Then and Now – Dr. Ashoo Rao Looks Back on 29 Years of Making a Difference
The desire to help others goes back to when Ashoo Rao, M.D. was three years old and watched her parents take care of their patients.
Dr. Rao’s mother, an obstetrician and gynecologist in India, cared for the underserved population and moved to the U.S. in 1966 to be a high-risk OB/GYN consultant for Northwest Ohio Hospital. Her father served as an army physician and family practitioner.
“In India, everyone knew where we lived, and neighbors would knock on our door at night,” Dr. Rao said. “Many of the women who needed help were abused, and my mom examined them on a wooden table in our house. I also went with my dad on evening calls to neighbor’s homes. The payment was mostly food.”
Journey to a Lifetime of Helping Others
Dr. Rao attended medical school in India where she met her husband. In 1980, the couple moved to the United States, and Dr. Rao completed her residency at University of Illinois before moving to Texas. She worked at Kaiser for eight years and admitted many patients to Cook Children’s. At the time, most Medicaid patients did not have a primary care physician, so all physicians were on call.
“When we discharged patients, we didn’t have anywhere to send them for the follow-up care they needed,” Dr. Rao said. “The neighborhood health centers that Cook Children’s started have been a meaningful addition to help us continue caring for children and families close to home.” 
In 1996, Dr. Rao worked in the first Cook Children’s neighborhood health center – a 500-square-foot mobile building on a playground.
“We have come a long way since then with nine neighborhood health centers serving the underserved,” Dr. Rao said.
A Passion for Preventive Care
Dr. Rao was determined to work at the neighborhood health center, ensuring every patient had a primary care home and referrals to specialists. She promoted immunizations, well checkups and other issues like mental health or speech therapy.
“The neighborhood health centers serve as a patient’s home for treatment of existing conditions and preventive care,” Dr. Rao said. “The goal is to pick up on any problems early on instead of waiting until they have to visit an Emergency Department or Urgent Care.”
One of the ways Dr. Rao focused on preventive care was taking a special interest in supporting children with obesity. At the time, nutritionists did not work with kids, so Dr. Rao stepped in to fill that gap. One of her patients who struggled with obesity visited the neighborhood health center every two weeks, and she made a personalized meal plan to help him make healthier choices. At 16 years old, it was time for him to transfer to another doctor due to his age. Dr. Rao will never forget the last conversation with his mom.
“The patient’s mom said she appreciated my effort to personally meet with him so often, and it meant a lot to me,” Dr. Rao said. “It was heartwarming to hear that he benefited from it.”
Advances in Modern Medicine
Throughout her 29-year career at Cook Children’s, Dr. Rao has seen many advancements such as the change from paper to electronic records. Dr. Rao said EPIC is linked to specialists, Emergency Department and Urgent Care visits which allow for continuity of care as pediatricians are able to look up labs and imaging.
She has also seen a difference in common diagnoses due to immunizations.
“People don’t realize how much immunizations have helped,” Dr. Rao said. “When I started as a resident, meningitis was the most common reason for hospital admissions. Tetanus, measles and chickenpox were also prevalent childhood diseases. My hope for the future is that the immunization schedule will stay the same.”
Looking to the Future
Dr. Rao is thankful for the Cook Children’s vision to open the neighborhood health centers and sees it as the hospital’s ongoing legacy. She said the training and advancements at the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center will have a far-reaching impact. 
The Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center features services such as counselors, social workers, and speech therapists. The new space also allows families to take part in hands-on learning, including kitchen demonstrations where they prepare healthy meals together.
“Having onsite specialists makes a big difference as there is no delay in treatment,” Dr. Rao said.
A Mother’s Insight
As a mother of two children, Dr. Rao understands that some challenges children face go beyond parenting and require compassionate care to help each child thrive.
“I was able to pick up on problems with other kids that came from my own experience as a mom,” Dr. Rao said. “It is not just the home situation that makes them who they are. They come with their own personalities and there is no guidebook.”
Dr. Rao said one of the most rewarding experiences is when former patients bring their own children to see her – a full circle moment.
A Legacy of Serving the Underserved
Dr. Rao retired in October. She is looking forward to continuing to serve the underserved through volunteering.
Above all, Dr. Rao is grateful for her time at the neighborhood health centers and counts it a privilege to have cared for each of her patients.
“I’m thankful I was able to be part of the legacy at Cook Children’s to care for the underserved.”
