Dr. Rachel Villanueva

Dr Villanueva is a powerhouse in the world of women's health! As a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Rachel's got some serious credentials – a BS in Biology from Yale University and an MD, cum laude, from the Yale School of Medicine.

Not only is Dr. Villanueva board certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology, but she's also an ardent advocate for women's health, reproductive justice, health equity, and workforce diversity. Her passion for disease prevention makes her a true trailblazer in her field.

Active within the National Medical Association, Dr. Villanueva has held key leadership positions, even making history as the first former Student National Medical Association President to be elected NMA President-Elect. She's also been an advisor to the SNMA Board and Strategic Planning Council, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Alumni in Yale Medicine, where she's helped create their first-ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion subcommittee.

As a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rachel's contributions to the Pregnancy and Heart Disease Task Force and the Health Equity Subcommittee of the District 2 Safe Motherhood Initiative have been invaluable. She's also joined the Medical Advisory Group of the Black Health Trust, working alongside other dedicated professionals to improve the health and wellbeing of communities of color.

Dr. Villanueva's commitment to wellness doesn't stop there. She's a medical advisor to Expect, a streaming video app providing safe prenatal fitness classes for soon-to-be moms. With her background as a competitive gymnast, she knows firsthand the importance of fitness and exercise in a woman's overall health. When she's not busy breaking glass ceilings in the medical world, you can find her snowboarding, practicing Bikram yoga, or playing tennis.

Named one of the Influential African-American and Caribbean New Yorkers in Health and one of the Top Black Physicians in New York City by The Network Journal, Dr. Villanueva is a proud native New Yorker of Haitian descent. We couldn't be more excited to have her as part of our community!

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