Justin Quinn, MD

08/11/2026

Please join us in welcome Tara Harvey, NP to our team !

She will be our evening clinic provider beginning on August 12th, and our evening clinic hours will be from 12:00-7:30 pm.

There will be no evening clinic on Tuesdays.

Welcome Tara!

08/11/2026

Please join us in welcoming Virginia "Jenny" Sexton, NP to our team!

We are thrilled to have her on the team!

06/06/2026

10 Years of Family Medicine

This year marks 10 years since I graduated from residency.

I’m writing this while at a medical conference with two other doctors from my graduating class, and it has me reflecting on a question people sometimes ask:

What does a day in the life of a family doctor consist of?

Most people probably picture a full schedule of blood pressure checks, diabetes follow-ups, coughs, rashes, medicine refills, physicals, lab reviews, forms, messages, and quick visits.

And yes — it is all of that.

But after doing family medicine for years, I think the better answer is this:

A day in the life of a family doctor is a day full of stories.

You may walk into one room to talk about cholesterol and realize the real issue is grief.
You may see someone for fatigue and uncover depression, sleep apnea, anemia, thyroid disease, or something much more serious.
You may treat a sinus infection in one room, adjust diabetes medicine in the next, talk someone through panic attacks after that, then help a family understand what is happening with dementia or heart disease.

That is the part people may not realize.

Family medicine is not just “simple problems.” It is often being the first person someone tells when life is falling apart. It is knowing the patient well enough to say, “This is not normal for you.” It is catching the subtle change because you have taken care of that person, their spouse, their parents, and sometimes their children.

Some of the most meaningful moments in my career have not been dramatic hospital scenes. They have been quieter moments.

A patient finally opening up about anxiety.
Someone getting their diabetes under control after years of struggle.
A cancer found because something just did not sit right.
A spouse saying, “Thank you for explaining that in a way we could understand.”
A person coming back years later healthier because of small choices we worked on together over time.

That continuity matters.

Experience has taught me that medicine is not just knowing guidelines. It is knowing people. Guidelines matter. Evidence matters. Staying current matters. But judgment, trust, and relationship matter too.

I have also learned that patients do not need perfect speeches from their doctor. They need honesty. They need someone willing to listen. They need someone who can say, “Here is what I am worried about,” or “Here is what I would do if you were my family.”

The emotional weight of family medicine is real. You carry more than lab results and office notes. You carry hard conversations, bad diagnoses, worried families, people who are trying their best, and sometimes people who are not ready to change yet.

But you also get the privilege of walking with people through a lot of life.

Births. Losses. New diagnoses. Recovery. Aging. Fear. Hope. Setbacks. Progress.

So what does a day in the life of a family doctor consist of?

It consists of trying to meet people where they are, helping them take the next right step, and remembering that behind every appointment slot is a person with a story.

And if I could encourage patients in one thing, it would be this:

Be honest with your doctor. Tell us what is really going on. Tell us what you are afraid of. Tell us what you are struggling to do. The best care happens when there is trust, openness, and a real relationship.

That is the heart of family medicine!

05/29/2026

Whitney was a valued part of our FCFP family and will be deeply missed. We’re grateful for the impact she had on all of us. Please keep her family in your prayers.

View Whitney Lauren Johnson's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

04/21/2026

Quick flu note from real life this week.
Orion came down with influenza B, which made this one personal for our household. Lauren and I ended up using prophylaxis, and it was a good reminder of where Xofluza (baloxavir) fits into flu care.
Xofluza is a single‑dose antiviral that works against both influenza A and B. In the right setting, it can be used not only for treatment but also for post‑exposure prophylaxis, especially when you’re trying to protect close contacts in the same household.
A few practical points I keep in mind:

It works best when used early
Convenience matters — one dose can make adherence much easier
It’s not for everyone, but it’s a useful option to have
Antivirals don’t replace vaccines, but they can reduce severity, duration, and spread in certain situations.

As a family doc, it’s always interesting when what I talk about in clinic suddenly shows up at home. Flu season is a good reminder that prevention, early recognition, and using the right tools at the right time all matter.
Hope everyone is staying healthy out there — and washing hands like your kid just touched every surface at Target.

03/11/2026

One more nutrition topic I keep coming back to with patients: FIBER.

Most people focus on calories, carbs, fat, or protein — but fiber is one of the most overlooked parts of nutrition, and it matters more than people realize.

Fiber plays a big role in:
• Appetite control
• Blood sugar stability
• Cholesterol
• Gut health
• Weight management
• How full you feel after meals

What I see often is this:
People increase protein (which is good), but fiber stays very low. The result is constipation, blood sugar swings, lingering hunger, or GI side effects — especially for those on GLP‑1 medications.
Most adults should be aiming for roughly 25–35 grams of fiber per day, but many people don’t even get half of that.

Good sources don’t have to be complicated:
• Vegetables
• Beans and lentils
• Berries
• Whole grains
• Nuts and seeds

Fiber works best when it’s part of a meal — especially paired with protein. That combination tends to keep people full longer and feeling more stable throughout the day.

Like most things in nutrition, this isn’t about perfection.
It’s about being intentional and building meals that actually support how your body works.

03/09/2026

Lately I’ve been talking a lot about healthy diet and protein with patients, so let’s talk about the part people often forget to look at:

FAT — especially saturated fat.

Not all protein sources are created equal.
For example, when patients tell me they’re “eating more protein,” we’ll often look at what kind:
A typical serving of skinless chicken breast has very little saturated fat — often just a few grams.
A lean cut of pork falls somewhere in the middle — roughly around 8–10 grams of saturated fat depending on the cut.
Certain fattier cuts of beef can be much higher — sometimes 25–30 grams of saturated fat or more in a larger serving.

