Born and raised in Ukraine, Dr. Oksana Primmer (formerly Dr. Rogerson) has enjoyed practicing as an internist at Reliant Medical Group in Auburn. She especially likes talking to and getting to know her patients, and feels it’s a key part of providing good care. “I think that often 80-90% of a doctor’s diagnosis is just talking and examining the patient,” she explains. “Good communication is crucial, and I think that is something a doctor should never forget – even with all the labs, X-rays and CAT scans that we have today.”

Not every patient is easy to communicate with at first, and Dr. Primmer realizes that it often takes time to sow the seeds of a good relationship. “The longer you know a patient the easier it is to get them to open up and talk to you. It can be more difficult if it’s a new patient and you don’t have an established relationship with them.”

Dr. Primmer believes in taking an individual approach to care with each patient. “Even if the diagnosis is similar, each patient can be affected differently. You can’t have the same approach to each patient, you have to tailor it to them individually,” she explains. Dr. Primmer has learned it pays to keep an open mind when seeing her patients. “Sometimes people come to see you with one problem and you find something else – you never know what to expect. I once treated an eighty year-old woman with abdominal pain and it turned out to be appendicitis – which is rare at that age. So you have to expect the unexpected.”

Dr. Primmer not only enjoys her patients at Reliant Medical Group, she also enjoys working with her colleagues. “I feel very lucky to be here since I am surrounded by so many experienced physicians that are always very supportive. We enjoy discussing cases and learning from each other – it’s a very collaborative environment. In many ways, to start my practice here was the best thing that could have happened to me.”

During her free time away from her practice, Dr. Primmer enjoys spending time with her family. She also likes to stay in shape by going to the gym three or four nights a week. She also loves to travel and enjoys everything from taking day trips in New England to visiting Europe. “I’ve always enjoyed going places and now enjoy taking my son with me. He seems to enjoy it as much as I do.”