable. And now it’s not too far from my house! I’m also learning about the music scene that’s here. I like the more jazz, soulful vibe, but learning about the shows that are coming here has been exciting too. I’m on the lookout for more things coming during the summer when I might have some time to catch those things before business starts off too strong.
I’m also learning more about self-care, because it’s very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. As I’m learning new things, like how to run a business and make it more sustainable, I’m making sure to also sustain myself in the process. There are great parks here, with nature walks and trails that are available to us. Nothing is too far here in Athens, in about 10-20 minutes you can be where you need to be. So I’ve been doing that self care, spending time in nature, clearing my mind, and getting ready for my next steps.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A place that’s been on my bucket list for a while has been Hawaii. I’ve always been a beach person. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a pisces, but I love being by water. There’s something so serene about it. My other is Sydney, Australia. Something about the Down Under has always been on my to-do list, too. Maybe I’ll stop in Hawaii and just keep going til I get to Sydney.
If you could see any band or show, any time, any where, who would it be?
I really like the musician H.E.R. She’s so soulful, her melodies are really calming and soothing for me. I don’t think it really matters where. She’s so skillful, she plays multiple instruments and you can really tell that she takes time with her craft. Seeing her anywhere would be great.
If you could put any message on a billboard, what would it be?
One of the first things that comes to mind is from Maya Angelou: “People won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” I really take that to heart because it is how we treat our fellow people, and in medicine it’s even more important because of the type of work that we do. Patients really remember how you made them feel, how you helped them to get better, how you helped them through a hard time, or even celebrating the great times.
Do you have a favorite book? Or, one you often reread, reference, or gift?
I’m definitely in the business space right now, so it’s mostly business stuff that comes to mind. One is 10x is Easier Than 2x [by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy]. Its focus is on going for the Big One, the dream that might not happen, because there’s only a few ways to get there. So you’re really intentional about reaching that 10x goal, versus 2x where there may be different ways to get there but you won’t have the same laser focus. That was a really powerful, eye-opening book for me from a business perspective. My other favorite is a book about negotiation, Never Split the Difference [by Chris Voss]. I like that one because negotiation isn’t really something we’re taught to do. Even when we [doctors] go out to get our first job, when we start residency training, it’s pretty much: there’s a match program, they match us together, you don’t have a real choice. The computer just ranks you and you have to hope it’s a match made in heaven. But what about for that first job? What are some things that may be important to us that we can make decisions on and negotiate for? Salary is the first thing that comes to mind, but also what about paid time off? Your 401k? Your bonus structure? There’s so many things that can be negotiated that we don’t think about, and that book gave me an outline for that. The last book that has been helpful for me is Atomic Habits [by James Clear], which talks about how getting just one percent better makes a goal more digestible. You can get better, one percent at a time.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I do. It may be surprising to some. It’s the original Lion King. I love that movie so much because there’s so much you can learn from it, from redemption, to learning that no, everything is not your fault, to knowing that yes, they may be family, but you may need to set boundaries because they may not always be supportive of you. Even in Simba’s adolescence, seeing how that transition happened, but that he ultimately comes out the other side to fulfill his purpose. There’s so much that comes from that movie.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
It’s okay to be flexible. Nothing is a direct, straight path. But that doesn’t mean you won’t reach your end goal. And also, to enjoy the journey. There will be times when you can’t make it to certain things, but I distinctly remember the times where I could, and I still chose not to. And the last thing I would tell myself would be to start early when it comes to understanding finances, because that is a huge part in anything you want to do. It provides options for you. Those were things that didn’t make sense to me before, but it’s learnable. Put the right support around you so that you can use it to your advantage. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now If I didn’t have the financial savvy. I think I would’ve been farther along if I had understood those things better earlier on.
If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and where?
I think it would be my grandma. She’s my dad’s mom, and she’s the purpose for my passion. When I was seven she passed away suddenly. She was my neighbor and the one I hung out with when everyone else was working or going to school. It would be just her and I. So I’d really love to talk to her now so she can see where I am and how far we’ve come and where we’re going. I’d love to talk to her now and be like, “Hey Ma, we makin’ it!” One of our favorite places to go when I was younger was actually Hardee’s. She’d get me a cheeseburger (no onions!) and she’d have all these rings on every finger, turning that huge steering wheel, that was before seat belts so I was in the backseat all over the place. I’d love to have lunch with her at Hardee’s, talking to her about all the happenings right now, and to see how proud she’d be.
What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word home?
Peace, love, and laughter.
