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If you’re a health care professional passionate about making a real impact in the lives of underserved communities, TrueCare might be the place for you. As a nonprofit organization, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional care while fostering a supportive, collaborative environment for our team. At TrueCare, you’ll find a culture that values teamwork, compassion, and professional growth, all while making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.
To give you an inside look at what it’s like to be part of the TrueCare family, we’re excited to highlight the inspiring Dr. Rachel Lum Ho, one of our dedicated pediatric providers. Keep reading as she shares her experience with our mission-driven team.
Meet the TrueCare Team: Rachel Lum Ho, MD
Dr. Lum Ho works in pediatric care at TrueCare’s San Marcos location, and she has been with our team since 2022. Since she joined the team, she has appreciated the feeling of being part of a greater cause. Learn more about her experience below!
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What Attracted You to Work at TrueCare?
Dr. Lum Ho has had an interesting career, having done training and education across the country. Ultimately, this path led her to our nonprofit organization.
“If you look at my background, you’ll see I’ve done my training and education all around the country,” said Dr. Lum Ho. “I was in California for college, and then I worked in the nonprofit health care space for Lucille Packard Foundation after college doing kids’ health communication and data. Then, I went to Boston and did a Master’s in Public Health, focused on maternal child health care, and after that, I attended medical school and did my residency in pediatrics in Seattle, Washington,” she explained.
After she finished medical school, Lum Ho traded the gloomy Seattle overcast for Southern California sunshine, where she wanted to shine compassion on communities that are too often underserved. When she discovered TrueCare, she says it felt like kismet.
“I came to San Diego when I started my practice after my residency,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “I kind of always have wanted to work in the community health space and at a community health center. Most of my education and work experience prior to this has been focused on trying to serve underserved communities and addressing health disparities they might experience. So, initially, when I moved to San Diego, I actually worked at a larger kind of private group practice in pediatrics for about two years or so. But when I had the opportunity to work at TrueCare, I was excited to be in that community health setting and work with that patient population. That’s what attracted me to it initially,” she added.
However, the TrueCare team was also a huge factor in her decision to work with us, because she recognized that our team would empower her to do the meaningful work she always dreamed of doing when she first became a provider.
“I think the biggest thing that attracted me to TrueCare was the people and the multi-disciplinary nature of the team,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “I feel that in order to really care for underserved populations or address health disparities, you can’t do it as just a clinician. So it was really attractive to me that the pediatrics department, for example, that I would be joining had a dietician and two multilingual health educators and integrated behavioral health services with therapists. If you’re caring for this population, you need those resources to address the social determinants of health in a holistic way, and so that’s what attracted me to TrueCare. Everything is under one umbrella, and I could tell that I would be supported in the mission by the whole organization rather than just me on my own trying to navigate these really complicated systems,” she elaborated.
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What Made You Want to Work in Community Health?
Dr. Lum Ho has always wanted to work in community health, and she says that finding an organization like TrueCare has helped her live out this dream. Ultimately, however, this passion for serving those who are often underserved stems from where she comes from.
“I grew up in Maui, Hawaii, which is a more rural setting than somewhere like Honolulu or the other kind of major cities in Hawaii,” she explained. “I’m native Hawaiian, so growing up, I was raised with very strong Hawaiian values in terms of caring for your community and social justice. I saw a lot of health disparities around me in the native Hawaiian population in my own family. My younger brother had some health issues as a child, and because of that, my family had to fly to Honolulu frequently for all his appointments because there wasn’t access to that care where we lived. That sparked my initial interest in medicine, and I have always had a mission-driven approach to providing accessible health care to people who need and deserve it,” she said.
As a result of her background and the disparities she saw first-hand, Dr. Lum Ho has always approached her passion for medicine through the lens of activism.
“As I went through my training and education, I made an effort to tailor my experience because that was the driving factor initially,” Dr. Lum Ho said.
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What Does Collaboration Look Like at TrueCare?
One aspect of working at TrueCare that Dr. Lum Ho loves is the collaborative culture we have cultivated at our health centers.
“The collaborative aspect really plays out in my day-to-day clinical work with patients,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “For example, just during a routine visit yesterday, I saw multiple newborn babies who were having their first checkup since leaving the hospital. Part of that visit includes a visit with myself as the clinician and a visit with our lactation consultant, which is super important because that’s one of the major issues we have to address early on in a newborn’s life. The fact that they have access to that and each baby is paired with both of us during that initial visit is really important, and then the coordinator even walked over from her office to make sure that the family was signed up for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program resources to help the mom get access to a breast pump that she was asking about,” she said.
Dr. Lum Ho believes that this is a shining example of the importance of everyone collaborating and working together to provide holistic care that truly elevates the health of the entire community.
