Dr. Maria Chavez Santos: Community Care that Changes the World

Dr. Maria Chavez Santos is, in her own way, a revolutionary. That may seem dramatic, but it’s true. She has dedicated her life to changing and uplifting the world through the care she provides to communities. This commitment to a greater cause is precisely what makes her such a great fit for the TrueCare team. She joined our team about a year ago. At TrueCare, our mission-driven approach to health care is at the core of everything we do, and our passionate team members embody this community-centric spirit every single day.

Dr. Chavez Santos is a shining example of this TrueCare truism. Learn about what it’s like to work at TrueCare and what makes someone a good fit from Dr. Chavez Santos below!

Dr. Maria Chavez Santos: Walking the Walk & Changing the World One Community at a Time

Dr. Chavez Santos completed her Undergraduate Degree at Columbia University, and then she continued her education at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. Now, she works at TrueCare’s Carlsbad campus as a primary care services provider.

“I trained in a very different place than California,” smiled Dr. Chavez Santos, “and I just wanted a change of pace and a change of scenery, so I decided to move to California last year, and that’s what brought me to TrueCare.”

We couldn’t be happier that she chose to join our organization. Learn what it’s like to work at TrueCare and why she chose us directly from Dr. Chavez Santos herself.

Related Article: Meet the TrueCare Providers: Rachel Lum Ho, MD

What Made You Work in Community Health?

Dr. Chavez Santos says that what she loves about her role at TrueCare is that she’s doing what she’s always wanted to do in her career.

“I’ve always wanted to provide primary care to a range of patients, and I’ve always wanted to practice medicine in a way where I can serve communities on a global basis,” explained Dr. Chavez Santos. “That’s what got me into family medicine in the first place,” she said.

Dr. Chavez Santos has had a global impact in her work, rendering the world the community she is committed to helping. Because of this, she has the unique ability to bring a global perspective to local community health care, which is an invaluable asset for patient care.

“I’ve been able to do missions outside of the United States in several other countries like Ecuador and Guatemala,” explained Dr. Chavez Santos. “That’s always been my personal passion. When I graduated from med school a little over a decade ago, I decided to go into family practice, and that’s how I kind of ended up in this field,” she added.

Dr. Chavez Santos said that working at TrueCare has been a fundamental but refreshing shift in perspective that has revitalized her professional passion.

“We think about patients as people here rather than just a number, and that’s at the heart of community health,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “I really enjoy that aspect because it gives me more satisfaction knowing we’re actually doing something good for the community. The patients feel seen and heard, which is essential to quality health care, and it’s something that people in communities that are too often underserved don’t usually experience in their health care, which engenders a fear and intimidation of it and creates a kind of cycle that makes them deprioritize or avoid taking care of their health. It’s a lot more satisfying to work here than any other place I’ve worked,” she said proudly.

Do You Like Working at a Coastal Health Center Like TrueCare Carlsbad?

As a relatively new California transplant, she (happily) hasn’t had much culture shock – instead, she’s experienced cultural alignment and says it’s been more like kismet.

“I love everything about California,” beamed Dr. Chavez Santos. “I really wanted something different when I came here, and it’s been a nice change for me. But particularly with TrueCare, I saw a lot of the qualities that I try to embody as a physician, like working with integrity and really caring for the community. That’s what inspired me to choose to work at TrueCare, and it’s just been another wonderful part of my life here in California,” she said.

As for the location itself? She says you can’t beat being so close to the beach, the year-round sunshine, and the general vibe of living and working near the coast.

“I’ve really enjoyed working so close to the water, and I just love everything about Carlsbad,” smiled Dr. Chavez Santos. “Our office is just five minutes from the beach, so it’s nice to be able to have lunch there. I’ll admit, I was a little hesitant at first because it seemed out of the way, but the location makes it worth it. It’s exactly what I wanted when I pictured moving to California. It’s beautiful, close to the beach, and laid back. It’s also more accessible than it initially seems, even if you don’t work right in town. Plus, working by the water in a vacation town makes every day feel like you’re on a holiday with all the little restaurants and cafes. It’s just a really special place,” she said.

