When it came time to choose a major in college, Dr. Deb Davenport wrote “pre med” on the form. “That’s the first I remember deciding to be a doctor,” she says. “I didn’t really have an ‘Aha!’ moment. But I did grow up in a medical family; my dad was a physician, and my mom was a nurse.” She smiles. “We didn’t have cuts and bruises in our family; we had ‘lacerations’ and ‘abrasions.’ ”
Looking back, Dr. Davenport’s path to medicine was clear. She started working in medical records at age 14, volunteered at the hospital during high school, and excelled in science and math. “I’m a people person,” she says, “so I didn’t want to just do science and math. I thought medicine was a good combination.”
Ob/gyn provided the variety Dr. Davenport was looking for. “One day, I go from primary care and problem-solving in the office to delivering a baby to performing surgery. It’s never dull! And I also like having women for patients. I’m really comfortable with them.”
Dr. Davenport has been with Southdale Ob/Gyn for her entire career. “I picked this clinic because of its reputation for giving high-quality, patient-focused care,” she says, adding that the clinic’s collaborative style sets it apart. “Patients here get seamless care, day in and day out. I tell my patients that I would trust any partner in this clinic to do my surgery or deliver my baby. I don’t think a lot of physicians can say that about their clinic.”
Dr. Davenport’s ability to “put myself in my patients’ shoes” defines her practice. “I often tell my patients, ‘If you were my mother, sister, daughter, this is what I would want you to do.’ Sometimes that means telling them that they shouldn’t have a surgery or procedure, and I think they really appreciate that.”
Outside of work, Dr. Davenport enjoys spending time with her family (she and her husband have two children), downhill skiing, traveling, and researching and collecting Early American antiques. (The PBS series “Antiques Roadshow” is a favorite at the Davenport house.)
Throughout her career, Dr. Davenport says she’s been inspired simply by being able to help her patients. “It’s a privilege to help women through life-altering things like surgery or delivering a baby,” she says. “It’s an honor to be part of the big moments in their lives.”