“It’s really extraordinary to have all these touch points, so it’s pretty fulfilling to provide that,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “If it were just me in my own private practice or without those things, then I think that family would have been much less supported in taking care of their newborn. That’s the kind of difference we’re making – we get to have a positive impact on their lives at every stage. It’s pretty incredible,” she said.
She said this collaborative environment would not be nearly as effective if it wasn’t for the team dynamic. She feels the TrueCare team truly understands how to support each other. In that sense, it is truly a case of a rising tide lifting all ships.
“It’s really great and collaborative, and what sets our team apart is that as providers, we all recognize our different areas of expertise,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “That’s at every level. So, at the provider level, I work with the other doctors within my department, and it’s amazing to have access to each provider’s area of expertise. For example, Dr. Posatada is one of our longtime pediatricians in my department, and she has a lot of expertise in things like ADHD and autism. We have other providers who have expertise in developmental screening in adolescent medicine and gynecologic issues. Everyone brings their own expertise to the table, and it’s amazing to have access to that. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I think this shows that it also takes a village to tend to their health,” she added.
“Then, going down to the other multi-disciplinary people, it’s really great to collaborate with the lactation consultant, for example, because I’m not an expert in breastfeeding, but she can get insight from the patient or parent that I couldn’t have gotten myself,” Dr. Lum Ho explained. “In other situations, I might have to work with our health educator because I have a hard time controlling a kid’s asthma, and we need to see what the barriers are that are preventing them from using the inhaler. It just really helps that we can kind of tap into each other’s expertise to try to get the best care possible for patients,” she said.
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How Does TrueCare Address Burnout?
Dr. Lum Ho believes that the way that the team supports each other is one of the biggest salves for burnout at our nonprofit organization.
“It really helps because everything isn’t on you when it comes to delivering health care, which is way different compared to other environments I’ve worked in,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “It helps me feel a lot less burnt out because I don’t have all that pressure solely on me to try and solve all these really complicated problems,” she said.
She says that it helps provide a more comprehensive level of care.
“For example, if I’m working with a really depressed teenager who needs therapy, I can feel secure knowing they’ll actually get the care they need, which is different from other practice settings where I might have no idea when, or even if, they’d be seen,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “In other settings, they might not get therapy for nine months, or they might never have someone follow up with them. Here, I can do a warm handoff to one of our integrated behavioral health therapists, knowing they’re going to be assessed that same day and will have a safety plan in place. This is part of what makes our work so meaningful – you actually feel like you’re making an impact,” she said.
Ultimately, the burden of providing effective health care is another huge relief, which Dr. Lum Ho believes also staves off burnout.
“Really, it just takes a lot of the burden off your shoulders and leads to more satisfaction in that you can feel more comfortable in your role knowing that the patient is getting more support than you as an individual can offer,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “The mission and doing things you’re passionate about is really important to minimizing burnout. Being part of an organization that has values that align with your own, especially in the current political climate with things going on socially, and knowing you’re kind of on the same page as the organization in terms of values is also a huge help in that area,” she said.
She believes that the feeling of being in a place where you feel appreciated and like you’re on the same page as the team makes all the difference.
“It really is the antidote to burnout in some ways,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “You may not always agree on the implementation of how we’re addressing certain things or even how we are addressing them, but it helps to be in a place where you feel like you’re on the same team, you’re heard and valued, and everyone has the same mission and values in mind. Just as our own little department, we’re pretty good about celebrating the little things. There’s always a pot going on or a birthday celebration. We really celebrate each other’s achievements and milestones, like new babies, and it’s really great to have a fun environment that makes you feel appreciated,” she said.
Dr. Lum Ho emphasized that the fun-loving nature of our team really helps to manage some of the heavier moments that are unavoidable in the field.
“We do a lot to have fun – we decorate the office and maybe go a little over-the-top for holidays, but we’re pediatrics. So we tend to be a little bit more goofy! It’s basically in the job description. This fun-loving nature of the team really helps relieve the stress and pressure that can come with this job,” Dr. Lum Ho added.
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How Does TrueCare Get Involved in the Community?
One of Dr. Lum Ho’s favorite aspects of working at TrueCare is that we are truly part of the community. She believes you cannot serve your community adequately if you do not create real connections and understand their needs on a deeper level.
“We’re really a part of the community, and that’s a great point of pride for me,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “TrueCare has community events, public education initiatives, health fairs, breast milk drives, and things like that. We just started a Walk with the Doc program, too. Knowing we’re not just this building on the hill that’s trying to administer medical care and are active in the community we serve is inspiring for the whole team,” she added.
Dr. Lum Ho says these events are some highlights of working at TrueCare, and they enable her to recontextualize her relationship with the patients and community she serves.
