David Rakel MD, FAAFP
Professor and Chair, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WisconsinDr. David Rakel is Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin. During his time at UW–Madison, he founded the Integrative Medicine Program (now known as the Integrative Health Program) and received the Gold Foundation’s Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, the school’s highest honor for excellence and compassion in care. His team worked with more than 50 clinical systems within the Veterans Health Administration to implement changes to make care more personalized, proactive, and patient-driven.
After residency training in family medicine in Colorado, Dr. Rakel worked in private practice in rural Idaho. His burgeoning interest in the relationships across health, the human experience, and the environment led to a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona.
An author of both academic and popular writings, Dr. Rakel says one of his missions is to communicate medical information in a way that is accessible to people of all backgrounds.
Recent Contributions to PracticeUpdate:
- Trans-Fatty Acid Restrictions Reduce Hospital Admissions for Myocardial Infarction and Stroke
- Determinants of Reflux-Induced Chronic Cough
- DASH Diet Can Reduce Serum Uric Acid Within 30 Days
- Monthly High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
- Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation Do Not Alter Cancer Incidence in Older Women
- Putting Patients First by Reducing Administrative Tasks
- Dietary Intake Mediates the Relationship of Body Fat to Pain
- Pharmacologic Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes From the 2017 ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes
- Capsaicin 8% Patch Is Effective in Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
- The Risks and Benefits of Long-Term Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors