Lorna Shanks

Dr. Lorna Shanks grew up in western Colorado and always had her sights set on medicine. She attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, where she completed her pre‑medical studies, studied abroad in Madrid and Buenos Aires, and graduated in 2005 with a major in Spanish and a minor in Chemistry. She then earned her MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine, spending time in southern India caring for HIV‑affected infants and mothers.

After completing her residency, Dr. Shanks joined Kaiser Permanente in southeast Portland at the Rockwood office, where she cared for a panel of over 1,500 patients, many of whom were Spanish speakers. She later practiced at Bridgeport Family Medicine in Tigard, expanding her scope to include gender‑affirming care and HIV treatment. Frustrated by the complexities of third‑party billing, she founded Shanks Primary Care, using the Direct Primary Care model to provide transparent, personalized, and affordable primary care. Her motto, “your health isn’t simple; your care can be,” reflects her commitment to giving patients the time and attention they deserve.