“I remember doing this careers in science and medicine type of event at the University of San Marcos that I went to and set up a table at with some other members of the TrueCare team,” Dr. Lum Ho remembered. “We were able to educate them on nutrition. They also had a big health fair in our parking lot one time that I went to. At these events, we bring little games or activities to learn about kids’ health stuff with little samples of things to hand out. It’s really a lot of fun, and you get to see the living proof of why our work matters,” she said.
She says that these are important opportunities to humanize herself and the TrueCare team for the community and establish themselves as neighbors – not just providers.
“It’s just really fun to be out and see our patients in a different context, like seeing some families that I might take care of in the clinic just out and about and seeing kids play little games with their family is always really fun. It’s important in my field because you want kids to associate you with good memories, and going to the doctor can be intimidating or downright scary for some children,” Dr. Lum Ho explained.
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What Kind of Professional Development and Mentorship Opportunities Exist at TrueCare?
Dr. Lum Ho also values the opportunity to continue growing and developing her skillset, which she attributes to our leadership team.
“One of the great things about our department is we have leadership that really encourages creative thinking, problem-solving, and piloting new programs,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “I think sometimes, in other settings, there’s resistance to change or hesitancy to alter the status quo. But it’s the opposite of that here. In San Marco Pediatrics, our team is constantly looking at ways to improve things or add things to our services, which feeds into our individual professional growth,” she explained.
She says that this openness to change makes them more innovative and enables the health center to better serve our community.
“Some initiatives I’ve been a part of specifically are a recent pilot program within our department for weight management for teenagers and adolescents with obesity because we now have injectables that help with weight management and obesity specifically,” Dr. Lum Ho said. ”They’re approved for kids 12 and up, so it’s pretty new and cutting edge. I know a lot of primary care pediatrics are not doing much of that right now, but we’re still being intentional. We’re not just prescribing these medications – we need a whole intervention around it. So our pilot program is intended to find good candidates and maybe even create a workflow where they first have an intake with a registered dietitian, have an intake with our nurse to talk about injections and side effect monitoring and have them attend a group class run by our dietitian and nurse. Then, they’d meet with one of our behavioral health providers to ensure we’re not missing an eating disorder or anxiety,” she said.
Dr. Lum Ho says that new initiatives and programs are new opportunities for growth.
“They’ve been very intentional about empowering us as clinicians to be able to come up with a new workflow, figure out how it implements within our team, present to the rest of the division, and potentially implement it across the organization,” Dr. Lum Ho said. “I never question whether or not they trust or believe in me. It’s really exciting and gratifying to be able to think creatively and improve processes, and being able to create those things and present those things adds a layer of professional development. Really, when you are working with cutting-edge technology or using innovative approaches, it’s impossible not to develop professionally, and we do a lot of that here to serve our community,” she added.
What Are Three Things You Would Say to Someone Who Was in Your Shoes Before You Joined TrueCare?
Dr. Lum Ho had some excellent wisdom to offer those of you who are considering joining the TrueCare team and applying for a job! In fact, she had three pieces of advice. The first revolves around patients and families.
“If you want to work with this population, TrueCare is truly an amazing place to do it,” said Dr. Lum Ho. “We have an amazing community of patients and families that we work with, and their medical and social situations can sometimes be complex. But that makes it more rewarding,” she said.
The second piece of advice? Join our team if you want to work with a diverse team.
“We also have a really varied team that is still on the same page in terms of our mission,” explained Dr. Lum Ho. “That’s pretty rare, so that’s definitely a highlight. We are very warm and welcoming, so it doesn’t matter what walk of life you’re from. What matters is what you believe in,” she said.
On that note, the third piece of advice is to understand the values that TrueCare stands for!
“It’s really important to understand the core values of our nonprofit organization and ensure they align with yours,” said Dr. Lum Ho. “If they do, and you’re passionate about decreasing health disparities and joining a team that is passionate about providing excellent care for people who may not always have access to excellent care, it will be endlessly fulfilling. You’re truly changing lives,” she said.
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Are You Inspired By the Words of Rachel Lum Ho, MD? Apply Today to Make a Meaningful Difference in Your Community.
At TrueCare, our mission goes beyond providing health care — we are dedicated to making a lasting impact on the community while fostering a supportive, collaborative, and compassionate environment for our team. Dr. Rachel Lum Ho exemplifies the core values of our organization, bringing her passion for serving underserved populations and commitment to holistic care to every patient she meets. If you’re driven by a desire to make a real difference and want to be part of a team that prioritizes community, personal growth, and professional fulfillment, we would love to have you join us.
Visit our Careers Page and apply today to become part of a workplace where your work truly matters.
