Susan Lawton, MD

Lead Physician
Chief Medical Officer
Family Practice
Westside Clinic


Dr. Susan Lawton has now been happily working as Lead Clinician at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic’s Westside office since 2008. She trained in Colorado, graduating from Medical School at the University of Colorado Health Sciences in 1987 and completing her Family Medicine Residency Program in Fort Collins, Colorado. After running her own full range private Family Medicine practice, including caring for hospitalized patients and delivering over 500 babies, for 13 years, she then changed her focus to medical education and worked as a Faculty Member in the Fort Collins Family Medicine Program teaching new medical residents the art of being a Family Doctor. A desire to live in a different climate and culture led to a move to Hawaii for four years, during which time she adopted two babies from China who are now growing into young adults.

She finds the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics to be the most challenging and rewarding place to practice in her career. Deeply committed to care for the “underserved” and a belief in the Mission of the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, she feels she has found her “health home” and plans on ending her career with the Neighborhood Clinics.

Promoted to Chief Medical Officer in 2023, Dr. Lawton plans to work to continue to improve and expand patient care including Medical, Dental and Behavioral Health services.

Hobbies:

Gardening, bike riding, going to the movies, walking my dog “Zipper”, spending time with friends and family.

Languages:

English, beginning Spanish

Education:

  • Residency at Fort Collins Family Medicine
  • Graduate of University of Colorado Health Sciences, Denver, Colorado