Just ask Dr. Linwood T. Joyner II, and he will tell you heartwarming accounts of growing up in Portsmouth. Dr. Joyner was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but moved to Portsmouth with his dad when he was only five days old. He grew up in the Cavalier Manor community and was reared by his grandparents.
One of his favorite things about growing up in Portsmouth was a sense of community. His family church was New First Baptist Taylorsville and the members were very involved in Portsmouth. He was in one of the last classes at Hunt Mapp Middle School, where he was an honor student and happily wore the designated, grade-level school colors – red, white or blue.
Dr. Joyner is a proud honor graduate of I. C. Norcom High School and was the valedictorian of the Class of 2009. While matriculating at Norcom, he participated in the Math and Science Magnet Program and was inducted into the National Honor Society.
He fondly remembers participating in the Youth Advisory Commission for two years, under the leadership of Ms. Debra White, City Clerk. As a member, he enjoyed City Hall Day, Mock City Council meetings and taking part in various community events to include assisting with the Memorial Day parade.
In 2013, Dr. Joyner graduated from North Carolina State University and continued his academic career at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). There, he completed his doctor of medicine degree in 2017 and is looking forward to completing the EVMS Portsmouth Family Medicine Residency Program in June, 2020.
Exposure during middle school, participation in the Math and Science Magnet Program at I. C. Norcom High School, summer camps and the Dozoretz National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences (DNIMAS), a program for premedical students at Norfolk State University and taking an Advanced Placement biology class inspired Dr. Joyner to pursue medicine as his career. A special aunt, who is a nurse practitioner, also served as inspiration. Through her connections and during the summers, he was able to shadow some of the doctors she worked with on a regular basis. While an undergraduate student, he learned how to develop a rapport with patients as a Patient Account Representative at Wakemed Health Systems.
Dr. Joyner views the closing of the Family Birth Center at Maryview Medical Center as a threat to Portsmouth being a healthier city. He also believes, “There is not a lot of community involvement and not a lot of equitable access across the city – there are higher levels of diabetes and no farmer’s markets to access.” Socioeconomic status limits their [citizens] availability to healthier options.
On a positive note, Dr. Joyner sees “programs like the Diabetes Prevention Program and other programs the city is trying to establish” as ways to make Portsmouth a healthier city. Portsmouth is indeed proud to have one of its own to serve our community. #PortsmouthProud
Story by: Gina H. Harris, Resilience Office
Office of the City Manager