About Dr. Rashmi
EDUCATION:
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Early Inspiration
As a Rochester Early Medical Scholar (combined BA-MD degree program) majoring in comparative medical anthropology at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York, Dr. Rashmi spent her senior year studying traditional healing modalities in southern India. Her awareness was awakened as she immersed herself into Ayurveda, India's own sacred science of living, in addition to meditation, yoga, and energy therapy. Dr. Rashmi's understanding of the diverse ways to impact health were deepened through her guided personal exploration of Eastern contemplative practices and bodywork. During this period, she was fortunate to study with several respected healers, including her father's uncle, Vaidyabhooshanam K. Raghavan Thirumulpad. Known for his deep insights and the simplicity to his Ayurvedic teachings, the art of Thirumulpad's effective care stemmed from his unwavering belief in the power of pathya, corrective lifestyle and dietary measures. He empowered patients with knowledge about their conditions and the holistic lifestyle modifications needed to support health and healing. Dr. Rashmi was impressed by her granduncle's vision of physicians as "positive health promoters" among their patients for the co-creation of healthy communities. Emboldened by her experiences, she entered medical school with a broadened perspective and deep appreciation for complementary ways to support health. Professional Training Dr. Rashmi received her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2004 and completed her intern year in Internal Medicine at the Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY. After internship, she took a break in her training for the next six years to travel the world with her husband's career, explore more traditional healing in India, and to start a family. In 2011, her family returned to the United States so Dr. Rashmi could finish residency training in Preventive Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB), in Buffalo, NY. Here, she received a Masters in Public Health (MPH) degree, concentrating in Community Health and Health Behavior. Dr. Rashmi served as Chief Resident in her final year of residency and graduated from the program within the Cancer Prevention Track in 2013. After residency, Dr. Rashmi joined faculty of the Preventive Medicine Residency Program at UB and was an adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions. Her research included the utilization of complementary and alternative medicine by cancer patients, as well as burnout and health-promoting behaviors amongst medical residents, and the evaluation of a multidisciplinary nutrition and health initiative for students of medicine and public health that she co-created and helped to teach. In addition to her community involvement with the American Cancer Society and local indigenous populations in Western New York, Dr. Rashmi helped to develop wellness programming for UB medical trainees and lectured on topics related to lifestyle medicine, clinical nutrition, health behavior, and building resilience. She is board certified through the American Board of Preventive Medicine and licensed to practice medicine by New York state. Current Clinical Practice After resuming expatriate life with her family, Dr. Rashmi spent few years in Vietnam and Jersey, Channel Islands, U.K. where she began focusing her clinical career on the part of her job she loves most - connecting with patients and communities through mindful ways of living that promote health and resiliency. Drawing upon her 15+ years of personal experience and training in mind:body modalities, lifestyle medicine, and community health, Dr. Rashmi began leading group classes, one-to-one consultations, and workshops on mindfulness and healthy living in medical, educational, and business settings. Now resettled in Upstate NY, she leads virtual mindfulness programming for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center patients, survivors, and caregivers. She also shares yoga and mindfulness practice and philosophies with fellow physicians through Dr. Siri Chand Khalsa's longitudinal Ayurveda Foundations for Clinicians course and is a lead mindfulness facilitator for Sustainable Caring. Already a certified yoga teacher, she has attended several professional trainings through the University of Massachusetts Oasis Center for Mindfulness and the Mindfulness Center at Brown in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Dr. Rashmi is also completing a 500-hr advanced teacher training with Yoga Medicine by Tiffany Cruikshank where she is a contributing instructor, co-leading a week-long module on Yin Yoga and Meditation for yoga teachers along with Ms. Cruikshank herself. In February 2021, Dr. Rashmi completed a 2-year meditation teacher training with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield through Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, administered via Sounds True. Honoring her granduncle's teachings and aligning service to patients with her authenticity, Dr. Rashmi's mission is to help individuals and communities rediscover their inner nature, redefine their relationships with the world around them, and harness the power within themselves to be healthy, well, and resilient. |
A mindfulness-based, integrative approach to health. |
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