She says that the location also creates a stronger sense of camaraderie amongst staff.

“I like to call Carlsbad the boutique clinic,” joked Dr. Chavez Santos. “It’s a little smaller, cozier might be the better word, but that creates a more personal setting. Our staff knows each other really well, and that just helps us work together better because there’s a trust – they know we are all trying to further the same mission and hold the same values. The quality of the medical assistance is unparalleled, the staff is super knowledgeable about everything that’s going on here, whether it’s programs or more care-related things, and things just flow better here compared to my previous work experiences,” she said.

Dr. Chavez Santos also said that the warmth and closeness of the “phenomenal” staff are huge benefits to consider for prospective interviewees and new hires.

“Being new to community health care like this, I’ve had to learn a lot because I can’t do things the way that I used to,” explained Dr. Chavez Santos. “The staff has really helped teach me, and it’s just overall a great community that we have here that is, in my opinion, a microcosm of the greater Carlsbad community. You just feel like you’re part of something greater when you’re working here; it’s palpable,” she said.

What Do You Like About Working at TrueCare?

When it comes to what Dr. Chavez Santos enjoys about working at TrueCare, she says that she especially enjoys the shared mission that everyone is committed to in the organization.

“I love TrueCare because it really does practice what it preaches – the entire organization walks the walk,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “When I interviewed here, I spoke with Dr. Taneja. He interviewed me and gave me a tour for over an hour, and we just talked about the work that TrueCare does with the community in terms of outreach and what they are looking for in physicians and other health care practitioners because it’s really important that your values align here, which is something I would highly suggest showcasing for people who are preparing for an interview. What I loved about the mission here is the organization’s dedication to making sure they reach the underserved community first and foremost, which is what I’ve always wanted,” she said.

Dr. Chavez Santos said that this mission-driven approach results in more compassionate and effective care, which is always a top priority for her.

“During that conversation, we talked about how they practice with integrity and respect for everybody in an equitable way,” elaborated Dr. Chavez Santos. “Over the last year that I’ve been working here, that’s exactly what I’ve seen. It’s pretty incredible. The values and mission they talk about aren’t just buzzwords or superficial – it’s what we live and breathe here, and that makes the work more meaningful,” she said.

Dr. Chavez Santos said she also likes working at TrueCare because she felt like her voice mattered as soon as she stepped through the door. Leadership eagerly embraces ideas. She believes TrueCare empowers employees to flourish professionally with this attitude.

“In terms of ideas that I’ve brought forward, I have received a lot of great support,” said Dr. Chavez Santos with pride. “For example, there’s a lot of community outreach here. Even during my interview, I spoke with them about some ideas I had in terms of maybe encouraging physical activity, and since then, we’ve started a program where TrueCare has started a program where you can walk with a doctor once a month called Walk with a Doc, and I’ve been lucky enough to participate in that and lead the program. It’s been wonderful to be able to reach out to the community and lead by example with healthy habits,” she said.

She says TrueCare always shows how invested they are in providers. Still, this community outreach, ultimately, is what she finds the most fulfilling because those are the initiatives that she says illustrate the impact she is making on the community.

“It’s just really incredible to be a part of all these initiatives because every one is an opportunity to witness the impact our organization has on the lives of those in these communities,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “TrueCare also does a lot of outreach with the dental clinic, and we also do a lot of work distributing food via the Food Pantry. I’m not actively involved in that program, but I’ve learned about it a lot. There’s also the Walk with a Doc program. So I’ve just seen a lot of the values they preach in practice,” she said.

Dr. Chavez Santos said this company culture has another benefit that makes TrueCare special – it creates a stronger, more unified, and more capable team!

