Growing up, Hemalee Patel, DO didn’t think she’d want to work in medicine. Though she was interested in nutrition, the healthcare providers she had encountered herself never had enough time to go in depth with patients, to understand their lifestyles or way of thinking. Hemalee was much more interested in human behavior and the process behind decision-making, leading her originally to economics.

While watching family members struggle with diabetes, however, Hemalee’s perspective of health quickly changed. She recognized that individuals’ lifestyles and behaviors can have a significant impact on both their physical and mental well-being, and that with the right tools and support, patients can adapt and gain control of their health. Today she’s able to combine her interests, as a director and clinical design lead of Impact, One Medical’s comprehensive approach to chronic care management.