Meet the Primary Care Program Leadership team.
D. Rani Nandiwada, MD, Program Director
D. Rani Nandiwada is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine. She went to medical school at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science, primary care residency at New York University where she did a chief year, and an Academic Clinician Educator Scholar General Internal Medicine Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh where she received her Masters in Medical Education. She served as the Director of the Medical Education and Leadership track for the Internal Medicine Residency Program for 6 years prior to becoming the Primary Care Program Director. She also course directs medical student curricula focusing on health system science and outpatient primary care. One of her biggest goals for the program is a focus on the growth mindset and coaching from good to great. She is married to Jay, an intensivist, who is an avid Star Wars fan and has a nine-year-old, Seetha, who has glitter in her blood, Kai a 3-year-old who thinks he is a dinosaur, Sanjay the baby who thinks he’s a puppy, and an actual poodle named Potato, who also thinks her son is a puppy. She is a self-proclaimed carbaterian (a person who eats carbs), loves watching horrible romantic comedies with guaranteed happy endings, and cracking corny jokes that no one else thinks are funny.
Robin Canada, MD, Associate Program Director
Robin Canada, MD is a graduate of our Primary Care Program. After graduation, she moved to Arizona to work with the White Mountain Apache Tribe for the Indian Health Service. She then returned to Penn to work with the Primary Care residency, where her practice and teaching has been focused on medically underserved patient populations. She created and leads the Indian Health Service elective for residents. In addition, Dr. Canada was part of the first community-academic partnerships at Penn with one of Philadelphia’s safety-net health centers. She created the first resident rotation at these clinics. Dr. Canada currently serves as the Director of Residency Education for Puentes de Salud, a local Latino health clinic for undocumented immigrants.
Dr. Canada oversees our Community LEADers curriculum, mentors and precepts medical students and residents interested in community health and health disparities. Additionally, she was just appointed as the DGIM Associate Division Chief for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Outside of work, Robin loves cooking, reading, gardening, hiking, biking and sitting on the porch with her husband and hot mess rescue dog. She also has 4 children, with 2 still at home who are 18 and 11.
Rachael Truchil, MD, MPH, Primary Care Residency Clinical Site Director
Rachael Truchil is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction medicine and supervises our second clinic sotes including, the district health centers, refugee clinic and our THRIVE Addiction Medicine Clinics. She is a former PCPC graduate and proud of it! She returned to Penn in 2016 and initially split her to time working in the Philadelphia Distric Health Centers FQHC system and Penn but has since transitioned full time to Penn to expand her reach in addiction medicine. She also course directs the medical student outpatient sub-internship and the their Longitudinal Patient Experience Course. Outside of work, she likes to spend time outdoors with her husband, two kiddos, and dog. She loves cooking, knitting, and audiobooks.
Renata Holloway, Residency Coordinator
Renata has worked for Penn Medicine for 17 years in various roles and locations, from Pennsylvania Hospital to Radnor. One of her first real jobs was a cashier at SEARS. She loves healthcare and has always been an advocate for patients and she loves helping other people. She is a very outgoing mother and has a passion for cooking and trying new recipes. She also loves spending time with family and shopping. She is excited about this next chapter and looks forward to learning new things and gaining more knowledge.