Andrea Merodio, DO
Why did you choose Valley Children’s Pediatric Residency?
I chose the VCH Residency program because I had the pleasure of rotating at Valley Children’s multiple times throughout my medical school training and each experience came with genuine support, a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on both patient care and growth of its residents. Training in the Central Valley thus far gave me the opportunity to work with a diverse pediatric patient population, alongside the kind, collaborative residents and mentors who truly took the time to invest in my personal and professional development. I am beyond excited to continue serving and advocating for the Central Valley community by providing accessible, culturally humble care to children and their families.
Hobbies:
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, whether that’s trying new restaurants together or catching up over FaceTime during the busy seasons. In my free time, I also enjoy embroidering, crocheting, watching true crime documentaries and binge-watching reality tv shows. My favorite hobby, though, is playing fetch with my cat, Ro!
Advocacy and Research Interests and Accomplishments:
Throughout my undergraduate and medical school, I have advocated for mental health awareness and empowerment for both patients and healthcare professionals through various leadership roles. Alongside my medical school colleagues, I conducted a research project in Fresno focused on improving the understanding of common mental health conditions through providing free educational pamphlets highlighting accessible community resources in local clinics.
In addition, I am passionate about increasing the diversity in healthcare and have mentored dozens of students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing careers in medicine. Personally, having seen providers who reflect on my own background had a meaningful impact on me growing up and has led to where I am today. I hope to help create a more inclusive healthcare environment for our future patients and fellow healthcare professionals.
Care Philosophy:
My care philosophy centers around compassion, education and preventative care. I believe patients and their families deserve to feel heard, respected and involved in their care. Through listening, advocacy and patient education, I strive to empower families to make informed decisions and build healthy habits early, focusing on preventative care and long-term wellness when transitioning into adulthood.