“The quality of practitioners the culture attracts has been amazing to see,” effused Dr. Chavez Santos. “You can tell people really care about their job, and their attention to detail and respect for patients are very evident. Every day, I see people interacting with patients and read their notes and see what their thoughts are on how we can best help people, and it fills me with pride. The quality of care is phenomenal, the value that people give to patients is exceptional, and it makes you proud to be a part of this team,” she smiled.

The end result of all of this, at the end of the day, is a higher quality of care and a more enjoyable work experience.

“It really motivates you on a day-to-day basis, especially in your patient interactions, because you know you’re working with an organization that really cares about their patients and supports you in improving their health,” reflected Dr. Chavez Santos, “which, to me, equates to a better quality of life and higher satisfaction as a provider.”

What Has Been the Impact of the Walk with a Doc Program that You Have Seen?

Having been one of the people behind TrueCare’s Walk with a Doc program, Dr. Chavez Santos has a unique perspective on not just this program but the impact these types of programs have on the communities we serve.

“I had this idea since before I worked with TrueCare, and I remember mentioning it to Dr. Taneja during my interview,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “It was really just a match made in heaven because he told me there was something in the works for that already. I think some of the most important factors in determining health are metabolic health and how we take care of our bodies. I’ve always believed that if we can lead by example, then we can inspire patients and understand the struggles they might be facing to know where people are coming from and the challenges they’re facing as they try to get motivated to invest in their health. This program is an opportunity to show patients that we’re in this together. When they were ready to roll out the program, they came to me and asked if I wanted to lead it because of my interview, and I jumped at the chance,” she said.

During these initiatives, she says what really stands out are the opportunities for one-on-one time with patients that you simply can’t get during a doctor’s appointment.

“It’s really incredible because you get to talk with the patients one-on-one, and before you even walk with them, you can give them a little presentation on a health topic that you think would be relevant,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “Knowledge and education are so important to health. It’s been really, really fun and rewarding to speak with patients, hear their questions, and just be more accessible to them in a way that they can feel like they can let their guard down and see the doctor doing what they’re promoting,” she said.

She says the response to this program has been great from the community and staff.

“It’s been really wonderful to see the staff response because there are a lot of people from different offices that I’ve never met who come out and support these events and walk with you,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “So, it brings us closer together as a team. It also helps our team be healthier, whether it’s physicians or PAs, so that’s also been really lovely. The community has also really stepped up. We’ve had a good number of patients show up. When people see that there’s a large group of people walking around the park, they want to join. It’s kind of a psychological phenomenon. It’s a really nice, organic way to reach out, even to people who aren’t patients and just want to see what TrueCare is about,” she said.

Never one to rest on her laurels, she revealed that she’s far from finished creating these initiatives to better serve the community.

“We’ve been talking about an event where you grocery shop and cook with a doctor to learn how to cook healthier meals, and another idea that we’ve played around with a little bit has been to see how we can do group visits, specifically for diabetic patients, but just in general for people with metabolic health issues like high cholesterol or high blood pressure,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “The idea is to be able to teach them in a group setting and also have them teach each other about what works, what doesn’t, and hopefully bring a more personal touch to addressing these issues and improving health outcomes in a community setting – because the environment and community play such a huge role in health, but these are variables that a lot of people overlook. The reality is that holistically improving health in a sustainable way requires so much more than just prescribing medications and telling people to eat healthier. That’s what we’re doing here,” she said.

Related Article: Walk with a Doc / Saturday, July 12

How Does TrueCare Celebrate Professional and Personal Milestones with Employees?

Dr. Chavez Santos says that one way that TrueCare makes her and her colleagues feel valued is by celebrating their professional and personal milestones.

“They do a lot and try to go above and beyond to celebrate with you – they’re just as proud as you are for your accomplishments, and it’s wonderful,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “When I completed my first year here, for example, I got a little celebratory certificate celebrating the fact that I’ve been here for over a year. It was really nice,” she smiled.

What’s the Team Dynamic Like at TrueCare?

Dr. Chavez Santos said the team she works with is one of the best parts of working at TrueCare because they’re more like family than colleagues.

