Patrick Duggan, MD

Patient Relationships Key to Physician’s Care

“I try to listen fully and find out what really matters to my patients.”

For Patrick Duggan, MD, a career in medicine was inspired by a series of clinic volunteer experiences during college. He enjoyed meeting patients, hearing their stories, and learning about their lives – and quickly discovered that the human side of medicine was just as compelling to him as the science.

His chosen field, primary care, is a direct extension of what he loved about the clinic experience. “Every patient has a unique story and is inspiring in their own way,” he says. “I try not to take for granted what a privilege it is to be part of someone’s care team.”

He credits his father, a chemist, for inspiring his love for science and his mother, a therapist, for sharing her passion for people. His background includes caring for patients across all stages of life and treating a wide range of chronic and complex conditions, such as diabetes, chronic pain, and vertigo in primary care. During residency he spent much of his time in the hospital setting caring for people with cancer, organ transplants, and complex heart and lung conditions. He also participated in tracks for primary care dedicated to people living with HIV and in one focused on teaching medical students/residents, inspiring its importance in his career since then.

“I think of a primary care provider as the quarterback of a patient’s healthcare journey,” he says. “I want to be the provider that patients can count on to guide their care.” At the heart of his approach is listening. Dr. Duggan strives to understand what matters most to each patient and to create an environment where patients feel heard, respected and never judged. “Simply showing up and seeking care is an important first step toward better health,” he says.

The culture of teamwork at Vanguard is what drew him to the practice. “Everyone should have access to really good healthcare,” he says. “I appreciate that Vanguard takes care of their community by creating a team of people with different strengths and then positioning them to succeed together.”

When he’s not working, Dr. Duggan enjoys reading, baking and cooking, playing lacrosse, rooting for the Buffalo Bills and learning Spanish. While he currently uses a Spanish interpreter during visits, his active goal is becoming proficient enough to conduct visits independently.*