INTERVIEW | More than Medicine: Interview with Dr. Tracy Rabin

Whether she is caring for a patient with diabetes in New Haven or collaborating with colleagues in Uganda, Dr. Tracy Rabin approaches medicine with the same principle: healthcare begins by listening.

Dr. Rabin is an associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She is trained in both internal medicine and pediatrics, although her current focus is on adult primary care. Much of her clinical work focuses on caring for patients with diabetes in outpatient settings and conducting home visits. She also works with medical students and resident physicians, helping train the next generation of doctors.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Rabin directs Global and Community Health education for Yale’s primary care training program. She works closely with community organizations to help medical trainees understand the needs of patients outside the walls of hospitals and clinics. She also co-directs a long-standing partnership between Yale and Makerere University School of Medicine in Kampala, Uganda, that allows students and physicians from both countries to learn from one another and develop their skills in new communities. 

These experiences have shaped one of the core principles of her work: cultural humility. Rather than assuming doctors can be experts in every culture, she believes physicians should listen carefully to each patient's unique experiences and priorities. “Doctors can't be experts in understanding somebody else's culture and needs,” she explains. “We need to ask each patient about their priorities for their health…what do they think is reasonable for them to do.”

This perspective shapes how she approaches patient care. Medical treatments may be effective in theory, but patients face real-life challenges that can affect their ability to follow a treatment plan. Financial limitations, family experiences, cultural beliefs, and personal values all play a role in healthcare decisions. Dr. Rabin believes that doctors must work alongside patients to find solutions that fit their individual circumstances and are the best fit for them. Her commitment to understanding patients’ lives extends beyond the clinic and has shaped her approach to global health.

Her work in global health began long before she became a physician. After college, she spent a year in Chicago working with AmeriCorps and working in a clinic providing health education to young people. These experiences introduced her to the challenges faced by vulnerable communities and inspired her interest in public health. After earning a master’s degree in public health and later attending medical school, she found herself drawn to both individual patient care and broader community health issues. This combination of interests helped shape her understanding of global health and the role it can play in improving healthcare for underserved populations. 

Rather than focusing only on healthcare across national borders, she believes global health is about addressing the needs of all people wherever they are located. Looking back, she sees global health as more than just international work. “The United States is on the globe,” she says. “We shouldn't discount the fact that there are many communities in the United States that need and benefit from a global health perspective.”

For more than twenty years, Dr. Rabin has worked with colleagues in Uganda while simultaneously building her medical career in the United States. One of the most surprising lessons she has learned throughout her career is how similar patients' needs are across countries. “All patients want to be respected by their doctors, all patients want to be listened to,” she said. Whether in Uganda, the United States, or anywhere else in the world, people face challenges in understanding their health conditions and managing their care.

When asked about the most rewarding part of her career, Dr. Rabin pointed to the creativity that her work allows. She enjoys identifying gaps in education and patient care and finding ways to address them. She explained that she is constantly learning while creating new opportunities for students, physicians, and patients to learn as well.

Reflecting on her own career path, Dr. Rabin emphasized that success does not always follow a straight line. Before entering medicine, she worked in public health and even spent time waiting tables. Rather than viewing those experiences as unrelated, she believes they helped shape the skills she uses today. “Any experience is going to be something that you're going to be able to use in whatever career you end up having,” she said. 

Dr. Rabin encourages students interested in medicine or global health to focus on finding experiences that genuinely interest them, rather than simply trying to meet requirements or “check boxes”. She explains that by exploring different interests and remaining open to unexpected opportunities, students may discover career paths they never would have originally considered. 

Through her commitment to patient care, medical education, and international collaboration, Dr. Rabin demonstrates that healthcare is about more than treating diseases. It's about understanding people, building relationships, and improving the well-being of communities both locally and globally.