Dr. Astrud Villareal

By Ron Durham

During her time at UT Southwestern Medical School, Dr. Astrud Villareal has displayed a heart for serving others and a passion for community service. So it should come as no surprise that her career goals are to complete a family medicine residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center and to continue providing care to the underserved as part of her primary care practice.

Born in the Philippines, Dr. Villareal relocated to Dallas prior to high school and graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University with a degree in biology. She credits a semester in Denmark during college for clearly defining her career path.

“In college, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue the health policy side of medicine or go to medical school,” she said. “I spent a semester in Copenhagen and got the privilege of experiencing both, and what I realized is that I really enjoyed interacting with people and being a tangible entity for them. As a physician, I could still help advocate for policy without having to give up creating lasting patient relationships.”

Her passion for helping others is just one reason Dr. Villareal is the recipient the 2016 Minnie Lee Lancaster, M.D., Scholarship Award in Family Medicine. The Lancaster award honors Dr. Lancaster and her husband, Dr. Edgar Lancaster, who in 1953 opened the Grapevine Clinic and Hospital, the first clinic in Grapevine and the forerunner of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center at Grapevine.

“I have known Astrud since she joined the Community Action Research Track (CART) program during her first year,” said Dr. Nora Gimpel, Associate Professor in Family and Community Medicine at UT Southwestern. “She has been very active in multiple community service learning opportunities interacting with the underserved, which seems to be her passion. I have been very impressed with her professionalism and dedication.”

Dr. Villareal said that participating in the annual UT Southwestern Health Fair, called Carnaval de Salud, is one of her favorite medical school memories. Another is Match Day, when fourth-year medical students find out where they will begin their careers as doctors.

“There is just something breathtaking about a room full of your friends celebrating an incredible and important milestone,” she said. “The energy in that room is just amazing.”

Dr. Villareal has been most influenced by three UT Southwestern faculty members: Dr. Gimpel, Patti Pagels, and Suzette Smith, Director of the Bryan Williams, M.D. Student Center.

“Her passion for service, commitment to excellence, and constant positive attitude are traits that make her irreplaceable to this community,” Dr. Villareal said of Ms. Smith. “Of all the people that I have had the privilege of working with here at UT Southwestern, she has really taught me about what it means to give back.”

The volunteer work of Ms. Pagels, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, and of Family and Community Medicine, also has been an inspiration to Dr. Villareal and other students. “She dedicates a lot of herself to helping the disenfranchised population here in Dallas by volunteering at various shelters and clinics. Additionally, she takes various courses about health policy or global health, proving supplemental knowledge and adding to patient care.”

Working with Dr. Gimpel has given Dr. Villareal tremendous insight in what being a family physician is all about. “When you look at Dr. Gimpel, you see what you hope to be as a family physician one day,” Dr. Villareal said. “She is completely engaged with her patients as well as the community. She is a wonderful physician and an even better mentor.”

Dr. Villareal is a self-confessed adrenaline/adventure junkie who loves to travel, citing London as her favorite destination. She counts hiking to the crater of an active volcano, swimming with sharks, and a 16-story free fall among her favorite adventures.