Family Medicine Doctor Jamie Robinson-Watkins, M.D., Partners With Patients for Better Health
"Making health decisions is often about weighing risks and benefits. Sometimes, those can be difficult decisions to make," says Jamie Robinson-Watkins, M.D., a primary care doctor at Sentara Family Medicine Physicians in Virginia Beach.
"My job is to educate you so you can make your own health decisions. I want to meet you where you are," she adds. "As a team, we can come up with a plan that works for you."
Preventive medicine for people of all ages
Dr. Robinson-Watkins has been interested in becoming a doctor since childhood. Her father is an optometrist, and she grew up watching him care for patients. "From a young age, I knew medicine was something I wanted to do," she says.
During medical school, she completed rotations in many areas of medicine and loved learning about so many things. She chose family medicine to continue working with a variety of people and health conditions. "I like focusing on lots of different things with different patients rather than just one body system," she says. "And that fits in with who I am: I look at people as a whole rather than just one piece of them or one aspect of their health."
As a family medicine doctor, Dr. Robinson-Watkins treats patients for any health problems that arise, from illnesses like the flu to chronic conditions such as heart disease. She also enjoys family medicine because it emphasizes preventive health.
Preventive medicine focuses on healthy behaviors and activities you can do to prevent disease, such as:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Get enough physical activity.
- Stay up to date on vaccines to prevent infections.
- Get regular cancer screenings (such as colonoscopies to detect colorectal cancer, Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer and mammograms to screen for breast cancer).
- Get regular checkups with your primary care doctor to discuss any health concerns you may have.
Helping patients improve their health
Dr. Robinson-Watkins provides primary care for the family, from school-age children through adults. She is interested in helping people manage chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. She also has experience helping people who want to quit smoking. Another of her interests is sexual health and counseling women on topics such as birth control.
One of the best parts of her job, she says, is seeing patients turn their health around. "It’s very rewarding when I can start someone on depression medicine, help them quit smoking or see them get control of their diabetes," she says.
Dr. Robinson-Watkins is excited to join the Sentara family because of its team-based approach to care. "The hospital offers great classes, support groups and other services for patients. We have a great team that works together to make sure patients get the care they need," she says.
Background
Dr. Robinson-Watkins grew up in Ohio, then headed to college at Syracuse University in upstate New York, where she majored in biology and minored in women’s and gender studies. She returned to her home state to earn her medical degree and complete her medical residency at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Robinson-Watkins is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the National Medical Association.
After leaving Midwestern winters behind, Dr. Robinson-Watkins is having fun exploring her new hometown in Virginia. She loves running, going for walks and spending time at the beach. She also enjoys cooking and trying new restaurants. She and her husband stay busy as active members of their church.
Dr. Robinson-Watkins sees patients at Sentara Family Medicine Physicians in Virginia Beach. To schedule an appointment, call 757-271-4540.