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Dr. Anjali Rao didn’t know she wanted to be in obstetrics and gynecology until she carried out her first delivery in medical school and realized she could have a significant impact in women’s lives. Over two decades later, she intends to widen the scope of her impact on all patients at the Dignity Health’s Sequoia Hospital as its new chief medical officer.
“I have always wanted to have a greater impact on the health care system,” Rao said as she took on a larger role at the Redwood City hospital. “Anything that can impact a patient when they come into the hospital is part of my job,”
She started her position as the CMO on March 3 and will be responsible for overseeing patient safety, quality of care and patient experience at the hospital.
Rao first joined Sequoia Hospital in March 2009 as a staff physician working on labor and deliveries. She loved being involved in the different parts of a woman’s life, from childbirth and postpartum care to birth control, perimenopause and menopause. She wasn’t just meeting her patients for one event, but rather getting to know them over several years, guiding many through multiple life transitions. She had been with some patients for more than two decades.
“My primary love has always been obstetrics. I love the excitement..,” she said. “And I love being part of a joyous part of medicine and healthcare.”
Over time, she seized opportunities to take leadership positions so she could learn about the inner workings of the hospital. One of her initiatives was the creation of a hospitalist program to ensure that an OB-GYN was available in the hospital 24/7 to handle emergencies.
She then served as the OB-GYN department chairperson, where she was responsible for overseeing and facilitating communication between department members. She added that she has worked with peer review committees to improve the quality of patient care by studying various cases occurring in the hospital.
Rao, a second-generation immigrant, grew up in Fremont after her parents migrated from India. She earned her bachelor of science in biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed her joint MD/MPH degree at the New York Medical College. She later completed her residency at Stanford University Medical Center, where she served as chief resident of obstetrics and gynecology.
“I definitely owe a lot to the community and to my parents; that immigrant work ethic is so important to me,” she added. “When my dad texted me earlier this week, saying he’s proud of me, that’s the best thing.”
But being a woman in healthcare hasn’t come without challenges for Rao. The demanding nature of her job, which extends beyond the typical 9-to-5 schedule, made it difficult to balance her personal and professional life. Long hours, weekend shifts and the unpredictability of middle-of-the-night emergencies added to the struggles of navigating the delicate balance between prioritizing her patients and spending time with her husband and two children.
“But like many women, I’m just multitasking as a specialty,” she said.
To take on her duties as the CMO, Rao had to cut back some of her outpatient practice. She plans to continue to be on labor and delivery duty in the operating room and in case of emergency.
She is excited about the opportunity to make a broader impact on patients’ lives beyond the operating and delivery room by shaping hospital policies.
“I think that women are excellent physicians. We bring so many strengths to bedside care and take care of patients,” Rao said in her message to women who want to pursue careers in medicine. “And you will do a great job at it.”
She has been my doctor and is fabulous, a very impressive person. Congratulations to Sequoia Hospital!