Rafael Pomales, Jr., FAAP, MMS, PA-C

I don’t have a favorite, but I still enjoy cartoons and movies. My favorite genre of movie is anything with knights, dwarves, elves, wizards, etc (think Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones). I also enjoy anything Martial arts or mafia related.

Anything Curious George. When I was a young child, I went to a Catholic school, and our librarian would pull me out of class anytime she got a new Curious George book so I could read it first.

I had an old Evel Kneivel motorcycle stunt set. You put the motorcycle and action figure in the holster, rev it up, and let it go and it would jump any ramps I would make up. I had several.

One of my great friends, Robert Smith, DHSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, is one of my biggest inspirations in the medical field; he's also my Regional Lead Clinician. The way he knows medicine, business, and can explain it all to me and others to understand all aspects of the company functions is amazing. He also pushes me to be the best version of a PA-C I can be to ensure the patients and my colleagues get the best from me.

My wife is also a big inspiration to me. As a fellow PA-C, I know she understands my day better than most, and very efficient at multitasking. She is my best friend and confidante; I wouldn’t want it any other way!

I am a competitive bodybuilder and have competed in 8 competitions, so far. I enjoy exercising in the morning before work, and I enjoy how I look and feel. More importantly, I enjoy learning about fitness to pass that information to my patients to help them on their fitness journey. I also enjoy watching movies when I can (Way too many streaming subscriptions… lol).

I work in Family Medicine, not pediatrics, but I can see them all, "whom to tomb". I grew up in the projects of New York City on Welfare, food stamps, and Medicaid. We struggled to make ends meet food-wise and financially. Also, my mom had osteoporosis due to nutritional deficiency and was in a cast or in the hospital at least ½ of every year. As an adult in the Army, I saw a PA caring for POWs, Iraqi civilians, and us soldiers during Operation Desert Storm. That inspired me to become a PA. Once I graduated, my first job was in an outpatient internal medicine office in Dallas caring for many Hispanic patients on Medicaid like I was when I was little. I’ve always felt most at home when caring for my people and speaking Spanish to them to decrease their fear and increase their understanding of their health.

I wouldn’t consider myself set apart from others, but I will say that I try to give each patient my undivided attention when I’m with them. I ask a question, then I let them talk; most times, the answer to their problem is in something they will tell me. I treat them like they’re my friends and family because I want to get to know them and how best to get them to understand me in a way they feel comfortable and understand me. I love it when the patient wants to hug me and ask about my day as well; that lets me know they feel comfortable coming to me and telling me their problems. I also love caring for families from Abuelita down to babies; they’ve entrusted me with their family’s care; a true honor and privilege I do not take lightly! At the end of the day, I can’t sleep if I didn’t help someone to the best of my ability as a provider and a human. My faith tells me to treat everyone as myself; “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me”. This is the code I strive to live by.

We are able to see patients needing wheelchair access. I also worked in geriatrics and internal medicine, which helps for chronic patients and patients with special needs.