Same protein goal. Very different metabolic impact.
This is one reason I emphasize lean protein so much — especially for people working on weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, or heart health.

It’s not that beef or pork are “bad.”
It’s about frequency, portion size, and choosing the right cuts.
Over the past year, I personally lost about 15 pounds by:
• lowering excess dietary fat
• increasing lean protein
• being more intentional with food choices
Nothing extreme. Just consistency.

When patients swap higher‑fat proteins for leaner options — even without changing calories — I often see:
• better satiety
• improved lipid numbers
• better energy
• more sustainable weight loss

Nutrition isn’t about perfection.
It’s about stacking small decisions in your favor.
If this is helpful, comment “More” or feel free to ask any questions and I can try to address them in future posts.

03/06/2026

Nutrition has been a big focus for me this year, both personally and with my patients.
Over the past year, I lost about 15 pounds by doing two fairly simple things:
I lowered the amount of fat in my diet and intentionally increased my lean protein intake.
No extreme dieting. No cutting out entire food groups. Just being more deliberate.
What I’m noticing more and more in clinic is that most patients are not eating enough lean protein, even when they’re trying to “eat healthy.”

Protein matters more than most people realize. It helps with:
Energy
Appetite and cravings
Blood sugar control
Preserving muscle as we age
Weight management

A lot of meals I see are carb‑heavy with very little protein, which leads to feeling hungry again quickly and frustrated that nutrition “isn’t working.”
Here’s a simple way to estimate how much protein you need:
Start with your body weight in kilograms.
(To convert pounds to kilograms, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2.)
General daily protein targets:
About 0.8 grams per kilogram is the minimum recommendation for adults.
Many people — especially those trying to lose weight, maintain muscle, or improve metabolic health — do better closer to 1.0–1.2 grams per kilogram per day.
Example:
If you weigh 180 lbs
180 ÷ 2.2 = ~82 kg
Protein range = about 65–100 grams per day, depending on goals
That doesn’t mean eating it all at once. It means building meals around a protein source, then adding carbs and fats intentionally.

Lean protein doesn’t have to be complicated:
Chicken or turkey
Fish
Eggs or egg whites
Greek yogurt
Cottage cheese
Lean beef
Beans or lentils

When patients start prioritizing protein — even without changing much else — I often see better satiety, fewer cravings, more stable energy, and better long‑term results.

Nutrition doesn’t need to be perfect.
But it does need to be intentional.

If this is helpful, I’m happy to share more about nutrition.
Comment “More” or feel free to ask any questions and I can try to address them in future posts.

03/03/2026

Final Thoughts on Thyroid Health (and a few internet myths)
I’ve shared a few posts recently about thyroid labs, how the thyroid works, and why nutrients like iodine, selenium, B12, and folate matter. I wanted to wrap up with this:

Most thyroid issues don’t come down to one number.
In real life, it’s usually a combination of hormones (TSH, T4, T3), how well your body converts hormone, nutrient status (sometimes), stress, sleep, lifestyle, and time. Patterns matter more than snapshots.

One of the most common things I hear is:
“My labs were normal, but I didn’t feel normal.”
That disconnect is real — and it’s why thyroid care has to be individualized. What’s “normal” on paper isn’t always the whole story for the person sitting in front of me.

Before I close this series, here are a few thyroid myths I see online all the time:

Myth: “If your TSH is normal, your thyroid is fine.”
Not always. TSH is an important signal, but it’s not the full picture. Sometimes you need context, trends over time, symptoms, and additional labs.

Myth: “Everyone with fatigue has a thyroid problem.”
Fatigue is real — but thyroid is only one possible cause. Sleep, stress, anemia/iron issues, B12/folate deficiency, depression/anxiety, inflammation, medications, and metabolic issues can all look similar.

Myth: “You can fix your thyroid with supplements alone.”
Supplements can help when there’s a true deficiency, but they’re not a universal fix. More isn’t always better — and some supplements can cause harm if taken incorrectly.

Myth: “Iodine is always the answer.”
Iodine is essential — but more is not automatically better. In some people, excess iodine can actually worsen thyroid problems. This is one reason I’m cautious about blanket advice from the internet.

Myth: “Thyroid meds are optional once you ‘heal your gut’ or ‘detox.’”
Some people truly need thyroid hormone replacement, and stopping it without medical guidance can make people feel miserable — and in rare cases, become dangerous.

Myth: “If you have Hashimoto’s, gluten is ALWAYS the cause.”
Some people feel better adjusting diet. Others don’t. Autoimmune thyroid disease is more complex than one ingredient.

Bottom line: Be careful with confident internet claims. Thyroid care is one of the areas where people get the most misinformation — and it can send you down expensive, frustrating rabbit holes.
If there’s one takeaway from this series, it’s this: Don’t chase one number — look at the whole picture.
Thanks to everyone who commented and followed along. I appreciate the conversations.

02/12/2026

❤️ Valentine’s Day & Heart Health ❤️
Valentine’s Day usually makes us think about hearts — the cartoon kind.
But as a family doctor, it also makes me think about the real one.
The heart isn’t just something I talk about in the clinic. It’s personal.
It’s the reason I want to stay healthy for my wife.
It’s the reason I want to be around for my son — not just now, but years from now.
Most people don’t realize this, but heart disease doesn’t usually show up all at once.
It builds quietly over time — through stress, sleep, diet, movement, and habits we repeat every day.
That’s why I always tell patients:
Heart health isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency.
Small things matter:

Taking a walk instead of skipping movement altogether
Choosing better most days, not every day
Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar early — not after there’s a problem
Making time for the people who lower your stress just by being around

This Valentine’s Day, flowers and chocolate are great — but the best gift you can give the people you love is taking care of yourself so you can be there longer.
That’s what I’m working on, too.❤️