Blog

Dr. Deidra Duncan wants her patients to feel comfortable and confident

by Deidra Duncan, D.O.

We as women are often overlooked and ignored, and I like being there to listen to my patients when they feel like no one else will. Obstetrics and gynecology are so personal. Whether discussing birth control, the treatment of ovarian cysts, or the effects of menopause on mental health, I want my patients to feel comfortable and confident when they are in my care.

I developed a special interest in obstetrics when I became pregnant in medical school. My daughter taught me true love—the kind that is truly unconditional. Loving a child is like finding the piece to a jigsaw puzzle you didn’t even know was incomplete.

But I almost didn’t get to see the puzzle completed with my daughter, because when she was born, she almost died and had a harrowing stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The summer she was born I spent a lot of time thinking about the role of the physician in changing lives, and even in saving them.

I knew then that helping new moms bring babies safely into the world— seeing them complete their own jigsaw puzzles—was something I would look forward to for the rest of my life.

After completing my ob-gyn residency in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I’d spent my entire life, the next question was where I would practice.

Florida appealed to me because of the weather and recreational opportunities. I am thrilled to call Lee County home now along with my family, which now includes two children, who will have so much to enjoy with the beach, our dog, and all that this beautiful community has to offer.

But most importantly, Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida attracted me because the physicians and staff seemed genuinely happy. It was very telling to me that many had been here for a long time, because low turnover is a sign of a healthy work environment, which is exactly what I wanted.

After starting out in nursing, today I can’t imagine myself doing anything different than being an ob-gyn. Here I am—the first doctor in my family—and I can’t wait to get to know my new patients.

You Might Also Enjoy…

Stevens Construction begins building Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida in Cape Coral

Stevens Construction has started construction of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s new 40,797-square-foot medical office building at 1606 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral Oct. 15. With the opening of the new building in the fall of 2025, Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida physicians, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants will be expanding and enhancing their practice in Cape Coral, which offers comprehensive gynecological and obstetrical care, including well-woman exams, family planning, adolescent gynecology, gynecologic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, prenatal and postpartum care. Urogynecology and in-office procedures will be expanded. The new office will also have a dedicated area for fetal monitoring.

Stevens Construction celebrates groundbreaking of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida

Stevens Construction is hosting a groundbreaking celebration Oct. 15 for Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s new medical office building in Cape Coral, marking a significant expansion of their existing Cape Coral practice. Stevens Construction is building a 40,797-square-foot, two-story medical office where the practice will offer comprehensive gynecological and obstetrical care, including well-woman exams, family planning, adolescent gynecology, urogynecology, minimally invasive gynecologic and urogynecologic surgery, prenatal and postpartum care.

5 Things I Learned from Having Breast Cancer

In June of 2021 I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer which had already spread to my lymph nodes. At age 45 with no family history of cancer in my family, and as a physician who gave patients cancer diagnoses every day, this was a shock. Throughout my cancer journey, I learned several lessons that have stuck with me. Life is hard, and everyone is fighting their own battle, but I have faith these lessons can help get us through the hardest times.

Supporting women in their effort to maintain a healthy weight

As an ob/gyn physician, I help women live their healthiest lives. An important part of that is maintaining an ideal body mass index (BMI), which plays a major role in chronic disease prevention and overall quality of life. That is why I consider it an important part of my practice to help women understand the complex disease of obesity.

Why choose to see a physician assistant as your provider?

Most patients want to get an appointment as quickly as possible, and it is typically faster and easier to see a physician assistant. PA’s usually have the luxury of spending more time one-on-one with the patients in office. Studies perpetually show that patient satisfaction and outcomes are identical whether the patient sees a PA or a doctor.

What research tells us about preeclampsia and gestational hypertension

Preeclampsia doubles a woman’s risk of heart disease and stroke. When you are at higher-than-average risk, it is important to make changes today for a healthier tomorrow, especially after a pregnancy complicated with blood pressure problems.