Member of the Month: Ana Oliveira Crew, DO, MPH

From growing up alongside her parents’ medical mission work to now caring for her own patients, Ana Oliveira Crew, DO, MPH, has built a career centered on service, connection, and comprehensive care. She provides full-spectrum primary care at Baylor Scott & White in Waco, with a focus on preventive medicine and chronic disease management, while also teaching and mentoring future family physicians at Baylor College of Medicine. Crew is deeply committed to accessible, culturally responsive, and relationship-centered care and says she has always been guided by serving communities.

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
I was inspired by my parents, who were Brazilian medical missionaries. Growing up, I traveled with them to underserved communities in Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico, and other countries where they provided free medical, dental, and educational services. From an early age, I witnessed the impact that compassionate, culturally sensitive healthcare can have on individuals and families. Family medicine felt like the perfect fit because it allows me to care for patients across all stages of life while building meaningful, long-term relationships.

What are your practice passions?
I am passionate about preventive care and empowering patients to take charge of their health before chronic diseases become more serious. I especially enjoy caring for patients with diabetes, obesity, and thyroid disorders, helping them achieve healthier lives through education and partnership. I also have a heart for reducing language and cultural barriers in healthcare and ensuring that every patient feels heard, understood, and respected.

You recently joined TAFP — welcome! What do you look forward to getting out of your membership?
I'm excited to connect with family physicians across Texas who share a commitment to providing excellent patient care. I look forward to learning from colleagues, staying current on advances in family medicine, advocating for our specialty, and finding opportunities to collaborate on improving the health of our communities. As both a practicing physician and educator, I also value the chance to grow professionally and bring new knowledge back to my patients and students.

What has surprised you most about family medicine?
What continues to surprise me is the incredible privilege of walking alongside patients through so many chapters of their lives. Family medicine is about much more than treating illnesses, it's about earning trust, celebrating milestones, navigating challenges together, and often caring for multiple generations within the same family. Those lasting relationships are one of the most rewarding aspects of our specialty and remind me every day why I chose family medicine.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Outside of work, my greatest joy is spending time with my husband and our three young boys. I also enjoy watching my kids play competitive soccer, taking long walks with my husband, reading, and working on puzzles. I am also very involved with a local church in Waco and enjoy leading or co-leading women’s Bible studies and serving in the youth ministry. These activities help me recharge and remind me of the importance of balance and staying connected with God, family, and our local community.

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.