Though originally from California, Rachelle Hamblin, MD, now considers herself a Texan after training for and beginning her family medicine career here. She earned her medical degree and Master of Public Health at UT Health San Antonio, completed her family medicine residency at CHRISTUS Westover Hills, and is now an attending at Health By Design, the retiree police and firefighter clinic in San Antonio.
Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
On my fourteenth birthday, while playing soccer, I tore a ligament in my foot and I was told I would not play sports or possibly even walk without pain again. One year, two surgeries, and an amazing medical team later, I was able to do all of those and more, including getting recruited for college ball. Dr. Mann and my amazing medical team gave me my life and my passions back and sparked that passion for medicine. In medical school on my third year rotation, CHRISTUS and their fantastic team of doctors inspired me to go into family medicine – a unique field where I could listen to peoples’ stories, truly get to know and take care of my patients and their families throughout their lives and engage in holistic prevention. For all those who helped me, I am blessed to be able to do the same for my patients as a family medicine physician.
What led to you wanting to work with firefighters and police?
I'm so blessed to be able to intertwine family medicine and my MPH with my love for my fire service and my firefighters. Not only do I get to be a family doc for retired firefighters at Health by Design, a retiree police and firefighter clinic, but I also get to help take care of active duty firefighters as well.
Since 2019, I have been volunteering with the San Antonio Fire Department as part of their Occupational Cancer Committee. It all started with an EMS ride out at Station 13 in medical school where I asked, how can I better help you as a physician? The resounding answer was cancer care and prevention as their friends were getting cancer and dying. I thought, "I'm getting my MD/MPH. I can do that." Since then, I've been fortunate to help them work on extinguishing cancer by collaborating on firefighter cancer prevention research with local, national, and international partners; teaching at the fire training academy; advocating for occupational cancer prevention and treatment at local, state, and national levels; assisting with cancer screenings; educating physicians, medical students, and firefighters on occupational cancer; and riding out with SAFD.
Some really neat things we have been able to do are create our SAFD Wellness and Cancer Prevention Fair in 2023, helping to screen over 1,500 firefighters for occupational cancer, and form a Memorandum of Understanding with Mays Cancer Center, UT Health, University of Miami, Sylvester Cancer Center, and SAFD in late 2024 to collaborate and help improve prevention, treatment, survivorship, education, and research of occupational cancer in our firefighters. I was also very fortunate and honored to be a speaker at this year's International Fire Service Cancer Symposium, speaking about our academic and community partnerships.
Walking in their shoes, training with them, and participating in the Citizen's Fire Training Academy – which included learning how to fight fires – I've gained a lot of understanding and respect for what firefighters do. They have become my reason, and I'm blessed to say a number of those same firefighters have become some of my closest friends and even came to my wedding.
Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
My residency introduced me to TAFP and since then I've continued to be an active member.
I'm very lucky TAFP found me and grateful my CHRISTUS residency introduced me. TAFP has been an integral member of my career which is the reason why I choose to remain a TAFP member (it's a no-brainer).
My mentor in residency, Laura Nietfeld, MD, showed me the range of opportunities at TAFP. I was fortunate to go to D.C. and represent Texas at AAFP’s Family Medicine Advocacy Summit where I got to advocate for family medicine and my patients at the House and Senate. In 2024, I was also fortunate to attend AAFP’s National Conference of Constituency Leaders and helped author, promote, and testify on a new resolution which was passed (Resolution 2007: Improving Awareness and Training for Family Medicine Physicians Serving First Responders).
Beyond these incredible opportunities, I'm blessed to also work with TAFP as part of the AAFP Residency Ambassador Program and the Texas Family Medicine Preceptorship Program. TAFP offers a wealth of information, and I have met incredible mentors, colleagues, and friends who inspire lifelong learning and personal and professional development. I can't imagine not having TAFP as part of my medical community, support, and growth.
What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my husband (who is completing an emergency medicine residency at BAMC!). I also love cooking, working out, and spending time with my family, friends, and firefighters. We are building our home gym complete with a punching bag (to continue Krav Maga) and Olympic weight set.
TAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Texas family physicians in TAFP News Now and on the TAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different TAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting TAFP by email at tafp@tafp.org or by phone at (512) 329-8666.