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Biography

Jonathan Privett, M.D., cares for patients of all ages at Lake Regional Clinic - Laurie. He is board certified in family medicine and has devoted his career to rural medicine. He has a particular interest in helping patients live as well as possible with chronic illness, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Dr. Privett grew up near Poplar Bluff and always dreamed of being a doctor.

“We had two doctors in town, the Turner brothers, and I wanted to be like them,” he said. “But growing up out in the country, it took me a while to convince myself I could do that.”

Before becoming a doctor, Dr. Privett had careers ranging from a tugboat deck hand on the Gulf of Mexico to a finish carpenter. Finally, in his 30s, he decided to pursue his lifelong dream. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City and Wichita, Kansas. He moved back to southeast Missouri 30 years after leaving the area to care for the people where he grew up.

Down to earth and easy to talk to, Dr. Privett said the most important part of establishing good relationships is being able to understand what people need.

“To start out, I let them talk,” he said. “Then I ask questions. And when we’re done, I always ask, ‘And what else?’ That way we’re more likely to cover everything that’s bothering them.”

Along with building relationships, Dr. Privett said he also enjoys family medicine because he likes solving mysteries.

“People come to me and don’t know why they are having problems,” he said. “I get to figure out what we can do to get them better.”

Dr. Privett joined Lake Regional in 2018.

Learn more about primary care at Lake Regional.

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