Rachel Villanueva, MD

Dr. Rachel Villanueva earned a BS in Biology at Yale and a MD, cum laude, from the Yale School of Medicine. She is board certified and has practiced in NYC since completing her residency at The New York Hospital/Cornell.

Dr. Villanueva’s career has been devoted to providing compassionate, individualized medical care and support to women through their wellness, reproductive and gynecologic journeys. In addition to her commitment to clinical excellence, she is a national advocate for improving maternal health outcomes, reproductive justice, and access to care. She has held numerous leadership roles including as the 122nd President of the National Medical Association-the nation’s oldest and largest professional organization representing African American physicians, during which she collaborated with the BUMP.com to create the Black Maternal Health Hub as a resource for expectant and birthing persons. In the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, she served on the Health Equity Subcommittee of the District II Safe Motherhood Initiative and as a DEIE advisor, and in the American Medical Association, as the vice-chair of the Minority Affairs Section.

Dr. V is also passionate about health equity, workforce diversity and clinician well-being to ensure quality care. She serves on Centene’s Health Policy Advisory Council and Council on Health Equity and Wellness, and the steering committees of the National Academy of Medicine Clinician Well-Being Action Collaborative and the Gender Equity in Medicine and Science Alliance. She is dedicated to improving women’s health through innovation and serves as medical advisor to startups ranging from at-home prenatal fitness to reproductive mental health support, and to menopause, longevity, and redefining aging for women.

As a former competitive gymnast, avid snowboarder, Bikram yogi, and novice tennis player, she emphasizes fitness for her patient’s overall health and wellness. Dr. Villanueva is a proud native New Yorker of Haitian descent and has been named one of the Top Black Physicians in New York City by The Network Journal. She is excited to continue providing quality medical care in the patient-centered, wellness focused practice at Maiden Lane Medical.