PRR RX for Success: Dr. Ana Grace

Overview: PRR graduate Dr. Ana Grace knows that treating cancer is only part of a patient’s health plan — prevention and primary care are vital, too. Her journey from radiation oncology training to primary care retraining through PRR highlights the intersection of early detection, preventive medicine and community outreach in improving health outcomes.

Recent Physician Retraining & Reentry (PRR) Program graduate Dr. Ana Grace knows that, without primary care and preventive medicine, we cannot catch and prevent illnesses early or before they begin. Her passion for medicine began when her grandmother was diagnosed with colon cancer, sparking a lifelong commitment to patient care and prevention.

Dr. Grace earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from California State University, Fullerton, before attending medical school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She completed a two-year internal medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, followed by a radiation oncology residency program at the University of Southern California, and finished her training at the University of Arizona. During this time, she often saw patients presenting with advanced cancers due to lack of access to health care — an experience that underscored the importance of early detection.

After graduation, Dr. Grace returned to Los Angeles, where she helps underserved immigrant communities. Having grown up speaking Spanish with her mother, a native of Mexico, she prioritizes caring for Spanish-speaking patients. She has shared vital information on cancer awareness, HPV vaccination, breast and prostate cancer screening, and the risks of secondhand smoke through Spanish-language media outlets such as Univision and Telemundo. Her ability to bridge cultural and language gaps has helped improve understanding and outcomes in communities that too often face barriers to care.

Over the years, Dr. Grace recognized a troubling pattern: Many of her cancer patients had not seen a doctor for years before their diagnosis. As a result, she often found herself treating both the cancer and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This experience made her realize the vital role of primary care in prevention and motivated her to enroll in the PRR Program to update her knowledge in preventive medicine and chronic disease management.

Dr. Grace describes the PRR curriculum as rigorous yet highly practical. The remote learning format allowed her to balance studies with her oncology work, while the in-person practicum gave her hands-on experience in primary care. The program, she says, gave her the confidence and tools to address health concerns more comprehensively — helping her patients not only survive cancer but also thrive afterward with better overall health.

Today, Dr. Grace blends her radiation oncology expertise with her expanded primary care knowledge. She counsels patients on the importance of routine checkups, consistent use of medications and lifestyle changes to protect their long-term health. Beyond her cancer practice, she plans to volunteer at health fairs and community clinics, where her bilingual skills and preventive care training will have a direct impact on broader community health.

As she reminds her patients: “We cure you so that you can go on to live a happy normal life — but that comes with a commitment to addressing other medical problems.”