Sentara Family Medicine Doctor Supports Patients of All Ages and Backgrounds
“The best part of medicine is working with my patients to help them address their health concerns,” says Lauren deLeon, M.D., a primary care physician at Sentara Family Medicine & Pediatrics in Hampton. “To me, that means giving patients all the necessary evidence and recommendations — but making decisions together. It’s your body and your decision, and I’ll support you in making the healthcare choices that feel right to you.”
Dr. deLeon provides comprehensive primary care to patients of all ages, from infancy through adulthood.
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Dr. deLeon grew up in Florida. Her mother was a nurse, and her father is a primary care internal medicine physician. “I grew up around medicine,” she says. She vividly recalls going to her dad’s office for a take-your-child-to-work day when she was about 8. She loved the experience and watching him work. “I thought it was amazing, the coolest thing ever,” she says. “I was hooked after that.”
When she started medical school, she planned to go into primary care. “I like having time to sit with patients, get to know them and follow up on their care over time,” she says.
Later in her medical school training, she did a clinical rotation in pediatrics and fell in love with the field. She decided to pursue residency training in a specialized program that combines internal medicine and pediatrics. Known as “med-peds,” this specialization means Dr. deLeon is essentially an internal medicine doctor and pediatrician in one.
Dr. deLeon says preventive medicine is an important part of her approach to care. Often, that means helping patients adopt healthy habits, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and getting cancer screenings like mammograms or colonoscopies. But she wants patients to take those steps at their own pace. “You don’t have to do everything all at once,” she says. “I want to meet you halfway. Let’s start slow and work our way up.”
An Interest in Adolescent Health and Women’s Health
One of Dr. deLeon’s special interests is adolescent medicine. “Adolescence is an important time to develop the skills to take care of yourself and your body. But being a teenager is hard. You’re often expected to act like an adult, but you’re treated like a child,” she says. “I want my young patients to feel comfortable talking to me about anything, whether that’s sexual health or some of the questionable health advice they might be exposed to on social media.”
Dr. deLeon is also interested in women’s health. She is completing a certification in lactation counseling to better support nursing parents. “New moms often have so many questions about breastfeeding. Pediatricians can help with the basics, but they aren’t always trained to counsel patients on all the details,” she says. “It can be a stressful time, both for moms and babies. I want to make things easier by caring for moms and babies and providing lactation counseling all in one place.”
She chose to practice at Sentara Family Medicine & Pediatrics, she says, because the practice is committed to diversity and equality. “They support all patients, including LGBTQ+ patients and those from other diverse backgrounds,” she says. “That commitment is important to me.”
Background
Dr. deLeon attended medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She completed a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency program at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans. She is board-certified in internal medicine and is a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. deLeon loves to crochet and enjoys making everything from socks to sweaters to cat couches. “If I’m watching TV or listening to an audiobook, there’s probably a crochet hook in my hands,” she says. She’s also a trained dancer. She was involved in modern dance during college and now enjoys tap dancing in her spare time.
When she’s not tapping her toes or whipping up a pair of socks, she loves heading to the beach to spend time in the water. After spending most of her life in Florida, Dr. deLeon is excited to enjoy Virginia’s changing seasons with activities like apple picking. She also enjoys video games — a hobby that often helps her connect with her adolescent patients.
Dr. deLeon cares for patients at Sentara Family Medicine & Pediatrics in Hampton. Request an appointment or call 757-827-2400 to schedule.