Making healthcare decisions together: Meet Sentara Family Medicine doctor Akua Adinkrah, M.D.
"I love family medicine because it's often the first stop for patients to get the health care they need," says Akua Adinkrah, M.D., a family medicine doctor at Sentara Family Medicine Physicians in Elizabeth City, NC. "I encourage my patients to ask questions, and I make sure they understand their health concerns and how to manage them."
As a primary care provider, Dr. Adinkrah treats patients ages 5 and up. "I look forward to forming relationships with patients and their families and caring for them across their lives - from childhood to age 99 and beyond," she says.
A team approach to family medicine
Dr. Adinkrah was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Her mother was a midwife, sparking Dr. Adinkrah's early interest in medicine and women's health. She chose family medicine because she enjoys caring for patients of all ages.
"I appreciate taking care of patients when they're healthy and working together to help them stay healthy," she says. When her patients do get sick, whether it's a minor problem like an ear infection or something more serious, she partners with them to figure out a treatment plan. "Instead of telling you what to do, I like to give you options so we can decide together," she adds.
"When meeting a new doctor for the first time, it's common for patients to feel a little nervous or uncertain. My goal is that by the end of the first appointment, patients feel comfortable opening up about their health and all aspects of their lives."
Women's health and global medicine
Dr. Adinkrah's interest in women's health continued to bloom during her family medicine residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford. There, she had hands-on experience through direct patient care in obstetrics and gynecology, from performing cervical procedures to delivering dozens of babies.
That interest continues to inspire Dr. Adinkrah's approach to primary care. She helps patients manage routine care related to their sexual and reproductive health. She enjoys counseling women about pregnancy planning and contraception and provides birth control options, such as IUDs, implants and oral contraceptives.
Dr. Adinkrah is also pursuing specialized training in perimenopause and menopause care. "Menopause has gone untreated for a long time, but there are evidence-based strategies we can use to help women manage the challenges of changing hormones," she says. "Women don't have to suffer in silence."
Dr. Adinkrah's passion for women's health also intersects with her interest in global health. During her medical residency, she completed a global health elective in Ghana, the country where her parents were born. Working with the OB-GYN department there was both rewarding and eye-opening, she says.
"It made me realize how blessed we are to have the resources and access that we have," she adds. "At the end of the day, women around the world are the same. We just want to be healthy, respected and loved."
Background
Dr. Adinkrah studied at McGill University in Montreal and attended medical school at Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her medical residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford.
After leaving the chilly winters of Montreal and Illinois behind, she is enjoying settling into Elizabeth City, with its warm temperatures and community feel. When she's not working, she enjoys trying new restaurants and taking long walks - but her favorite pastime is travel. She also loves music and speaks four languages: English, French, Spanish and Twi, the most spoken language in Ghana.
Dr. Akua Adinkrah practices at Sentara Family Medicine Physicians - Medical Drive in Elizabeth City, NC. To schedule an appointment, call 252-384-2600 or book an appointment online.