PHOTOS

After graduating from Morehouse in 1987, Thornton was matched with Emory University, also in Atlanta, to complete her four-year residency. She graduated in 1991.

Career

Dr. Thornton worked in private practice in Peachtree and Newnan, Georgia, from 1991 to 2004. In 2005, she started her own gynecological practice, which she built from the ground up.

Thornton found herself becoming frustrated with the Georgia health care system around the time of the passage of the Affordable Care Act. “Politics was ruining opportunities to gain access to health care,” she said.

Thornton was ready for a change.

In 2018, she received a phone call from a recruiter, telling her about a job opportunity in Minnesota. She had spent time in the Minneapolis area as a child, but had never been to Duluth.

“I arrived during the middle of a blizzard,” she said with a laugh. “We stayed at Pier B Resort and watched the waves roll in. I interviewed at Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Cloquet, and everyone was so warm and nice. I knew somewhere in my heart that this was the right move.”

Ultimately, Thornton accepted the job offer and moved to Duluth, closing her practice in Georgia. Today, Thornton works as a gynecologist at CMH, and also at Essentia HealthMoose Lake a few times per month.

During the height of the pandemic, all elective surgeries were canceled. Thornton continued seeing a limited number of patients in her office. But now, “it’s gangbusters,” she said. “I have four to five cases on my OR days. It’s exhausting, but I love it.”

Over the years, Thornton has worked closely with many nurses and other medical professionals, and considers them vital to her success.

“Nurses are the glue that holds medicine together,” she said. “We owe a great debt of gratitude to nurses of all specialties.”

Patients

Dr. Thornton’s patients are primarily age 18 and up, but she occasionally sees children in cases involving trauma, forensics or suspicious moles.

“I recommend that women start seeing a gynecologist either at 18; when they become sexually active; or if they have a problem,” she said.

Thornton handles many gynecological issues, which can be handled in her office or through surgery, including:

• Pap tests.

• Tubal pregnancies.

• Menopause.

• Abnormal bleeding.

• Masses, fibroids and cysts.

• Sterilizations.

• Genital prolapses.

• Reduced libido.

• Pelvic relaxation.

Thornton advises all women to be wary of what they see on TV or the internet, guiding them to instead rely on their doctor’s advice.

“I’ve heard advice about only needing Pap tests every five years, and stopping Pap tests at age 65. None of these TV doctors have a vested interest in your health,” she said. “A physician has a personal relationship with their patient, and can advise what is suitable for you.”

Professional goals

Access to medical care is important to Dr. Thornton.

“So many women in Northeastern Minnesota don’t have access to a board-certified OB-GYN in their area,” she said. “I want to help make sure every hospital, particularly rural hospitals, has someone competent on staff to appropriately care for pregnant women.”

So, together with CMH and the support of its CEO, Rick Breuer, along with financial assistance from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Thornton is spearheading an initiative to offer simulation training to health care providers. Here, they can practice procedures like cesarean sections and breech births using a model. CMH will ultimately be a training site for these simulations.

Extracurriculars

In addition to her thriving medical career, Thornton participates in a variety of boards and other professional groups. She serves on the Policy Council for the Minnesota Medical Association, and is on the Board of the Foundation for the Minnesota Medical Association.

She is a member of the League of Women Voters, a member of the NAACP, and a member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is an inaugural commissioner for the city of Duluth’s African Heritage Commission. She is a regular attendee at St. Mark’s AME Church. And she is a frequent speaker for local organizations, such as Kiwanis and Lions Clubs.

Family and personal interests

Thornton is married to Chuck Sylvester, an attorney. Thornton has a step-son, Jahret, 34, and twin daughters, Denise and Danette, 29.

When she isn’t working, Thornton enjoys international travel, decorating, fashion, plants and gardening. She also considers herself a “regular” at Tavern on the Hill, which is near her home, and enjoys dining there regularly.

Dr. Thornton, who is currently accepting new patients, enjoys working in the smaller setting found at CMH.

Practicing at a smaller hospital helps ensure that she has plenty of time for her patients.

“What’s different about a community hospital is that we’re small,” she said. “That’s good for people who are looking for a personal relationship with their doctor. I’m not rushed. I’m very big on patient education and trust. There is no greater privilege than caring for, and operating on, my patients.

“I absolutely love taking care of my patients,” she added. “That’s why I went into this field.” D

2021, Women Veterans Day

The first Women Veterans Day was held on June 12, 2018, which marked the 70th anniversary of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on June 12, 1948. The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act granted women the right to serve as regular, permanent members of the armed services. Every year we see more women stepping into amazing heroic roles in the military. Based on a Google search, women make up a growing share of veterans, about 1.7 million as of 2018. Seventythree years later, we continue to have incredible women who are serving our country. You will have an opportunity to hear stories from Northland military women who are currently serving, and some who are now prideful veterans, in our July issue of The Woman Today. We thank them for stepping forward to share their stories.

After some research in our archives, The Duluth News Tribune team covered a story — “Veterans First: Northland women who served emphasize duty over gender concerns” — on Sunday, November 9, 1997. We have republished that story in this issue of The Woman Today. These are some of many who were the pioneers advocating for women’s equality in the military.

Megan Keller Advertising Director

By Daniel Bernard/News-Tribune staff writer

Originally published Sunday, November 9, 1997