“Dr. Addie” Briggs and East End Pediatrics

By Patricia A. Vitsky

With all odds against her, viagra 100mg Addie Briggs fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a doctor.  However, growing up in Churchill, she found little support or encouragement.  Nevertheless, she continued to make excellent grades and by the time she graduated from Armstrong High School her destiny and dream took root.

Following her undergraduate work at Howard University, she attended the Medical College of Virginia.  She did her residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, one of the best in the country.  With that kind of quality background and training, Dr. Briggs said, “I could have gone into practice ANYWHERE…but I wanted to return to Churchill.”  This desire has framed her heartfelt vision for her practice in medicine.

In her fourth year of medical school, she heard God’s will to go into Pediatrics.  Dr. Briggs recognized that in the position of Doctor, her calling could go well beyond the practice of medicine – it served merely as a platform for her greatest desire to influence children to follow their dreams.   Not only would she be able to administer encouragement to the Churchill community, but also she would be a living example.  “When the children see me, I can serve as an example – they can imagine their own futures as doctors, lawyers, accountants and that anything is possible for them,” Dr. Briggs comments enthusiastically, adding “I want them to know that it is not hopeless, in spite of the negativity and poverty that may surround them.”

Opening East End Pediatrics in Churchill in 2001, Dr. Briggs began seeing her dream come to fruition and grow larger.  When her practice grew larger, she moved to her current location in the Kroger Laburnum Square Shopping Center.  Prior to the move, she made sure that the new office was easily accessible and on the bus line.  Again, she could have gone ANYWHERE!  But she stayed true to her initial calling.

Dr. Briggs inspires and is very passionate about encouraging her older patients.  She presents a view of today’s reality…telling them that a high school diploma just isn’t enough.  She inquires about their GPA and SAT scores. She explains why ‘just passing’ grades are NOT good enough, that they will not yield scholarships.  She warns against drugs.  While giving check-ups and writing prescriptions, she raises their sights to better futures.

Dr. Briggs believes “Straight A’s deserve a reward!”  Patients have received tickets to Kings Dominion, the circus, monster truck shows, or whatever she has on hand.  Out of tickets?  She tucks a bit of money into their hand and congratulates them on their great well-earned accomplishment.

Recently, one mother called her to acknowledge vast changes to her ‘very bad boy.’  The mom said, “I don’t know what you did or said, but he is a different child!  He is doing better in school; he is changed.” There is pride in her voice when Dr. Briggs asserts, “When they say they are going to college, my job is done, my words were not in vain!”

Small children and infants also get a dose of her ‘beyond medicine’ philosophy.  My mission is to educate parents and assist them to understand and anticipate developmental changes.  From the moment Dr. Briggs opens the exam room door, her assessment of the patient begins – and because of her substantial training – she often knows, by the time she sits down, whether the child requires hospitalization.  As infant communications skills are limited, Dr. Briggs is trained to learn what might ail them through observation of babies’ play and interaction with her and the parent. The advocacy to children is not limited to just her practices.  It is a different and very specialized approach in diagnosis.

The responsibility and expectations upon herself are great.   In her spare time, she releases stress and works on herself through Tae Kwon Do and Dai-Ichi Shotokan (a form of Japanese martial arts), achieving black belts in both disciplines.  Here, even in her leisure, she takes another opportunity to positively impact the lives of children.

Her greatest joy?  “Influencing children to follow their dreams.” Just as she had done by deciding to become a doctor at the tender age of 8 years old.

“Dr. Addie Briggs” welcomes and serves pediatric patients throughout the entire metro area.

East End Pediatrics
4744 Finlay Street
(Inside the Kroger Laburnum Square Shopping Center)
Richmond, VA  23231
804-864-9600
http://www.eepeds.com