Page 38 - BusinessWest October 13, 2021

Healthcare
‘A Wonderful, Wonderful Fit’
Dr. Lynnette Watkins Takes the Helm
at Cooley Dickinson Hospital
DBy George O’Brien
r. Lynnette Watkins says she is most definitely her father’s daughter.
By that, she meant she is a second- generation ophthalmologist, following the lead set by her father, L.C. Watkins, who
is one of the first African-Americans practicing in that specialty in St. Louis.
“When I say that I stand on the shoulders of giants, I don’t take that lightly, and first
and foremost is my dad,” she noted. “He’s been my biggest supporter, mentor, and point of light.”
But there were other influ- ences as well, including her mother, an educator, and, more specifically, an early- childhood-development administrator, who was one of many who taught her the importance of giving back.
“It was always expected that, with the privileges and
“When I say
that I stand on
the shoulders of
giants, I don’t take
that lightly, and
first and foremost
is my dad.”
opportunities that were afford-
ed to me, there was an expecta- tion to serve and to give back,” she said. “Which is why,
with each position and opportunity that I’ve pursued, I’ve always had that mindset first and foremost in my mind; it’s why I wanted to have a career in healthcare.”
This is the philosophy Watkins brings to her lat-
38 OCTOBER 13, 2021
HEALTHCARE
BusinessWest