Dr. Rana Mehdizadeh is a family medicine physician who is passionate about building strong relationships with her patients and helping them achieve lasting health. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, her interest in medicine grew from a love of science, learning, and teaching. “Becoming a doctor was something that built up over time,” she explains. “Medicine brought together my interest in science with the opportunity to build relationships and help people.”

Dr. Mehdizadeh earned her medical degree through a joint program between the University of Queensland in Australia and Ochsner Medical School in New Orleans. She went on to complete her internship and residency at UMass in Worcester. Her international training provided valuable exposure to different healthcare systems and approaches to preventive care. “I was able to see a different perspective on healthcare and how people approach their health,” she says. “It helped me grow as a person and as a physician.”

Dr. Mehdizadeh discovered her passion for Family Medicine during an elective rotation in a rural clinic in Tasmania. There, she saw firsthand the important role primary care physicians play in caring for individuals, families, and entire communities. “I saw how much you can help people and how you can take care of the whole family,” she recalls. “I liked being someone patients could rely on and talk to about their problems.”

Today, she enjoys caring for patients of all ages and has a particular interest in women’s health, adolescent health, preventive care and pediatrics. When discussing lifestyle changes, she focuses on understanding what motivates each patient and developing realistic goals. “Small changes over time are often more sustainable than trying to change everything at once,” she explains.

Outside of work, Dr. Mehdizadeh enjoys spending time with her husband, who is also a physician, and their young daughter. She enjoys exploring new places in Massachusetts, traveling, hiking, cooking, reading, and learning new languages and cultures.