“When you look at how I’m sitting with my staff, I like to point out that I had the option to sit somewhere different and apart from them, but I just love working closely with them,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “The team is one of the biggest perks of working here. I love getting to know them and being able to chit chat about their lives, their children, or what they’re doing after work. For holidays, we go out and have a nice dinner together, and for birthdays, there’s always a celebration. We have a lot of fun,” she said.

She also says that they teach each other about their cultures, which is special and, for someone as worldly as Dr. Chavez Santos, invaluable.

“It’s funny because one thing I’ve realized coming from the East Coast is I thought I knew Mexican food,” laughed Dr. Chavez Santos, “but it turns out I definitely did not know Mexican food. So that’s been a learning curve – a delicious one, which is the best kind. I’ve really enjoyed that. It’s just been really, really lovely getting to know my team. I cannot stress it enough.”

What’s It Like Living in the Community You Serve?

Dr. Chavez Santos lives in Carlsbad. She said her role at TrueCare makes her feel more deeply ingrained in the community, and she says it provides a daily reminder of the impact she is having on people’s lives working at our organization.

“I have gotten to see many patients just by coincidence out in the community,” said Dr. Chavez Santos. “It’s nice to bump into people on runs or doing random things out and about in the community, and it’s been really lovely to become integrated like that. I feel very much privileged to be able to help them and make them feel empowered about changing their health. Because changing their health changes their lives – it saves lives. People usually just think about coming to a place like this for refills and routine management, but we really want to sow the seeds of something greater – maybe not revolutionary, per se, but my goal is to make patients feel empowered to change their own health and just put that power in their hands. It’s kind of like self-determination, giving people agency when it comes to their health. It’s really incredible work we’re doing,” she smiled.

What Should You Know if You’re Applying for a Job at TrueCare?

When it comes to applying for a job at TrueCare, Dr. Chavez Santos emphasized that it has to be the right culture fit. Your values have to align with our mission. This starts with the application and continues well into the interview process.

“The most important thing to consider is the feeling you get when you’re interviewing,” elaborated Dr. Chavez Santos. “I got a very strong sense during my interview of TrueCare’s values, and I was able to see that they aligned with mine. It was just a very personable experience. I got a very strong feeling that this was a place that cares about its patients and invests in its physicians, whether it’s in technology like using AI or translation devices that you can carry with you into the exam room. Those are things that facilitate and improve our quality time, work-life balance, and patient outcomes. So, having shared values is probably one of the most important considerations,” she said.

She says that it’s also important to know that TrueCare truly cares about you and that they go to great lengths to invest in their team.

“One thing that is restarting this year is a Provider Wellness Retreat, which is happening in the fall,” said Dr. Chavez Santos, “so that’s just another example of investment, not just in patients but in provider wellness and satisfaction. It’s what I felt during the interview, and it’s just been really consistent. I appreciate that consistency and transparency.”

This all begs the question: What’s next for someone like Dr. Chavez Santos? Well, according to her, whatever the next chapter holds will take place right where she’s at.

“I keep telling my manager every time I talk to her that I’m never leaving because I really love it and can genuinely say that without any reservation,” beamed Dr. Chavez Santos. “I would highly recommend working here, and I can’t imagine working anywhere else. If you ask anyone else here, you’ll probably get the same answer, which is a testament to the environment and culture within this organization,” she added.

Are You Inspired by the Words and Experiences of Dr. Maria Chavez Santos? Explore Open Positions at TrueCare Today!

Dr. Maria Chavez Santos‘s passion for global community health, combined with her dedication to providing compassionate and equitable care, makes her an invaluable part of the TrueCare team. Her experience highlights TrueCare’s commitment to creating a supportive and collaborative environment where providers feel empowered to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities that are too often underserved. If you are a mission-driven health care professional seeking a workplace that truly practices what it preaches and invests in your professional and personal growth, explore career opportunities at TrueCare today!

Meet Dr. Maria Chavez Santos: Walking the Walk & Changing the World One Community at a Time