Katina Rue, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP, vividly recalls stories of her mother navigating life in a remote Southwestern community, where limited access to health care and low health literacy meant barriers to health were everywhere. Those early experiences shaped the way she practices today, meeting people where they are, listening first and caring for the whole person.
As a Kansas City University (KCU) College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate, her philosophy reflects a broader KCU quest to serve where care is needed most. Forty six percent of KCU graduates practice a primary care specialty and 49 percent of those physicians practice in federally designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas. Thirty percent serve in Medically Underserved Areas, bringing compassionate, community-focused care to places in rural and underserved communities.
In Yakima, Washington where nearly half of residents are Latino, Rue sees the real impact of those shortages every day. Fewer than four percent of physicians in the region identify as Hispanic, and nationally, Spanish is the most underrepresented language among U.S. physicians. Patients often seek her out specifically because she speaks their language. One patient’s husband even switched clinics just for that reason.
“Moments like that really highlight how much patients value being understood,” she says. “Building trust is at the heart of what we do as osteopathic physicians.”
Rue brought that same commitment to her role as program director of the Family Medicine Residency Program at Trios Health, where she trained future primary care physicians to lead with empathy, cultural humility and community-based care. She also made history as the first Latina and first osteopathic president of the Washington State Medical Association, roles that broadened her ability to advocate for equitable access statewide.
Her work in community health centers is equally transformative. She practices team-based care alongside behavioral health providers, pharmacists, nurses, dieticians, lactation consultants, social workers and outreach teams, utilizing a model that treats patients holistically and addresses the social and cultural factors affecting their health.
“What draws me to family medicine is the people,” Rue says. “I love caring for patients of every age and being present with them at every stage of life.”
Rue sees the cascading effects of this impact. “Every bit of health and well-being that our patients achieve has a ripple effect,” she says. “It doesn’t stop at the exam room, patients bring it home, share it with their families and contribute to healthier communities.”
Recently honored as the 2025 KCU Alumna of the Year, Rue celebrated the milestone with mentors, friends and her 13-year-old daughter, Valeria.
“I hope to inspire future generations to see what’s possible and feel confident stepping into leadership roles in health care,” she says.
Through her service, advocacy and mentorship, Rue embodies the impact of KCU-trained physicians nationwide, breaking barriers, expanding access and strengthening the health of communities that need it most.
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