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About Rachel Sandler Silva, MD, MPH

At a glance

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Languages: English

Age groups treated: Adult



Commitment to patient-centered care

"I am committed to helping each individual patient come up with an approach to healthcare that takes into account the complexity of each patient's life experience including culture, language, mental health, experiences with incarceration, and housing challenges. I try to see each patient in the context of the world around them, including family and friends whenever possible. I have a passion for preventive healthcare approaches and supporting patients to make lifestyle changes that allow them to meet their health goals."

Clinical expertise

Dr. Silva is board-certified in Internal Medicine and cares for adult patients with acute and chronic illnesses in clinic settings. She works as an educator for medical students, medical resident trainees, and her patients. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys working with Latinx patients. She has additional training in public health, travel health, and lifestyle medicine.

Credentials

Training & education

Medical school
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA

Residency
Internal Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

Awards and honors

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 2011

Rising Star Award, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, 2018, 2019, 2020

Community Service Award American College of Physicians, Minnesota Chapter, 20202

Minnesota Monthly Top Doctor, 2024

My experiences & interests

Publications
  • Katz BC, Syverud EP, Garza OW, Silva RS, Kirsch JD. Global is local: interprofessional experiential learning for migrant farmworker health equity. Health Equity. 2022;6(1):132-139. doi: 10.1089/heq.2021.0114. PMID: 35261941; PMCID: PMC8896175.
  • Winkelman T, Sandler Silva R. Opioid use disorder treatment for people involved in US criminal justice system – promising advances and critical implementation challenges. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(9):e2125120. PMID: 34495343.
  • Zellmer L, Peters L, Silva RS. Hennepin county adult detention center’s response to a 2019 hepatitis A outbreak in Minnesota. Am J Public Health. 2021;111(5):839-841. PMID: 33734843.
  • Sandler R, Myers L, Springgate B. Resident physicians' opinions and behaviors regarding the use of interpreters in New Orleans. Southern Medical Journal 2014 Nov;107(11):698-702. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000186.
  • Sandler, RF. Clowning for a brighter future. Global Pulse Journal: The American Medical Student Association International Health Journal. Fall 2009; 5(2).
Professional affiliations
  • Society of General Internal Medicine, 2012-present
  • American College of Physicians, 2006-present
  • American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, 2024 -present
Media, newsletters and videos
  • Rachel Silva, MD filmed segments for ElMinnesotadeHoy.com (Today's Minnesota), March 2015
  • Carmen Divertie, MD, and Rachel Silva, MD, from the General Internal Medicine Spanish Clinic team were filmed for segments on the Univision Channel, taping educational segments featured in Nuestra Salud (Our Health), November 2014
Licenses and accreditations
  • Medical Doctorate from the University of Iowa
  • Master's in Public Health from the University of Iowa
  • Certificate in Travel Health from the International Society of Lifestyle Medicine
  • Diplomate in the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine
  • Fellow of the American College of Physicians
  • Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School
Personal
"I was born in Minnesota and after many years away, I have found my way back to the Twin Cities. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling the world with my family and cooking foods with new ingredients. I aspire to be a reader but find that podcasts and audiobooks are another fun diversion while running around with my kids."