Originally from the Philippines, Dr. Ma. Dolores Del Castillo always had a desire for a career that would help contribute to society. “Growing up, I thought that medicine would make a good career choice for me because it combined my interest in science with helping others,” she explains. “I’m really glad I made the choice I did.”

Dr. Del Castillo first practiced as a hospitalist after finishing her medical training. “Working in a hospital was very exciting, as you see a lot of acute patients,” she explains. “However, after a patient gets better and is discharged, you usually don’t see them again. So I wanted to find a specialty that allowed more continuity of care. That’s what made me interested in becoming an endocrinologist. One of the reasons I enjoy endocrinology is because it is not just focused on one area of the body, it encompasses many important areas of a person’s health.”

In her practice Dr. Del Castillo makes a point to listen carefully to her patients and understand what they are going through. “There’s a lot of listening involved when you are a doctor,” she explains. “When working with patients, I try to understand what their individual situation is – then work hard toward achieving the health goals we both agree upon.”

Dr. Del Castillo often cares for patients suffering from diabetes. “Diabetes is such a common disease these days. In fact, some of my own family members deal with diabetes and thyroid problems. Diabetes affects the entire body and patients need a lot of care and advice to stay healthy. I often recommend continuous glucose monitors for patients. They give people the ability to see their blood sugar levels in real time. Not everyone is aware of how easily foods like pasta and rice can spike their blood sugar. So this can be a really valuable tool for patients.”

When she is not busy helping patients at Reliant, Dr. Del Castillo enjoys spending time with her family. She has two children and enjoys taking them kayaking, out on trail bikes, or to the park. She also enjoys running and has participated in several half-marathons and marathons.